or less that we have of these things if it be but a little Oyl in the Cruse and a hand-full of meal in the Barrel assurance of a Covenant interest in God will make it enough to us and render it good for want of this poor hearts are full of fears and cares and discontents even in the midst of abundance of outward things which they possess but this I say will sweeten our enjoyments to us for being assured of God we know that what we have comes from love and is a pledge of greater love and is that which our God sees to be good for us and is blessed to us 3 This assurance will give the foul boldness to come unto God and make it familiar with him and much sweeten and heighten Communion This will fill us with comfort in our approaches to the Throne of Grace when we can confidently call God Father Am I in great straights or do I lye under some sore afflictions is this or that wanting to me what a comfort is it now that I have a God to go to a God in Covenant with me that can succour and deliver me that can supply my wants and is able to do for me exceeding abundantly above all that I can ask or think 4 Assurance of a Covenant interest in God will take off the fear of Death a true believer that applies the covenant with assurance of Faith doth not put the day of Death far from him as being loath to see it and even affraid to think of it no but he desires to be dissolved and to be with Christ he knows that Death is Vltimus morborum medicus that which cures all diseases cures the Pride and Covetousness and Hardness and Frowardness and Unbelief and sluggishness of the heart cures the body of the Dropsie Scurvie Gout Stone c. frees it from all diseases pains and griefs he knows that Death will let him into a clear full and everlasting enjoyment of God and therefore he is glad when his glass is run whereas the awakned Soul that hath no upprehension of an interest in God cannot but be troubled at the thoughts of Death and even affrighted at the grimm countenance of that King of Terrours As one of the Kings of England once in his straights cryed out A Kingdom for a Horse a Kingdom for a Horse So will an awakned Soul cry out when Death presents it self Oh a Kingdom a World ten thousand Worlds if I had them for assurance of an interest in the Covenant of Grace but Oh how comfortable and delightfully may an assured Soul think of Death which is a passage to his everlasting rest and happiness in the nearest sweetest fullest enjoyment of his God and Saviour for evermore 5. The thoughts of the Judgment to come will be sweet to those that have a known interest in the Covenant of Gods his love for the Judge is their friend their brother their head their husband and the day of Judgment Acts 3.19 Eph. 4.30 shall be to them the time of refreshing the day of their Redemption of their full Deliverance from all misery and corruption the day of their publick absolution and perfect justification and the time of the manifestation of Gods love to them in the fullest measure 6. He that is certain of his interest in Gods Covenant is certain of his interest in Salvation and so the thoughts of Heaven must needs be delightful to him while he is certain that it is the blessed rest prepared for him the place of his everlasting abode in happiness yea this assurance gives the Soul a present possession of Heaven brings Heaven down as I may say into the bosom of a believer while he is upon Earth Faith is the sâ—bstance Heb. 11.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the subsistance of things hoped for it gives a real existance or being to that which is held forth in the promise an assured Soul hath Heaven within it Thus you see the benefit of assurance some special advantages and comforts that thence accrue to the Soul which should be a great inducement to put us upon care and pains to get it doth it not bring a sufficient reward with it Doth not the profit and comfort that comes by it far exceed the greatest profit in the World and the greatest comfort that Earth affords Therefore though the Covenant may be savingly applyed by Faith where assurance is not yet let us strive to assurance that we may live and die comfortably in assurance of God his everlasting love towards us in Christ Jesus Now I shall shew you how assurance may be attained and how it may be discerned from presumption Way to assurance 1. Concerning the way and means to attain assurance We must be much in exercising and acting all Grace must be diligent in trading with our stock of Grace that we may attain to the riches of assurance Col. 2.2 as the Apostle calls it The diligent hand maketh rich That we may have comfort and assurance we must beware of negligence and sluggishness and laziness in duty and of remisseness in the exercise and actings of Grace True is that which a reverend Doctor now with God hath told us in a Treatise of his That it is the lazie Christian commonly that wants assurance and that the way of painful dutie is the way of fullest comfort Sloth and idleness stops the fountain of comfort causeth Christ to with-hold his comforts Parents are not wont to smile but frown upon their Children when they are negligent and careless of their duty and neglective of their observance toward them All the honour that God hath from us is from the exercise and actings of Grace and the more we strive to honour God the more will he comfort us with the manifestations of himself and the revelations of his love in our hearts Active Christians shall have most of Gods love and of the manifestation of his Grace to them He that hath my Commandements Joh. 14.21 and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be beloved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self tâ— him Again sloath and negligence causeth want of peace and comfort for this reason because Grace is not sensible apparent and evident to the Soul but in the exercise and actings of it as the fire that is in the flint is not discernable till you smite and force it out In acting Faith upon Jesus Christ and the promises of God and in acting love toward God and Christ you will know that you have the grace of Faith and Love will know that ye believe and that ye love God and so will know that God loveth you for we love God because he loved us first and our believing is a fruit of the promise of Grace 2. We must be much in the application of the Covenant with a faith of adherence and innitency cleaving to the promises and casting our selves by Faith
through Christ upon the mercy and grace of a Covenanting God till the love and grace of God be revealed from faith to faith 3. We must take heed that we do not greive but please the spirit of God the Comforter that reporteth the love of the Father unto Souls and sealeth them up to the day of Redemption The way to assurance of Gods love is to comply with and give content to the witnessing sealing Spirit 4. If we desire that God should bestow upon us the riches of full assurance then let us be thankful for the least glimps of Light that he maketh to shine into us let us not look at any of the consolations of God as small but let us be thankful for any pledge of his favour The Lord in making out his love to the Soul deals saith one as Boaz dealt with Ruth he first gave her liberty to glean in his fields then to glean even among the sheaves then invited her to eat bread with him and to dip her morsels in the vinegar and at last he took her to be his Wife to lye in his bosome so doth God discover his love to believers first more sparingly and as at greater distance then draws nearer and reveals himself more clearly shewing himself more friendly to them and familiar with them and then at length he gives his Spirit into their bosom to assure them of his love and of their interest in all his grace Now the ready way to attain all this to have such manifestations of Gods love to us is to be truly thankful for the least appearance of Grace Then will God say to such a Soul art thou so thankful for a beam of Light I will fill thee with the fountain of Light art thou thus thankful for crumbs that fall under the board I will feast thee with marrow and fatness at my Table 5. One other great means conducing to a certainty of our interest in Gods Covenant is a serious trial of our hearts and of the state of our Souls by and according to the Word of God the Scripture tells us who are the people of God his Covenanted ones what are their qualifications and properties therefore let us see what the Scripture holds forth in this point and then let us diligently prove our selves whether we be such persons so qualified that by this means we may come to a certainty of our estate Now for direction herein to make short work of it know this that where holiness is there is the Covenant of God his love Holy Beloved Col. 3.12 all holy Souls are beloved of God prove your selves then whether there be a true work of Grace wrought in you by the spirit of God whether you are of the number of Gods holy ones Qu. How may this be known who are holy ones An. Where corruption is by Grace so far subdued that sin reigns not there is holiness when a Soul is delivered not wholly from sin that will not be in this life but from the law of sins so that sin hath not dominion over him The Apostle saith Rom. 6.12 Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies that ye should obey it in the lust thereof he doth not say ne sit let not sin be in you though we must not allow it in our selves or suffer it to be quiet but ne regnat let not sin reign in you Sin reigneth when it hath the wil 's consent the hearts delight and commands the whole man when a man is a willing servant of sin and as the Apostle saith yields his members weapons of unrighteousness unto sin is in a readiness to obey sins commands and to fulfill the lusts of the flesh Sin cannot be said to reign when a man doth unwilling service to sin bewailes and hates the evil that is in him and the evil that is done by him and wars against sin and prays against Sin and desires and endeavours to shake off the yoke of sin I say here sin cannot properly be said to reign though it exerciseth a Tyrannical power forcing a poor soul many times to do its commands and where this reign of sin is not there is holiness but where sin reigneth there is no Saintship 2. He that is universal and serious in his desires to be good and do good having respect to all Gods commands that truly desires to be filled with the knowledg of Gods will in all wisdome and spiritual understanding and to walk worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing and to be fruitful in every good work that desires and endeavours to order his conversation aright in the fear of God and to keep his Conscience void of offence toward God and toward men to be conformed to the mind of God in internal as well as external holiness and righteousness he is a holy man though he may have many infirmities falling short of his duty and doing oft times that which is displeasing to God 3. If a man be sincerely diligent in using the means of Grace setting his heart to seek God in them aiming at the profiting and perfecting of himself by them and bewailing his unprofitableness and barrenness under them such a person is to be numbred among holy ones true desires of Grace and cadeavours to get Grace are a sign of the truth of Grace but where the means of Grace are slighted and neglected and God is not songht unto for Grace there is no Grace no work of Holiness yet wrought in the Soul for Grace is such a good thing such a precious thing and Holiness is so desirable so comfortable and delightful that he who hath any thing of it desires more and thinks that he can never have enough Well thus prove your real spiritual estate that hereby you may come to a knowledge of your relative estate This is the way to assurance of an interest in the Covenant of Gods love Thus much briefly touching the way to assurance the means by which it may be attained Marks of assurance Now for some marks or evidences of the assurance of Faith to shew you how it may be discerned from Presumption 1. The presuming heart is a proud heart that is lifted up in it self and makes no humble acknowledgment of the grace of God but the assured soul is humble in it self and admires the love of God toward it in Christ Jesus Ah Lord who am I that thou shouldst thus manifest thy self to me Oh what a mercy is this and what manner of love is this that thou shouldst thus embrace me in thine armes and take me into thy bosom and kiss me with the kisses of thy mouth O my God what rich grace is this that thou shouldst give me assurance of my interest in thee of my Union and Communion with thee of thine everlasting love toward me 2. The presuming soul resteth satisfied with that of God which he presumeth he hath but a true Believer earnestly longeth after a fuller enjoyment of God and
will not make thy condition better than the Word makes it to be 3. If it be the testimony of a carnal heart speaking peace to a man it will make him careless of duty and give him much liberty but if it be a true spiritual Witness it will make him more careful more studious to honour God more diligent in the service of God Serve thy God honour thy God strive to please thy God who hath given the Covenant of his love to thee saith the new Regenerate Spirit taking up the evidence of Gods love and telling the Christian that he hath an interest in the Covenant of Grace Thus you have the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the proofs and evidences of the truth of assurance whereby we may be able to discern between it and presumption well now to resume and a little further to press this perticular exhortation Exhortation resume the fourth counsel which I suggested to you from the Doctrine Labour truiy and thorowly to apply the Covenant strive to a certain knowledge of your spiritual estate real and relative to know whether you belong to God or no and whether the Covenant of his love doth belong to you Take two or three swasives or incentives hereunto Incentives besides those which you have had already 1. Mistakes herein are most dangerous for such a mistake of ones condition judging it to be good when it is naught is a very great strengthner of sin making a man regardless of bettering his condition and causing him to misapply Scripture to apply promises and comforts when threatnings and terrours belong to him 2. The commonest cause of souls undoing is this that they would not be perswaded to try their estate but gratifie Satan joyning with him to deceive themselves being perswaded by him to pass a way their years in security and a careless oscitancy not once questioning their condition or spending any time at all to prove what their estate is Godward if any man think himself to be something when he is nothing be deceives himself and this self deceiving is self-undoing 3. A certain knowledge of a Covenant interest in God will set the soul on working sweetly toward God with its affections and graces 1. Such a soul will sorrow after a godly sort bewailing his finning against God whom he now knows to be his God who dearly and tenderly loved him even while he was sinning against him and dishonouring him 2. Psa 18.1 2. Such a soul will love the Lord when he knows his near relation to God and God's affection toward him 3. Desire will be drawn out after God when the soul apprehends its interest in him O Lord Psa 63.1 thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee 4. A known interest in God will be a ground of continual rejoycing I will rejoyce in the Lord Hab. 3.17 I will joy in the God of my Salvation 5. This is that which will strengthen the souls confidence in God even in the greatest straights Such are the fruits and effects of assurance of an interest in God Psa 46.1 2 3. and the examination of our selves the tryal of our estate is the way to this assurance Thus you have had a 4th branch of the use of exhortation a fourth counsel from the point apply the Covenant of Gods love truly and thorowly You have seen how and why you should labour to make such an application I proceed now to a Fifth Counsel Couns 5. Meditate on the Covenant having laid hold on the Covenant Meditate on it and on your interest in it that frequently and seriously viewing your relative estate your relation to God and interest in his Covenant you may be deeply affected with it and enjoy the sweetness of it This is that which I would perswade you to not only to think of this Covenant and of an interest in it of the preciousness of the Covenant and of the souls happiness in such an interest it is not a bare work of the understanding and memory that is here called for but to get these things from the head to the heart from the understanding to the affections that there may be heart as well as life in the soul that by acting our understanding and affections upon the Covenant and upon God in Covenant with us we may have a sweet enjoyment of him To Meditate is diligently and intently to think upon and consider a thing Meditation brings God near sets him full in the eye of the soul and presents him with his Covenant of Grace in the most afflicting way serious and deep meditation will draw up arguments to affect us from every Attribute of God and from the consideration of our former estate when we were without God in the World and without Christ and without Hope and from the happines of our present estate in having and apprehending the Lord to be our God and from the preciousness of the promises in which we are interessed and from the confirmation of the Covenant and from the present fruits of it and its future priviledges and advantages Thus Meditation is a means to affect the soul with the goodness and sweetness of the Covenant that we may take much comfort in it And further a due diligent serious meditation of the power and wisdom and mercifulness and faithfulness and satisfactoriness of God in whom we have interest through Christ of his everlasting love toward us and of the freeness of his grace in making a Covenant with us becoming our God and taking us to be his people and of the riches of his grace held forth to us in the Covenant of Promise and the consideration of the tender love of Jesus Christ who undertook to be the Mediator of this Covenant for us reconciling us to God by his Death making peace for us by his Bloud bearing the Curse which should have come upon us and restoring us to the blessing which we had lost purchasing for us eternal Salvation pleading his Bloud with his Father and making continual intercession for us that we may be kept in favour with God notvvithstanding our many sins and provocations vvho is become our head and the immortal husband of our souls vvho kisseth us vvith the kisses of his mouth and embraceth us novv in the armes of his love and vvill take us to a perpetual abode and Communion vvith himself hereafter I say a due Meditation hereof vvould be a means to stirr up in us holy affection toward God 1. This would be a means to enflame us with holy love to God and Christ who have loved us with such a free preventing tender abounding fruitful and everlasting love 2. This would be a means to excite desire and to set the Soul on longing for a nearer uninterrupted communion with and a fuller enjoyment of this God and this Jesus Christ that my Soul may be no longer at a distance from my God but that I may dwell with
give him praise makinâ— it not only the labour of our lips but the work of our hearts powâ—ing out our very souls unto him who hath manifested the gracious pâ—rpose of his heart towards us it the Covenant of Life and Salvation which â—e hath given us 5. Praising of God for the Covenant of his mercy and love shalâ— be the constant etâ—rnal work of Saints in Heaven when they shâ—â—â— bâ— fully made partakers of 〈◊〉 blessings of the Covenant being taken up to the fullest fruition of their God and made full of joy with the light of his countenance and is not Heaven work to be beguâ— by us here do we not pray that Gods will may be done on Earth as it is in Heaven now this will argue a heavenly Spirit to be taken up with heavenly employment and action and this will be a means to make the heart more heavenly Oh let us now enure our selves to our everlasting work and labour to be as like as may be here to what we shall be hereafter 6. The more we let our hearts out to God in thankfulness for the grace of the Covenant praising him for the free donation of himself to us as prising him above all the more will he let himself out to us and communicate his goodness clearing up to us our interest in him shedding abroad his love in our hearts Psa 50.23 so making us glad with the Light of his Countenance Qu. How shall we shew our selves thankful to God for the Covenant of promise the Covenant of his love Ans In cleansing our selves from all filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit and perfecting holiness in the fear of God This is the return which God expects from us for his love toward us that we declare our selves on his side against sin which is his great enemy that we freely give up our selves to him who hath engaged himself to us that as he is become our God so we should be his people a people of his holiness and that we strive to walk worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing 2. Let us declare to others the preciousness of the Covenant and the comfort and sweetness of a Covenat interest in God tell them that this is infinitely more worth than all other interests and enjoyments seeking thus to draw souls unto God this is thankfulness for exhibiting grace cordially and affectionately to commend both the gift and the giver 3. 〈◊〉 us thankfully and with enlarged hearts bless God for the Lord Jesus Christ the root of the Covenant as I may say and the Mediator of the Covenant By his Blood the Covenant was purchased for us and by his mediation it is performed to us therefore let us set the name of Christ to all this grace God the Father delighteth to have his son honoured and he that honours not the Son honours not the Father therefore let Christ be great with us upon this account that he hath procured the love of his Father to us 4. Our prizing of the Covenant and our thankfulness for it will be shewn in our longing for a nearer communion with God and a fuller fruition of him in the accomplishment of all the promises of the Câ—venant We are not thankful to God for the Covenant whereby he is become our God unless we make him our â—rd our portion our treasure and have our hearts set upon him and desire carried to him O Lord thou art my God why have I no more enjoyment of thee why is my soul at such a distance from thee it contents me not to see thy back parts O shew me thy face O let the time hasten when I shall see as I am seen Thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee O blessed day when I shall come to appear before my God in Sion Thus you have had a seventh Counsel and some directions about it 8thly Let us constantly act faith upon the Covenant which God hath given us Couns 8. Act faith upon the Covenant and upon God in Christ covenanting with us This is the way to fetch sweetness from the Covenant to suck out the hony that is in it I shall hold forth some exciting considerations Incitements some arguments to perswade to the acting of Faith upon God and upon his Covenant of Promise 1. Consider that as God reâ—aires this so he is greatly delighted with the actings of precious faith upon such a precious object as himself who is the believers and and happiness This is very pleasing to God because it gives him the glory of his goodness and of his all sufficiency and of the truth and certainty of his Covenant by acting saith upon God's Covenant of promise and so fetching our comfort from thence we set to our Seal that God is good and that he is sufficient for us and that he is truâ— â—â—e real in Covenanting and faithful in performing his Covenant to his people now I say it must needs he that God is delighted with thesâ— actings of Faith while the soul rowl's it self upon him and fetches its comforts from him and satisfies its self with him because thus the sould gives him the glory of his precious Attributes which are so dear to him 2. This is a most sweet pleasant and delightful life to the believer himself to lie sucking by faith at the fuâ—l breasts of consolation to drink in the pure waters of the Fountain of Life to feed upon the marrow and fatness the honey and sweetness of the sweet Covenant of grace to be satisfied with God to have all in him There is a vast difference between Faiths repasts and the worlds refreshings between Covenant comforts which are received by faith and creature comforts which are apprehended and taken in by senses Oh how do they differ in respect of pureness and fullness and durableness and universality or extensiveness 1. In respect of pureness there is a mixture of wax in the most clarified honey of earthly delights there is some bitterness in the sweetest morsels of sublunary contentments they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bitter-sweets there is a mixture of dreggs in the purest liquors of the worlds comforts but the comfort of a Covenant interest in God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sincere this is honey without wax it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sweet indeed without any bitterness in it it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pure indeed liquor without any dregs 2. Great is the difference betwixt the comfort which the faith of a believer fetcheth from Gods Covenant and that which a worldling fetcheth from the Creature in respect of fullness Alass the bâ—st comforts which the world yields do rather provoke than fill the appetite do rather enerense than quench thirst no inferious good no sublunary enjoyment is adequate or proportionable to the capacity or desire of the Soul When Hannah wept before the Lord because she was Childless said Eâ—kanah to her Why weepest thou am not
my God 5. The frequent actings of faith upon the Covenant bringing it home to our selves by renewed application will be an execllent means to frame our hearts to contentedness with our condition we have a notable instance of this in David Although my house be not so with God 2 Sam. 23.5 yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant well ordered in all things and sure It is not indeed with my house alâ—ogether as I hoped not fully answerable to the letter of the Promise which God hath made to righteous Rulers That they shall be as the Light of the morning when the Sun riseth c. yet this is my comfort I am in Covenant with God he hath made an everlasting Covenant with me this helps all and this is all my desire though he maketh not my house to grow I am contented with that which I have in the Covenant Qâ—est Whence is it that the Soul acting faith upon the Covenant fetcheth such contentment from it Ans 1. Because when Creature-comforts that are the Conduit-pipes conveighing Gods goodness to us are cut off faith goes to the Fountain and drinks there The believing soul makes God its portion and finding all in him is satisfied with him this is the excellent skill singular art of faith thus to supply wants and so to bring contentment by taking up all in God 2. Faith in Gods Covenant presents the believer with the principal full blessing of the Covenant and gives it into the bosom of the soul faith gives the soul a light of Heaven and sets the Crown the everlasting inheritance before the believer Heb. 12.1 Faith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the subsistence of things hoped for that which makes Heaven and future glory present to the soul Thus Faith fetcheth contentment from the Covenant by appropriating the Covenant and looking into the grace and riches of the Covenant and ascertaining the soul hereof The carnal man hath his contentment such as it is or at least he seeks contentment in that which he sees before him and that which he hath about him here in the World but the believer fetcheth contentment from what he hath in hope upon account of his interest in the everlasting sure Covenant of God 6. The constant acting of Faith upon Gods Covenant Ours will help us to improve our Covenant interest in God to a Saint-like Son like dependence on him for protection and provision for all needful mercies and comforts Thus David excellently improves his interest in God unto such dependance on him and confidence Psa â—3 in him The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want Though I walke through the valley of the â—hadow of Death I will fear nonâ— evil for thou art with me Surely mercy and goodness shall follow me all the days of my life for the Lord is my God and so in another Psalm Psal 71. In thee O Lord do I put my trust deliâ—â—â— me O my God thou art my hope An active faith makes a sweet improvement of the Souls interest in God unto such confidence in him to make him our all-sufficiency in all estates And there is very good reason why believers in the exercise of faith should rely on God in Covenant with them 2. Because they know that God is all-sufficient for them in every estate 1. There is in him a sufficiency of wisdom to find out ways for the bettering of the conditions of his people and to understand what is good for them 2. There is in him a sufficiency of Power to act by the means which he finds out and to render them effectual for our good yea and he can do us good without means his Power is unlimited he can do what he will and how he will 3. There is in God likewise a sufficiency of Goodness and Mercy to put forth his wisdom and power for his peoples good Truly God is good to Israel the Prophet Isa tells us Isa 63.7 of the loving kindness of the Lord and his great goodnes and his mercys and the multitude of his loving kindnesses towards his People This Mercy and Goodness and love of God will surely put forth his wisdom and power for the good of his People and this is that which faith lays hold on to cause the true believer to cast himself upon his God 2. The Soul that acteth faith upon Gods Covenant given him is sensible of God his relation to him and of his relation to God and hath herein a ground of confidence for if we be God his Covenanted ones 1. He is our Shepheard and we are his sheep now every good Shepheard is careful of his flock to defend it and provide for it upon this account David promiseth to himself all needful supplys from God and his gracious Protection because the Lord is his Shepheard See how the Prophet Isaiah holds forth Gods provident care for and indulgence and tenderness toward his People Isa 40.11 who are his Sheep He shall feed his Flock like 〈◊〉 Shepheard he shall gather the Lambs with his armes and carry them in his besome and shall gently lead those that are with young 2. If we be Gods Câ—venanted ones Mal. 1.6 then he is our Master and we are his Servants a good Master hath a care of his servants a counts himself to stand charged by vertue of his relation to look after them and provide for them now surely God is the best Master he is most loving toward most careful of and makes the best provision for his servants 3. God is a Father to his Covenanted ones and they are his children and like a Father he loves them and pities them and is ready to minister to all their necessities surely Gods bowels are more tender than man's and his love is infinitely beyond the love of earthly Parents Tam pater nemo tam pius nemo there is no Father like him none so indulgent as he is If ye being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give When God promises to heal Israels condition he gives this reâ—sâ—n of it Jer. 31.9 For I am a Father to Israel This relation of a Father works much upon the heart of God so that he remembers his children when they are unmindful of him 4. God is a Husband to those that are in Covenant with him Isa 54.5 and they are his spouse his dearly beloved now in this near relation â—â—â—iction is dâ—awn out between Creatures to do what they can to â—elp and comfort and procure the good of one another and though there may be a failing between a Man and his Wife for want of â—ower or ability and sometimes or want of a good disposition and due conjugal affection yet God â—annot fail to answer this relation 〈◊〉 the full Now the Soul I say acting faith â—pon the Covenant is confident in God upon account of such relation of God to
the soul that is in Covenant with him 3. God hath tied himself by â—ovenant to his People to heal â—â—m and help them and to give â—â—m all needful good things and to be all in all to them I will make an everlasting Covenant with them Jer. 32.40 that I will not turn away from them to do them good yea I will rejoyce over them to do them good Now the Soul knows that God is no Covenant breaker and therefore in remembrance of this tye which God hath laid upon himself while faith is awake and active the believer hath a dependance on his God O Lord thou art my God I will trust in thee I shall not perish I shall not want there is wisdom enough and power enough and goodness enough in my God and these Attributes of his are engaged to me that I may stay my self upon them Oh Christians the acting of faith with strength and vigour upon Gods Covenant would make us to depend on him and have confidence in him even in a Sea of miseries in the deepest affliction casting our selves upon the power and mercy and faithfullness of our God when our condition seems to be desperate Is it thus and thus with me are maters brought to this pass yet I will not let go the Covenant I will not lose my hold on God I know God will deliver me one way or other even in that way which he sees to be best for me This well be one happy improvement of our interest in the Covenant by acting faith upon it 7. By this means our interest in the Covenant would be improved unto love toward God and obedience to him I put them together as for hafts sake so in regard of their necessary connection and conjunction they being insâ—perable in as much as obedience doth naturally flow from love I say the more constant and the stronger the actings of faith upon the Covenant are the more affectionâ—tly will the Soul love God and the more chearfully and constantly obey him True faith is a loving faith which carries the affection of love unto God who hath given the Covenant of his love unto us and it is a lively working faith which moves and acts the soul towards God and gives it up to him who hath not with-held himself from us but hath bestowed himself upon us A clear apprehension of an excelling good and a knowledge of my interest in it must needs draw my affection to it Relation hath ever been a ground of affection where loveliness is apprehended Now the Lord full of all glorious excellencies transcendently good is my God my Father my Husband he love's me with an abounding immense constant everlasting love oh how can I chuse but love him yea love him much while he vouchsafes to give himself full of all goodness and blessedness into my bosome and so satisfies my soul fills me with himself I cannot chuse but love a satisfying good and oh I truly desire to please him my soul is grieved for any unkindness of mine toward him or disobedience to him Gospel-grace the grace of the Covenant which appeareth bringing salvation teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.12 and to live soberly and righteously and godlily in this present world This is another notable effect and fruit of acting Faith upon the Covenant of grace 8. By this means our interest in the Covenant will be improved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to that strong consolation spoken of in the sext Therefore God with whom the soul is in Covenant is called the God of all consolation 2 Cor. 13. Now they are as hath been said pure full sure comforts that are fetcht from the Covenant by the extractory vertue and power of Faith which is a rare Chymist indeed God comforteth the believer acting faith upon him shall tribulations in every pressing pinching condition This is my Comfort in affliction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 119.50 for thy word hath quickned me When the believer is damped in spirit and as it were dead in regard of spiritual operations and affections faith reviveth him drawing lift out of the word of promise from the Covenant of God Though it be thus and thus with me yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant The sence hereof doth not only support the soul but rejoyce it The soul is comforted against sin and Satan and death and Hell and amidst sorrows and afflictions in the world when a Christian remembreth what he hath in the Covenant and how he stands related to God and are these consolations of God small 9. Faith acted upon the Covenant leads the soul as it were to the top of an exceeding high hill or mountain and thence shews it the kingdome of heaven and the glory thereof And saith All this will God the Father give thee this is thy inheritance thy God hath given in thee in promise and will give it thee in hand for his Covenant is sure Faith acted upon the promise of God giveth the soul a lively hope of salvation verily there remaineth a rest to the people of God it is certain to them by the certainty of God's promise God's Covenant gives believers a right to it and it is certain to them as to their fruition of it by God's unchangeable decree Though it be to be enjoyed upon condition of enduring to the end of persevering in faith and new obedience yet in as much as that condition is likewise absolutely promised and Christ hath undertaken to be the worker and finisher of our faith and perfecter of our salvation this salvation is still absolutely certain upon promise Hope O my Soul saith faith hope to the end for the salvation which is to be brought to thee at the revelation of Jesus Christ Wilt thou distrust God hast thou not his promise to rest upon hath he not given thee his Covenant and Oath for thy assurance rance When the flesh hath nothing wherein it may rejoyce yet do thou O believing soul keep the rejoycing of hope firm unto the end 10. A lively acting of faith upon the Covenant will raise the Christian to heavenly mindedness to have his heart much in heaven with his God who is his portion and his treasure when faith reads the love and goodness and desirableness of God as he hath expressed himself in the lines of the Covenant and gives the soul a true account of it now the soul must needs love where it is thus loved and where there is such lovliness for this is attractive of love Now anima est ubi amat the heart the soul is where it loveth if the treasure be in Heaver there will the heart be therefore if we would have our hearts to be in Heaven let us keep them still possessed with true believing thoughts and apprehensions of the free abounding grace and love of God toward us expressed in the Covenant which he hath given us Oh if we could by faith lodge our
Covenant therefore let humble souls broken-hearted sinners arise and go to God who calls them and holds forth grace to them in his Covenant There is yet a third specialty in our second general rule of direction which he that would rightly apply the Covenant must take notice of 3 This Covenant is a Covenant offered to sinners to those to whom the poyson of Adam's corrupted nature is propagated and by whom much sin hath been acted to such as are full of sin and loaden with guilt even to Publicans and Harlots to a Manasseh to a Mary Magdalen God's Covenant is held out to such if they come in by repentance and bring Faith to lay hold on it Isai 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the man of iniquity his thoughts and let him return to the Lord for he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Paul tells the Corinthians 1 Cor. 6.9 that some of them were Fornicators and Idolaters and Adulterers and Covetous and Drunkards c. but they are washed and justified and sanctified Now this was Covenant grace this was the performance of the Covenant to them This is to be considered by those that have been great sinners to keep them from presumption on the one hand and from dispair on the other hand 1 The Covenant is held out to sinners not to proud self-admiring Pharisces or presumptuoâ—â— offenders but to humble self-judging Penitents to repenting sinners If we do not see our selveâ— sinners if we have not a dâ—â— humbling sight and sense of sin we cannot apply the Covenant 〈◊〉 Grace 2 The Covenant is held out to sinners even to the greatest sinners that repent therefore let noâ— any self-judging soul despair oâ— receiving the mercy and grace oâ— the Covenant 1 Jo. 1.9 If we confess oâ— sins God is just and faithful to fuâ—give our iniquities and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness Come to me all ye that labour Mat. 11 2â— and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Thus you see what use is to be made of this consideration with respect to the application of the Covenant it is a Covenant offered to sinners therefore we must see our selves to be sinners and judge our selves for our iniquities that we may take it and having a sight of our own unworthiness and being wounded with the sense of sin we must not out our selves off from the Covenant whâ—se the Word of God doth not â—ut us off as I willsay to the impenitent secure presumptuous sinner Why medlest thou with the Covenant Hands off it belongs not to thee so I would say to any humble mourning penitent self-judging sinner Poor soul why standest thou so far off Behold the Lord calls thee and offers his grace to thee therefore draw thou near and lay hold on the Covenant of his mercy and love You have seen a second rule that is to be observed by those who desire duly to apply the Covenant Remember that it is God's Covenant of Grace offered to sinners 3 That you may not misapply the Covenant or catch at that which belongs not to you keep this in mind That God's Covenant is made only to Abraham and his seed Now Abraham's seed children of Promise included in the same Covenant with Abraham are in general all the Elect but God's Election is a secret which cannot be known à priori but only by God himself who alone knows who are his yet we may have a knowledge of it à posteriori when we find that we are called with a holy and effectual calling Now I say you must apply the Covenant as being Abraham's â—eed finding a true work of grace in your hearts the saving effects of the Covenant upon your souls whence you may conclude your Covenant relation to God and interest in his precious promises or else you do not apply the Covenant truly and honestly but unjustly laying a false claim to it 4 As we must make God in his Covenant our end so we must make Christ as Mediator our way and therefore in applying the Covenant must look to him and act Faith primarily on him by whom the grace of the Covenant is purchased for us and in and through whom it is conveyed to us we must accept of Christ for our Lord and Jesus that we may receive the Covenant of Grace and Peace and salvation through him 5 We must know that the Covenant is propounded and offered conditionally Faith and Repentance and New Obedience are the condition of Pardon and Salvation It is certain none are saved but by Covenant by a Covenant of Grace but it is by the Covenant kept therefore I must not think without any more ado to take this Covenant to my self not having any regard to the fulfilling of the condition of the Covenant in my self where there is not Faith and Repentance a true worke of grace and holiness there can be no right application of the Covenant So much now as to the first branch of the fourth General Counsel Apply the Covenant truly 2 Apply the Covenant thorowly Apply surely and thorowly see that you make sure work of it make sure to your selves your Covenant interest Seeing there is such a Covenant of Grace so precious and so necessary for us which belongs to the feed of Abraham and to them only why should we be content to live without assurance of our interest in it They who are in Covenant are for Heaven and they that are out of Covenant are for Hell Oh how desirous should we then be to be resolved and assured whether we be in Covenant or no How can we think or speak of God with comfort or without fear and trouble in our spirits while we are uncertain whether he be our God or no whether he be our friend or our enemy Let us labour therefore to be at a certainty in this point an infallible certainty of our interest in God's Covenant may be had Oh let us strive to it Now to quicken you in this case to excite you to diligence in making up to a thorow application of God's Covenant even to the full assurance of Faith I shall hint to you something of the benefit and comfort of assurance the unspeakable advantage that hence accrues to the soul Fruits of assurance 1 This assurance of Faith will sweeten to us all Providences and every condition of life 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. while a Christian lives by Faith in a clear apprehension of the love of God who hath made an everlasting Covenant with him no outward changes can work any great change in his spirit or make much impression pression upon him assurance of God's love will make a Christian to sit down under changes quietly and comfortably with the Prophet Habakkuk rejoycing in the Lord and joying in the God of his salvation 2 Assurance of God's love will sweeten to us our enjoyments in the world be it more
Christ after clearer and fuller Manifestations of his Psa 63.1 O God thou art my God saith David here is Faith apprehending an interest in God and applying the Covenant of his love well hath David enough of God No see what followes Early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee 3. The presuming Soul is still quiet it is all peace with such a one the Devil doth not at all trouble him but lets him alone and laughs at him to see how he disceives himself and how he is Devil deluded and befooled but where true faith is taking up the Covenant the Devil assaults the Soul and seeks to disturb and destroy its peace as he buffeted Paul after that he wâ—s wrapt up into the third Heavens and had seen such visions of Glory The Devil rageth against the Soul that hath any measure of assurance because this is that which doth excellently fit the soul to do God service They who have no experience of Satans onsets have reason to question the truth of their assurance if they pretend to any such matter 4. Presumption will not bear up the spirit under afflictions troubles and crosses against dangers and deaths but assurance will David was assured of Gods mercy and love toward him he saith therefore Psal 23. That though he walk thorow the valley of the shadow of Death he will fear no evil The Apostle writing to Believers saith Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods known in your selves that you have a better and more enduring substance 5. The presuming Souâ—â—s bold with sin and goes on in sin but a well grounded assurance of Gods love breeds a distance betwixt the Soul and sin and arms and strengthens the Soul against sin it makes a man to loath sin Sin is hateful to the assured Soul How shall I do this thing and sin against my God who loveth me and hath shed abroad his love in my heart shall I dishonour him and grieve him and dispise his Commands and be found a rebel against him The assured Soul fears the Lord and his goodness fears to offend him Psa 85.8 because he is a good God his good God God will speak peace to his people but let them return no more to folly when peace is Preached in any ones heart this is the use which naturally flows from that Doctrine now return no more to folly 6. If we say that we have assurance of Sonship and of an interest in Christ and in the Covenant of Gods love let us examine whence we have it by what Testimony we are assured As Christ said to some of his Disciples upon a certain occasion ye know not what Spirit ye are of so we may say to many that are ready to boast of their assurance that they know not from what Spirit it comes or whence they had it There is a dangerous ill grounded peace and false perswasion that many have which comes from an evil Spirit from the Devil that old deceiver the beguiling Serpent and from a vain carnal loose spirit of their own Qu. What then is the true witness from whose Testimony true assurance is had An. The Apostle tells us Rom. 8.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 una testatur cum spiritu nostro hâc ratione duo erunt testes nempe Spiritus Dei Spiritus noster certior ab eo factus The Spirit it self bears witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God that same spirit which he called the Spirit of God ver 14. and the Spirit â—f Adoption ver 15. that same Spirit beareth witness with our Spirit so that there is the Testimony of the Spirit of God and the Testimony of our Spirit and they both agree in one First the Spirit of God witnesseth bringing this assurance to the Soul We have received the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given us of God Cor. 2.12 Now the Spirit of God witnesseth and giveth such assurance by working and by speaking The Spirit of God witnesseth Sonship by his Works which hâ— effecteth which he createth in the Soul upon which the promise cometh This way of witnessing is first in order of nature The Spirit brings in the nature of Gods Child working so great a change that it is called the renewing of the holy Ghost and the subject of this change thâ— soul thus changed is called a new Creature 2. There is the Word of the Spirit testifing to the spirit of a Christian that he is the child of God by promise I say there is the Spirits Word viz. a full sensible clear conviction which the Spirit of God brings to the heart of a believer perswading him that the promise belongs to him This Word of the Spirit comes upon the work of the spirit so that where the Spirits work it not which is a work of renewing the heart and delivering it up to a conformity in some good measure to the mind of God there the Spirits word comes not to witness Gods love to the Soul therefore let people take heed of mistakes herein The Spirit of God never told you that you are in Gods favour unless he hath put into your hearts Gods fear he never gave you the name of Sons or Daughters or suggested to you your interest in the inheritance of Sons unless he hath brought in the nature of Sons and stamped the image of God upon you Now because mistakes about this are too ordinary and very dangerous I shall give you more distinctly some clear difference between the true assuring report and testimony of the spirit of God and the false deluding testimony of another spirit 1. The Testimony of the Spirit of God witnessing to Souls the love of God is not given by extraordinary immediate Revelation or an audible voice from Heaven as the Devil makes people to believe and as some pretend to have assurance they way while they slight and despise the word and promises those sacred Oracles of God to which believers should have recourse for their comfort and villifie and mock at that perswasion which believers have in Gods way of perswading Souls that is from the operation of the Spirit working true Grace and Holiness in them and thereupon speaking comfortably to them perswading them of God's love toward them and of their interest in his Covenant These poor Souls are deluded by Satan transforming himself into an Angel of Light and imitating God in those extraordinary wayes wherein he hath been woâ—â— heretofore to manifest himself to his people The witnessing word of the Spirit of God is a word coming upon and through his working in us and it is an inward voice a secret whispering that makes report within us of the love of God to us powerfully perswading us and sensibly convincing us of our Covenant interest in God 2. The Testimony of the Spirit of God comforting Souls by reporting Gods love to them and assuring them of their interest
in God is not given to any but those that fear the Lord and walk holily So Cornelius a devout man Acts 10.2 3 one that feared God which gave much almes to the People and prayed always to him while he was praying an Angel of God appeared telling him that his Prayâ—rs and his Almes were come up in remâ—mbrance before God While Daniel was praying confessing his sins and the sins of the People Dan. 9â— and presenting his supplications before the Lord for the holy Mountain of his God in the time of prayer euen at the beginning of his supplication an Angel comes and tells him Isa 64.5 That he is greatâ—y belâ—ved Thou meetest him that Rejoyceth and worketh Righteousness those that remember thee in thy wâ—ys To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the Salvatiâ—â— of God he shall sâ—e my Salvatioâ— with the eye of Faith and my Spirit shall witâ—â—ss to him my acceptance of him and give him assured hope 〈◊〉 eternal happinâ—ss The holy Spirit never witnesseâ—â— the love of God to any Soul out 〈◊〉 thy way of holinâ—ss therefore iâ— peace be spoken and the love 〈◊〉 God reported to ungodly persoâ— who walk loosly and carâ—lâ—sly thâ—â— is from the Dâ—vil this is the hiâ—â—â—â—â— of the old Serpent and not thâ— whispâ—ring of the good Spirit 3. The good Spirit of God alwayes witnesseth according to thâ— word of God there is always aâ— agreement betwixt those two wiâ—nesses which are both of God viâ— his word the outward witness aâ— his spirit the inward If the test mâ—ny of the Spirit should cross thâ— Testimony of the word then thâ— Spirit should contradict himself sâ— the Scriptures were indited by tâ—â— holy Spirit so that the word it sâ— is the Spirits testimony he doâ— not immediately testifie any thing contrary to that testimony which he hath given in the world where the word bindeth the Spirit doth not lose where the word condemneth the spirit doth not acquit where the Word proclaimeth war and threatneth Destruction the spirit doth not there whisper peace and promise Salvation the Spirit doth not bless any whom the Word curseth Now the Word saith Rom. 8.14 That they are the Children of God who are led by the Spirit of God that they are the children of promise who are changed by the spirit of promise and made new Creatures and that walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham and to none but these doth the spirit witness their adoption and their interest in the Covenant of Gods love That Testimony which crosseth the Testimony of the word speaking peace to a carnal unbelieveing impenitent graceless heart I say that testimony comes from the lying spirit of Hell 4. The Spirit of God is a holy Witness as formally and originally so efficiently holy he maketh a gracious and holy Soul The holy Spirit sealing peace and the love of God to the Soul doth strongly engage the Soul unto holiness and maketh it to encrease in holyness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the love of Christ constraineth us saith the Apostle Christ his love manifested to us hath power over our Souls and rules us over to the mind of Christ The Testimony of the holy Spirit maketh a Christian fearful to offend God and careful to please him and circumspect in walking before him That Testimony and speaking of peace to the Soul which makes a man bold with sin and lose in his walkinâ— that breedeth a neglect of holy duties and a despising or slighting of God his ordinances surely that testimony is from the Devil It is clear that the Spirit of God guideth those that are the Sons of God to whom he giveth this testimony that they are Sons now this Spirit leads from Sin and leadeth unto holiness and righteousness Thus you have seen which is the first witness from whose testimony true assurance is taken up and I have given you some rules for discerning between the true and false Witness whereby people may judge whether they have taken up true assurance or be possessed with a false perswasion and confidence Secondly The spirit of a Christian is another Witness that assures him of his interest in the Covenant of Gods love The spirit of a man of a Christian witnesseth with the spirit of God by reception and expression by taking in the effects of the Covenant of promise as knowledge faith and Love and all graces and thence witnessing to him his interest in the Covenant Object But is there any trusting to the Testimony of our own Spirit can that be a true witness in which we may confide Qâ—id corde humano fallacius Is not mans heart deceitful above all things Answ It not is our own carnal Spirit our own natural spirit that is the assuring witness Spiritus noster est cornostrum regeneratum Par. but our own Regenerate Spirit the new Spirit which God giveth now of this Spirit the Apostle John speaketh saying If our hearts condemn us not then have we confidence toward God Dictamen cordis regeneratiest infallibile saith Pareus Now it is Good for us to understand and note the difference between the testimonies that proceed from those two different witnesses different spirits that in this great matter we may not be deceived by our own hearts I shall therefore briefly shew you the difference between the testimony of a caâ—nal heart and the testimony of a renewed pirit 1. The carnal heart takes up its evidence confusedâ—y and groundlessly not heeding whether there be any gracious saving work of the Spirit of God upon the heart which in order of nature necessarily preceds the Testimony of that good spirit whisperings to witness the love of God to the Soul But the Regenerate new spirit takes up its evidence and gives forth its testimony within the Soul to the Conscience orderly and upon good ground observing herein the order of the spirit of God and grounding its testimony upon the work of the holy Spirit in the Soul Ye have not saith the Apostle received the Spirit of bondâ—ge again to fear Rom. 8.15 but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Fâ—ther The Spirit that brings in peace hath caused a man to see himself lost in himself so that he hath seen his bondage and miserable condition by sin before he came to apprehend his liberty by Christ and his happiness in the enjoyment of God his favour 2. The testimony of a carnal heart will be without the Word and contrary to the word justifiing where the Wâ—rd condemneth speaking peace to a formal Hypocrite or loose-liver or a carnal earthly minded worldling such a one may have a spirit that speaâ—eth good speaketh peace to him but it is a carnal lying spirit that speaks falsly but the Regenerate Spirit which is the true witness within a man gives evidence concerning a mans condition and speaks comfort by and according to the word a Regenerate Spirit will not flatter will not falsifie
I better to thee then ten sins as if she should be satisfied in him but suppose she had had ten such comforts as she longed for ten Sons and imagine her Elkanah to be an enjoyment ten times more comfortable then he was yet all this could not be satisfactory Ahabs Kingdom was as nothing to him till he had Naboths Vineyard and was he think you satisfied when he had that Could not a World satisfie Al xander no more would the whole World content us These things when we seek to fill our selves with them seem to say to us as Jacob to Rachael What are we to yâ—u instead of God The good that is satisfactory to the Soul must be aptimum maximum the best good that it may sistere appetitum fix the appetite there being nothing so desirable as it and the greatest good that it may implâ—re appetitum fill the appetite there being nothing needfull beside it Now when faith is acted upon the Covenant the soul takes up such a comfort such a good viz. Deum optimum maximum God the best good there being nothing so desirable as he is and God the greatest good even the all comprehending good that brings all with him and so is satisfactory to the Soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have fed said the Epicure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have found said the Philosopher there was a kind of a sudden ravishment with the enjoyment of their sensual and intellectual pleasure an empty delight but when the believer acting faith upon the Covenant as his feeds upon the goodness of God in it he may wel cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have fed upon that which fills me with a gratful satiety My sâ—ul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have found that which contents me which fills me with delight let David come in and attest this when acting faith upon the Covenant he had tasted afresh the consolation of his interest in God he cries out Ps 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth thâ—t I desire beside thee God is mine I have enough 3. Covenant comforts those which faith fetchâ—th from the Covenant have this excellency in them beyond all Creature comforts that they are durable abiding comforts Creature comforts have in them a vanity of Corruption as well as a vanity of emptiness they last but for a time even a short time like Jonah's gourd they are transient and momentary we can have no assurance of any worldly comfort no not for a day fâ—r who knows what a day may bring forth But now the comforts which faith doth fetch from the Covenant are streams issuing from a living Fountain that is always yeilding out they are day comforts and night-comforts summer-comforts and winter comforts to support and refresh the Soul in the night of trouble and the winter of adversity as well as in the day of outward peace and summer of prosperity Gods Covenant is an everlasting Covenant which yields everlasting comfort to those that are interested in it and if a Soul that hath an interest in it do at any time or in any case want comfort from it it is for want of a lively acting of faith upon it 4. The best of Creature-comforts are applicable only to some particular condition they are not a salve for every sâ—râ— but the comforts of the Covenant are suitable to every condition of a believer It is not the God of all comforts who hath given us this Covenant in which he hath given himself to us so that there is no case wherein the sould acting faith upon the Covenant shall not find comfort in its God 5. To urge one argument more that may perswade to the acting of faith upon the Covenant This will be a notable means of making a sweet and happy improvement of our interest in the Covenant I shall shew this in particulars 1. By familiarizing God to the Soul through the frequent constant actings of faith upon God in Covenant with us the thoughts of God will be sweet and comfortable to us The greatness and power and jealousie and justice of God when sâ—â—oâ—sly thought upon must needs be troublesom and terrible to those that are lirangers to him and have no apprehension of an interest in him but this will be matter of comfort to the believer that is interested in the Covenant of Gods love and frequently acteth faith upon it Why this is may God his greatness and his power and his justice shall be for my advantage put forth for my good and Oh! what a comfort will it then be to the soul to consider my God is merciful and gracious abounding in goodness and truth forgiving miquities healing diseasâ—s redeeming the life of his people from destruction and crowning them with his loving kindness and tender mercies 2. By thus acting faith upon the Covenant which God hath given us we shall be sweetly emboldned in our requests to God O Lord I come to thee now in a weighty case and in my great necessity to implore thy goodness toward me and why should not I with an humble boldness approach to the Throne of thy Grace being confident of acceptance through Christ seeing thou art verily my God and hast given me a promise to hear me and help me and to grant my requests for thy Sons sake 3. This will wonderfully sweeten all mercies When my heart is kept up in a believing frame and my acquaintance with God is encreased and assurance of his love toward me strengthened by renewed acts of faith what comfort may I now take in my enjoyments what sweetness may I find in inseriour good things and in those that comparatively are small matters why this is from my God and that is from my Father this is a gift of God's good will it cometh from a Father's love this is part of the blessing of the Coverant and all these gifts are the beginnings and earnest of everlasting mercies 4. By acting Faith upon the Covenant and by a frequent believing recognition of our interest in God we shall be enabled to bear afflictions patiently and to undergo them with chearfullness The sting of afflictions and the burden of the Cross is the apprehension of Gods anger in it but while this perswasion is kept up in the Soul that God is my God that the Covenant of his love is with me here is a surpassing comforting consideration in the greatest affliction Surely my God means me no harm he intends no evil to me in this he hath promised that all things shall work together for my good while he afflicts me he is my God still he threatens me and loves me still it is all for my profit I know that in faithfullness he afflicteth me all Gods ways are mercy and truth to his Covenanted ones O my Soul lye quietly under the red chear up under his affliction it is a fathers rod it is the dispensation of
a change â—â—ere Faith is it purifieth the â—â—rt and purgeth the conscience â—â—m dead works to serve the Liâ—â—ng God it acteth a man toward â—â—d it giveth up the Soul to Jesus â—â—rist it frameth people unto â—liness and new obedience Therefore all unholy and irreligious persons all workers of iniquitie being without Christ are without hope of happiness whatever they say Po. 14.32 But the Righteous hath hope in his Death He that by Faith hath laid hold on the Righteousness of Christ and is Sanctified by the Spirit of Christ to bring forth the fruits of righteousness in his life he hath hope through Christ Jesus that God who hath bestowed Christ upon him to Justifie anâ— Sanctifie him will together with him and through him give life Eternal Acts 28.10 1 Tim. 1.1 1 Cor 15.19 Christ is called the hope of Israel and the hope of Believers The Christians hope is in Christ If in this life only we have hope in Christ Beloved he that hath the Son hath everlasting life is saved by hope living and dying he is in certain expectation of Salvation by Christ Here is a main difference now betwâ—xt the Believer and the unbeliever between the true Christian and the worlding in this perticular And truly the condition of men and women in point of happiness is to be judged of not by what we see or what is now possessed but by what is hoped for hereafter upon good ground he is a poor man a wretched man that hath no hope in Christ As for your present outward enjoyments what an emptiness is in them and how uncertain are they these earthlie considences shall be plucked up they must perish If a man take up any serious thoughts of Eternitie what comfort can he take in his present enjoyments when he hath no hope of Heaven hereafter Now alas the Christless soule is a hopeless soule when the truth of the matter comes to be tried and therefore is a miserable soul inded But as for the Believer vvho possesseth Christ though he hath but little here of the World yet hath hope of an excceeding eternal vveight of glory hath hope of enjoying a Crown hereafter and this hope is the anchor of the soule sure and stedfast vvhich will not give vvay it entereth into that which is vvithin the Veile it is fastened on the Rock Christ Jesus so that it cannot be broken off there can be no disappointment of the Christian his hope he hath Christ that is the engaging and conveying gift of God and the rest must follow This is the great happines of 7 those that enjoy Christ such souls and such only have hope of eternal life Grant that the children of God do live here in a poor outvvard condition and are under Gods Rod in the School of affliction vvhile the ungodly flourish aboud in wealth have no changes allovv I say to vvicked men the greatest â—dds in this life Yet Believers have infinitely the advantage of them in regard of the hope that they have of another life vvhich is transcendently beyond this in the best condition of living here 2. There is a great difference between the Beleever and the Unbeleever betvveen the soul that possesseth Christ and the soule that hath not Christ in respect of present enjoyments There are many carnal men that have this worlds goods in a plentifull measure in great abundance but as long as they are without Christ if they seriously think upon it they have little reason to bless themselves they can take but little comfort in their enioyments for where Christ is not given nothing is given of God with a purpose of Grace so that the unbeliever hath reason to think that these things are given him in anger and in judgment to make him the more inexcusable to be a snare to him to fatten him against the day of slaughter to aggravate his sin and encrease his condemnation But now where God hath bestowed Christ and where the soul takes him up by faith other things coming in with him are gifts of God's will they are fruits and tokens of God his love whatsoever cometh from God together with Christ must needs come from love This is a sweet consideration indeed and surely all other enjoyments of Christians are as hath been hinted much sweetned to them and become much more valuable and profitable by their enjoyment of Christ he that hath not Christ hath nothing that is truly good to him nothing that will prove comfortable in the end but when I know that Christ is mine then I can look upon every thing that I enjoy and say This is the good gift of my God This is a gracious Dispensation this my Fathers love now let my Soul rejoyce in the God of my comforts 6. Infer 6. If Christ be such a gift of God the great all-comprehending gift then Christians should be satisfied with Christ though they possess not these outward things Christ makes up all If God hath given Christ to us he hath done enough for us though it is sure that with him he will give us all things and things needful and that which he sees to be good for us 2. If Jesus Christ be the great and principle gift of God Vse 2 Conviction then it is great folly in people to prefer any thing before Christ now surely many are they who may be convicted of folly upon this account for alass how few are they that make out after Christ People are content generally to be without him to be strangers to him some are Voluptuous some Covetuous some Ambitious Haec tria pro trino numine vul gus habere some for Pleasure some for Profit some for Honour these are the things that men look after but there is little looking after Christ he is held out to be the great gift of God the most comprehensive gift in whom there is a fullness of all good to give abundant satisfaction to the Soul that makes him its portion in him we shall find contentment which is not to be found in any thing beside him and he is such a conveying gift as brings along with him all things pertaining to life and godliness and this gift is held forth by God and offered to souls in the Ministry of the Gospel Come saith God take my Son and give your selves up to him you shall surely finde enough in him but oh how is Christ slighted as a thing of no value so that people will not be perswaded to seek an enjoyment of him Ah foolish worâ—dlings you will not be called off from your vain and sinful courses nor from the eager pursuit of the things of this world to look after â—hrist to get an interest in him Do you not in effect say rather let us enjoy the pleasures of sin rather let us have this Worlds goods we judge these things to be better then Christ Ah poor souls Why do you follow after lying vanities forsaking your own
who do in effect say as those daughters of Jerusalem What is thy belâ—ved more then other beloveds Cant. 5. 9. What a doe is here about Christ you say above all your gettings get Christs let go all and take Christ you tel us he is the great Gift he is all Why we find that there is something beside him and that which pleaseth us well that which we will hold Fast say you what you will or may we not have Christ and hold fast the World May we not have Christ and take our pleasure may we not enjoy Christ and our lusts together O friends if you will have Christ you must be resolved upon the termes to part from all for him 5. You must seek Jesus Christ in the use of those means which God hath appointed and afforded particularly in attendance upon the Ministery of the word wherein God maketh offers of Grace and holdeth forth Jesus Christ with his fulnes to you if you will receive him God will be sound of those that seek him Christ will come to those that wait for him in his own way But as for those Fanaticks and seduced soules who reckon themselues to be aboue Ordinances and those prophane ones who do wickedly despise them and stubbornely refuse to bring their spirits under them and turn their backs upon the Preaching of the Word Surely they are not in the way to find Christ 6. As you must attend upon Ordinances that you may finde Christ in them so you must heed God his offers of Christ and Christ his tenders of himself to you You must observe how Christ comes to you in the sweet motions of the Spirit knocking at the doors of your heart and importuning you to open to him Istand at the doore and knock if any man open to me I will come in to him Reve. 3.26 Christ speaketh in the Ministrie of the Gospel calling you to faith and repentance and new obedience and he knocketh at the doores of your hearts by the motions of his Spirit and this standing and knocking implies an carnest desire to be let in to be entertained Now vvhen vve repent and believe and give Christ enterance into our hearts this is to open the doore unto him Oh take heed you do not neglect the calls and knocks of Christ but open to him let the everlasting doores of your soules be lifted up that the King Glory may come in Oh how long have you kept Christ out of doore though he hath knocked hard and called aloud yet he could not hitherto obtain to have the doore opened to him you would not be perswaded to cast the World out of your hearts and to turn out lusts and take him in but still continue as vain as proud as worldly as intemperate as irreligious and every way as bad as you were O firs take heed of resisting the Spirit of giving Christ such often repulses least he be provoked to be gone and resolve not to sollicite you any further that his Spirit shall not more strive with you lest you be given up to your own counsels to perish by your own gainsayings Dear soules give Christ entertainment Oh that the power of Gospel Revelations and Gospel Counsels may come in upon your hearts 2. Seeing Christ is the principal gift of God Counsel 2. Make sure an interest in Christ let us labour to cleare up to our selves our interst in him to get assurance that we have him for many there are who are ready to say that Christ is theirs when indeed they have no part in him Quest How shall I know that I have Christ Answ In order to a solution of this or to give satisfaction herein I shall in general acquaint you with this Our having received Christ our being in Christ and Christ his being in us are notions that serve to express one and the same thing This being premised I shall propound two heads or tvvo vvaies of discoverie for answer to the question If Christ be ours then we are in Christ 1. If vve have received Christ then we are in Christ Now I find that the Spirit of God useth a threefold comparison or similitude in setting forth a Believer his being in Christ 1. A Christian is in Christ as a branch in the stock so that if we bud and blossome and grow in grace be fruitful in holiness this is an agrument that we have received Christ that vve are in him 2. A Christan is in Christ as a member in the bodie united to the head so that if there be Spiritual life in us and Spiritual sense and Spiritual motion and action this is an argument that vve have received Christ that vve are in him 3. A Christian his being in Christ is set forth by the marriage vnion so that if there be a sweet intercourse betvvene Christ and the soule if the soule receive comfort from Christ and take pleasure in his company and delight in communion with him then he hath Christ 2. If a man hath received Christ then Christ is in him Christ is in us Christ is in the Saints as the soule in the body as the Sun in the World as a man in his house as a King on his Throne Novv there are tvvo meanes or tvvo manner of waies by which Christ is thus in the Saints both expressed by the Apostle in one place viz. the Spirit and Faith The Believer's vnion with Christ Ephes 3.16 17. is not a natural mixture of Substances of Christ his substance and our substance as if there were a real entrance of the body or Soule of Christ into our body or Soule Nor is it onely a conjunction of love or an union in affection between us and Christ but it is a mistical union in vvhich Christ-and Believers become one Christ stians are knit to brist and to one-another by joynts and bonds col 2.19 The Spirit and faith are those bonds and this union is as hath been said shadovved out in Scripture by the union of the head and the members in the body of man and by the vnion of a man and a vvoman in a married estate This vnion is made on Christ his part by his Spirit on our part by Faith 1. By his Spirit 1. Christ is in us by his Spirit this is first in order in as much as the Spirit is the worker of Faith The cause is before the effect Evidenoes he eâ—f Now there are divers effects whereby Christ discovereth himself to be in the soule by his Spirit 1. As the soul in the bodie is the principle of life motion and action so is Christ in the Saints by his Spirit the principle of spiritual life putting into them and preserving in them that life which is called the life of God Ephes 4.18 and as the soul acteth the body and every member of it so are Saints acted by Jesus Christ by Spirit in them John 3 6. Rom. 8.14 That which is born
of the Spirit is Spirit The children of God are led by the Spirit of God which leadeth from sin unto duty and acteth the soul toward God not as though we vvere meerly passive so acted as not at all active but Christ acting the soul puts spiritual holy activity into the soul he worketh in us both to wiland to do there is the willing and working of that soul which is acted by Christ by his Spirit 2. As the Sun is in the World to give light and to give heat and to cause fruitfulness so that precious things are brought forth by the Sun Deut. 33.14 and to make beauty and glory upon the Earth So Christ is in the Soule by his pirit scattering darkness bringing in spiritnal light rendering those things visibl and evident which before were hidden yea making those souls to be light in the Lord Ephes. 5.8 which which his coming to them were darkness it it self it is the Spirit of Truth Joh. 16.13 which is the Spirit of Christ that leadeth into all truth and Christ by his Spirit brings in heavenly heat and makes the heart within a man to burn in affection toward God Rom. 12.12 and the things of God burning with the Spirit therefore the spirit is likened to Fire And as the Sun in the World so the Spirit of Christ in the soule causeth fruitfulness so that every branch in this Vine Christ is a fruit bearing branch every soul in which Christ is is by the influence of his Spirit made fruitful in Grace Grace in the heart of Christians and holy actions and duties in their lives are called fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 And Christ by his Spirit in the work of Grace makes the soule beautiful and puts a glory upon it Cant. 4.1 if he be master If provident If friendly How beautiful art thou my love behold thou art fair my love behold thou art fair the Kings daughter is all glâ—rious within c. 3. As a man dwells in his house 2 Tim. 14 there commanding and ordering all things and making provision for those of his houshold and entertaining and chearing his friends and making them welcome So Christ by his Spirit dwelleth in the soul and by the Spirit he beares rule in the soul so that his Word is a law to the soul The Saints so far forth as they are spiritual are ordered in all things by Christ dwelling in them though they find with Paul that there is the flesh lusting against the spirit and often interrupting the course of their obedience and Christ dwelling in the foule provideth for the soul taketh care that it want nothing dealeth out to it the gifts of grace which â—râ— given by the spirit according to the measure of Christ and Christ dwelling in the soul gives his refreshings to the soul maketh it a feast of fat things brings it into the banquetting house or the house of Wine comforting the heart by applying the promises of the Gospel and the Grace of Christ to the soul revealing his love and speaking peace to the soule thus feasting it and filling it as with marrow and fatness These refreshings of Christians are from the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them therefore the Spirit is called the Comforter and the joy which Christ giveth into the heart is called the fruit of the Spirit 4. As a King on his Throne swayeth the Scepter of his Realme having all the people of that Realm subject to him and governed by him according to Constitutions and Lawes of that Kingdome So is Christ in all true Christians giving lawes to the conscience and governing the whole man to the obedience thereof he is there in power making them a willing people willing to obey his commands willing to subject themselves to the lawes and ordinances of his Kingdom which Earthly Kings cannot do Psal 110 3. Thy peâ—ple shall be willing in the day of thy power And Christ is in the heart as a King to subdue rebellious lusts and tame nurâ—â—y affections to cast down all strong holds that are raised up by the Devil and the flesh against him and at last to bring under every thought into subjection to himself And as a good King seeketh the good of his subjects and desireth not to impoverish but enrich them So doth Christ seek the good of that soul in which he hath erected a Throne for himself is alwaies doing good to it and enriching it with Grace here and glorie hereafter And it is by the Spirit that Christ beareth rule It is the Spirit that represseth corruption and mortifieth the deeds of the bodie It is by the Spirit that Christ enricheth the soul with Grace Knowledge Faith Love and all those precious things of Grace are the gifts of Christ which he conveyeth to them by his Spirit 5. The Spirit of Christ where he cometh in a spirit of supplication teaching men to pray and and framing their hearts to prayer He hath sent the Spirit of his Son into ur hearts Gal 4.6 whereby we cry abba father 6. Where Christ dwells by his Spirit there is the influence of the vertue of his Death and Resurrection to the mortification of sin Rom. 6.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and vivification of Grace Our Old man is crucified with him that the body of sin should be destroyed that it should be rendered inefficatious unable to work that sin may become powerless in us that we may be freed from the law of sin by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus i. e. by the lively powerful working of Christ's Spiret in us which breaketh off the yoke of bondage that lay upon our necks in the state of nature whereby sin held us wholly under subjection to it self and in Verse 17.18 the Apostle makes out this more fully that Believers are freed by Christ from the dominion of sin so that the strength of corruption is abated in them the old man is weakned and that by the Spirit of Christ the soul is made alive unto God and is freed unto righteousness set at liberty to walk in the waies of God In a word take the Evidence of Christ his being in the soule thus Christ and his Spirit are not sundered nor is the Spirir in us without the fruits of the Spirit Let no man say that he hath Christ unless he hath the Spirit of Christ If we look upon a bodie when the soule is gone out of it we cannot say this is a man no more can we say of a man without the Spirit of Christ This is a Christian That is no true member of the body which is not animated by the soul in the body no more he a member of Christ that is not quickned by the Spirit of Christ Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us 1 Jo. 4.13 by his Spirit which he hath given us Now again the Spirit is no where idle or fruitless but
you into your souls thâ—n see that you do that which may delight Christ so will he be working sensibly in yoâ—r spirits bringing in more light and liâ—â— and heate and making you more fruitful in holiness revealing his love in your hearts so that you shall stil say blessed be God for Jesus Christ Now to give some directiâ—ns about this shewing how you may delight Jesus Christ 1. Shew your selves willing and readie to take commands from Christ to hear and obey his voice and to yield unto and be ruled by the motions of his Spirit Christ is much taken with the willingness chearfulness of Christians in their obedience If ye love me saith Christ Keep my commandments and I will pray the Father Joh. 14.15 16 18. and he shall give you another Comforter that he mâ—y abide with yâ—u for ever I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you If you shall have a care of your obedience I will take care for your comfort 2. Make out to others the preciousness of Christ and speak it to the honour of Christ what a gift he is and what a happiness it is to enjoy him If we prize Christ he will delight to continue with us and the more we impart our experience of the comfort and sweetness of Christ the more wil he communicate himself to us we find it often in the Canticles that it was thus betwixt Christ and his Spouse 3. Acknowledg unto Christ his wonderful love and rich Grace toward you in giving himself for you and in bestowing himself upon you and in that which he hath wrought in you O Lord Jesus how infinitely am I engaged to thee for thy love that thou hast vouchsafed to come to my poore soul and to bring in light and life and comfort and happiness with thy self Such thankful acknowledgment made unto Christ Gratiarum actio est ad plus dandum invitatio will tie him fast to you and cause him to do more for you 4. Let there be longings of the soul to enjoy more of Christ here in the Kingdom of Grace and to be brought as soon as the Lord pleaseth to a full fruition of him hereafter in the Kingdom of Glory Beg of Christ to reveal himself more clearly to thee and to carry thee on further in understanding of Divine Mysteries to lead thee into all Truth and to fill thee with the knwleedge of his will in all wisdom â—nd Spiritual understanding Beg of him quickening grace â—nd strengthning grace and beseech him to be more mightily this way upon thy spirit causing a great increase of spiritual strength â—nd holy activity in thy soul humbly desire Christ to reveal himselfe more and more in thy soul as a Comforter even to powr in flagons of his love and to fill thee with the consolations of his Spirit Thus account that you are never near enough to Christ that you are never intimate enough with him that you have never enough of him and so long to be filâ—ed with him here and to be taken to a ful enjoyment of in glory hereafter desiring with good old Simeon to depart in peace having Christ in your hearts and embracing him by Faith â—nd with Paul desiring to be dissolved and to be with Christ This is very pleasing to Christ and he delighteth in that soul which taketh pleasure in him and surely he will never forsake the soul in which he delighteth 5. If you desire that Christ should continue with you and not withdraw himself or hide his face from you then see that he have a place of residence in you sutable to him and such as may give him content he must have thy heart and he must have all thy heart and it must be a heart well kept a heart clean swept he will have the heart or nothing and he will not be thrust into a corner of the heart he will not endure that the World should have the chief room or indeed any room there or that lusts should be entertanied in the heart where he dwelleth he will not lodge in a filthy heart a stable is not now a receptacle for him a place to entertain him in If you desire the company of Christ you must carefully flie the pollutions that are in the world through lusts you must be casting sin and the world out of your hearts and cleansing your selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit When Christ sees that there is a desire and care to make the heart clean fit to entertain him and to keep out of the heart every â—hing that may offend him and â—o keep the Spirit pure and entire â—or him he delighteth to dwell in such a soul And surely if you labour thus constantly to please Christ and to do that which may delight him â—nd then will he be so powerfully comfortably operative in your souls that you shall be able to say I finde I feel that of a truth Christ â—s in me This is Christ his working â—n my heart none but Christ could do that which is done in my soul Surely My beloved is mine and I â—â—m his Thus I have dealt out a third Counsel to Christians that have Christ Take heed that you do not â—oose him keep him with you â—old him fast and I have held â—orth some directions in this â—ase If ye have have received the Lord Jesus Christ Counsel 4. Walk in Christ Col. 2.6 Walk in him This is the Apostle his Counsel Quest What is it to walk in Christ Answ Plainly to walk in Christ according to the Scripture sense of this phrase is so to live that we may make it to appear to others that we may be sure in our selves that we are in Christ and that he liveth in us to walk according to the rule of Christ to live as a people acted by the Spirit of Christ which leadeth from sin unto dutie and guideth souls in the way of God in our conversation to hold forth the vertues of Christ to be Patient as he was Meeke and lowly in heart as he was Loving as he was Heavenly minded as he was Zealous for God's glory as he was in all things to express Christ to walk in the light of his Doctrine and according to his example to keep up Communion with him in the exercise of Christian Graces and practise of holy duties and to walk in Christ is to live by the Faith of Son of God who liveth in us to â—elie on him for Justification and Sanctification and Preservation and provision and comfort here and for Eternal Salvation hereâ—fter And this phrase To walk in Christ implieth 1. Light and knowledge of the minde of Christ 2. A progress in that way which is pleasing to Christ a goâ—ng onward and a rising up to furâ—her measures in Christ 3. An uniformity in this course â—ot to go in out to take one step â—n the right path and two steps â—eside it but to walk steddily in Christ
from the tempest as Rivers of waters in a dry place as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land he hath a fellow-feeling of thy sufferings and will not suffer thee to be tempted above measure and his grace is sufficient for thee to strengthen and support and comfort thee in every affliction and troâ—ble and to give thee a great advantage by it causing sweet to come out of the sower and meat out of the Eater and in due time to deliver thee wholly to deliver the burden from thy shoulders So that believers may have what our Saviour promised to his Disciples peace and and comfort in Christ when in the world they have tribulations Doth death look upon thee with a grim countenance to put thee in fear Now consider that Christ who is thine hath overcome Death for thee and hath by his Death destroyed him that had the power of Death hath delivered thee from the wrath to come hath opened to thee the way to Heaven and every gate of Heaven he himself is the way and the doore for thee to enter in by and he will be to thee the Resurrection and the life Thus if Christ be thine he is thy Propitiation thy Justification thy Srength thy Salvation Wherefore let Faith carry thee to leane on him in all temptations and afflictions that thou maist be borne up by him and comforted with the thoughts of thy interest in him Yet I cannot thus leave this theam but must add something for a further amplification of the comfort of Believers who are received Christ As I have shewed you that the having of Christ is to believers a firm ground of comfort for Faith to pitch upon in all Spiritual and corporal inward and outward afflictions so I shall give you to see how Christ is actually effectually a Comforter in such cases to those that have received him If the soul be afflicted with strong temptations Christ comforteth it with this Word My grace is sufficient for thee to keep thee from being overcome and to make thee more then a Conquerour If Satan hath prevailed against the Christian by temptation and drawn him into some great sin whereupon there followeth soul affliction when the conscience is awakened Then Christ comforteth the soul leading to the Fountain which is set open for sin and for uncleanness presents to it the flowings of his Bloud sets before it the fulness and freeness of the Grace of God in Christ for the pardon of all sins for the refreshing of every weary soul for the satisfâ—ing of every hungring thirsting soul that hungâ—reth and thirsteth after Righteousness and when a humbled Christian closeth by faith with this Grace of Christ and washeth his soul in the Fountain of his Blood then is he comforted If Christ for the trial of a Christian do hide himself from him so that he is troubled and inwardly afflicted for want of the felt presence of Christ and for want of the manifestation of Christ his love to his soul in this case Christ will be a seasonable Comforter to the poor humbled soul he that casteth the soul down will lift it up again leading it by his Spirit to lay hold upon the comfort which lies for every child of God in that of the Apostle There is no temptation hath taken you but that which is common to men 1 Cor. 10.33 but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted aboâ—e that ye are able but will the temptation also make to escape that ye may be able to bear it and Christ helpeth the soul to gather up comfort from those sweet words Isa 45.7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee In a litle wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon the sai h the Lord thy Redeemer And thus Christ returns in due time to receive the spirits of his humble ones Christ in the believer is seasonable Comforter in all Spiritual distress in all soul affliction So likewise in case of outward trouble and temporal distressess Christ in heart is a Comforter telling the Believer that he is all sufficient for him tells him that there is in him a sufficiency of Wisdom to find out a way for his deliverance and a sufficiency of power actually to accomplish his deliverance how great soever the evil be that lies upon him yea and a sufficiencie of Love and grace to make out his power and wisdom for his good and so comforteth him abundantly filling him with this perswasion that all things shall work together for good to him Here is the happiness of a Believer that he hath a Comforter in his bosome in the midst of all troubles This is made out clearly in the experience of the Saints of which I might give you sundry Scripture instances David in his soul trouble found Christ a Comforter When Peter was by Herod cast into prison was not Christ there a Comforter to him When the Jews fell maliciously and desparately upon Stephen and in their rage Stoned him did not he receive then glorious comfort from Christ dwel ing in him Paul found this to be true at sundry times and in sundry cases And Paul and Sylas together in the Prison had experience of this truth Where Christ is in the soul helping the soul to act faith upon him he is actually a Comforter in all conditions in every distress of soul and body Well now for a clâ—se I shall summ up in few words the happiness of believers upon account of their interest in Christ and possession of him Christ brings with him all good to those that enjoy him 1. They have by Christ all temporal good things as much as is needful for them and that which God sees good for them to have now if a man hath what is for his necessary use and so much as is for his good is he not well provided for and he that hath Christ hath that which will make full amends for all seeming and conceited wants that which is infinitely better than those things which God is pleased to withhold from them and Christ being in contentation to many pirits so that in a poor outward estate the believer is as well pleased as if he had abundance and so he hath all in contentation he that is content wants nothing 2. Christ bringeth spiritual good to the soul bringing in the treasures of grace and the riches of consolation though to some soul he giveth more of that treasure more of these riches than he doth to others Christ is made to us sanctification he is the author and worker of grace and holiness so that the hearts in which Christ is must needs be gracious and holy he giveth in wisdome and meekness and love and zeal and other graces of the spirit and he tells his Disciples and all believers in them that he will not leave them comfortless I am he that comforteth you saith the Lord Christ 3. Jesus Christ bringeth believers to the enjoyment of eternal good he bringeth them to heaven â—ven all those souls to whom he is united on earth Father I will that those whom thou hast given m be with me Jo. 17.24 where I am that they may see my glory My sheep hear my voice Jo. 10.27 28. and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life Every soul that is here an habitation of God through the spirit in whom Christ dwelleth shall be received into everlasting habitations with Christ This is the happiness of every soul that enjoys Christ And now as the Apostle saith Christ in you the hope of glory so I may say Christ in you a spring of comfort Blessed soul that can truly say Christ is mine FINIS