But he is the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Whom he saves he makes by his power willing and obedient 'T was said unto the Lord Messiah Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power Psal 110. 3. 5. If we have accepted Christ we are born again and made new Creatures 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature And Joh. 1. 12 13. They that receive and believe in Christ are said to be born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Grace does not come by natural descent the flesh has no will or desire after it man though never so eminent is not able to work it but 't is alone from God And all true Believers are born of God they have a new heart a new nature new desires and affections new designs are carried on and they walk in newness of life The old man indeed remains in part but they are burthen'd with it and desire more fully to put on the new which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness 6. If we have accepted Christ we do and we see cause to admire the Fathers love in sending him we look upon him as the greatest gift that ever was given or could be given to the sons of men He is all in all Col. 3. 11. He fills all in all Eph. 1. ult If Christ be ours God is ours Heaven is ours all is ours Here 's a height that none can reach a depth that none can fathom a length that none can measure a bredth that none can comprehend How do Believers admire Jesus and the love of the Father that gave him They know that gift of God and wonder at the Donors kindness 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. In this i. e. in this above all was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him If ye talk of love herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our Sins 7. If we have accepted Christ we live upon him by faith we are strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus I live says the Apostle yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2. 20. And thus relying upon the sufficient grace and strength of our Lord Jesus which is made perfect in our weakness we shall resolve to follow the Lamb without standing still without turning aside without drawing back from him we shall not cowardly fly nor treacherously revolt from him but follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes Case 6. The sixth Case is this When may Conversion be judged to be sincere and true Man is departed from the Lord and he is brought to this strait either he must turn to God or he must burn in Hell and every turning will not serve our turn The Scripture speaks of a feigned Conversion such a Convert was treacherous Judah Jer. 3. 10. It concerns us to prove our selves whether we are Converts in reality which may be thus known 1. Sincere Converts have been made to consider their own ways and the evil and destructiveness of them David tells us he thought on his ways and turned Psal 119. 59. They have lookt to the end of the broad road in which they once went and seen that burning Lake at the end of it destruction and misery is in that way and so they dare not proceed He never turns from Sin indeed that sees no harm or danger in it Those Scriptures The Soul that sins shall die and The wages of Sin is death are deeply engraven upon the Converts heart 2. Sincere Converts are really grieved that they turn'd no sooner they reflect with sorrow and shame upon that time wherein they were foolish and disobedient and deceived and served diverse lusts and pleasures Tit. 3. 3. and wish they had been so wise as to have served another a better Master How are they afflicted that Sin and Satan and Mammon have stolen away so many of their few days and that their lusts should devour the cream and prime of all their time They think with themselves how much Sin might have been prevented how much Grace might have been gotten how much might have been done for God if they had turned sooner and this makes them to live the remainder of their time in the flesh not to the lusts of men but to the will of God 1 Pet. 4. 2. 3. Sincere Converts turn unto God himself they own him as a Lord and eye him as their happiness in their Conversion to him Jer. 4. 1. If thou wilt return O Israel saith the Lord return unto Me. They seek the Lord himself and his strength and his face evermore the mercies of God indeed they do and may desire but principally the Father of them they see that God has all is all and can be infinitely more than all things unto them they come to him that they may enjoy him here and for ever Lord be my God my Father my Inheritance give thy self to me and then thou wilt deal most bountifully with me That 's the Converts language 4. Sincere Converts turn with their whole heart This is called for Joel 2. 12. Turn ye even unto me with all your heart And the want of this is complain'd of Jer. 3. 10. Her treacherous Sister Judah hath not turned to me with her whole heart but feignedly saith the Lord. When the whole heart is turned no iniquity is regarded there but all is disliked no creature is suffered to have the highest room the whole heart is resigned and given unto God As the Besieged render up the Castle to the Conquerer that he may dispose of it as he pleases so the Convert renders himself all the powers and faculties of his Soul he yields and consents to have all renewed all sanctified which is a perfection of parts and a perfection of degrees is desired and aspired unto he longs to be turned more and more and to be kept from returning again to folly 5. Sincere Converts turn their feet unto Gods testimonies Psal 119. 59. I turned my feet unto thy testimonies They conform to the Word which God has spoken as their Rule This declares best of all Quid pulchrum quid turpe quid utile quid non what is fair and what is filthy what is profitable and what 's destructive By this Word they order their hearts and conversations He that despises the Word of God and the Commands of it is not sincerely converted but damnably deluded True Converts keep close to Scriptures and Ordinances and never fancy themselves above them but with David desire to dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of their lives
in the weighty concerns of another World Any thing satisfies him and makes him securely to say all is well If Satan tell him as he did our first Parents that he shall not surely dye Satan is believed the God of Truth and the Word of Truth being disregarded How many when they hear the Words Curse do bless themselves in their hearts and say they shall have peace though they walk on after the imagination of their evil heart therefore the Lord threatens that his anger and jealousie shall smoke against such and he will blot out their names from under Heaven Deut. 29. 19 20. Are they reproved for Sin They say All are Sinners whereas Penitents forsake presumptuous Sins and are willing to forsake all but these Self-deluders are hardly willing to forsake any They bear up upon this that God is merciful and yet they slight and abuse his mercy preferring their vanities and lusts before it and go on to injure his Justice and provoke him to Jealousie They are full of hope because Christ died and yet they thwart one great end of his Death and will not be the better for it for they refuse to dye to Sin and live to Righteousness 3. If it highly concerns all to prove themselves hence we may infer what an advantage it is to enjoy the light of the Word of God This is a Glass that flatters none It discovers what Sin is and where it is It calls Grace Grace and will speak peace to them that are the Sons of peace but on the contrary it will tell the Sinner though he be never so high in the World never so high in his vain hopes Thou art the man that lovest and livest in thy iniquity therefore thou art under wrath a Son of Death and in danger of eternal damnation This word convinces of Sin shews the necessity of turning unto God and is a great means of Conversion and afterwards by discovering of Grace it proves the joy and rejoycing of the heart The Unbelievers and Ungodly need this Word and ought to prize it for it shews them their guilt and a Mediatour their sore and also a Physician and faith is wrought by the hearing of it Rom. 10. 17. The Saints have loved this Word exceedingly Hark how the Psalmist cries out Psal 89. 15. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound they shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance 4. Hence we may also infer the benefit of a searching Ministery Seers that will see vain visions are not worth hearing and Prophets that prophesy only smooth things had better prophesy nothing at all for they prophesy nothing but deceit Such Prophets are guilty of the blood of Souls and utterly ruine them while they heal them slightly crying peace peace when there is no peace Jer. 6. 14. Such Pastors destroy the Lords Vineyard such Dawbers are not Builders of the House of God How sad is it when the blind lead the blind both they that are led and they that are the leaders fall into the bottomless pit of perdition But a plain dealing Minister that rebukes Sin sharply that gives warning in time to flee from eternal wrath that commends himself to every mans conscience in the sight of God that speaks as if he knew mens hearts and discovers their secret thoughts to them that is a Son of thunder to the wicked and a Son of consolation to the broken hearted and has the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season to the weary and heavy laden Such a Shepherd is a great blessing to the Flock ought highly to be esteemed in love for his work sake and may be an happy instrument to save himself and them that hear him 5. Hence we may further infer the great necessity of the Spirits aid Unless he enlighten the eyes of our understandings we shall pass a wrong judgment upon our selves and every thing else also A subtle Serpent and a deceitful heart will be too hard for the most powerful Preacher breathing if the Spirit of the Lord does not second and set home the word preached The Spirit as I said before takes the Glass of the Law and holds it before the Sinner that he may see therein both his heart and life and then and truely not till then he will cry out Alass alass What have I been What have I done Where am I And whither will my Sins at last bring me The Spirit can charge Sin so home that there is no denial no excuse made The Sinner trembles confesses laments begs pardon consents to forsake his wickedness Thus Ephraim after he was instructed is ashamed and confounded because of his abominations The Publican being made sensible he was a Sinner cries out God be merciful And as the Spirit convinces the Sinner so he discovers to the Saint what God has given him not only the things themselves which are great and glorious but also the Saints interest in those things 1 Cor. 2. 12. Now we have received not the Spirit of this World but the Spirit which is of God that we might know those things which are freely given to us of God 6. If it highly concerns all to prove themselves learn hence the hatred and subtlety of Satan in Staving men off from this duty All his subjects are a company of inconsiderate fools if they would but bethink themselves they would become wiser than to serve such a Master This Enemy cannot endure that wicked men should look downward to Hell for fear they should be awakened and affrighted nor that they should look inward into themselves for fear they should see themselves lost and look out for a Saviour nor that they should look upwards unto God for fear they should be converted and healed The Devil hates Souls therefore is unwilling that any care should be taken about them he cannot abide that any should inquire into their Spiritual state therefore he endeavours to divert them he allures some with wealth bewitches others with pleasures intoxicates others with applause and honour he represents Self-examination to be Self-tormenting and holiness a meer Hell upon Earth But in all this he shews his falshood as well as enmity What madness is it to listen to him as a Leader and Counseller who is both a Liar and a Murtherer 7. Hence we may learn the great Error of the Church of Rome in crying down Assurance and consequently discouraging Self-examination The Council of Trent Sess 6. has impiously determin'd and declared Certitudo remissionis peccatorum est vana omni pietate remota fiducia The Saints assurance of the pardon of Sin is a vain and ungodly confidence How have they here blasphemed against the Comforter in making all his joys and consolations which suppose Sin to be pardon'd altogether vain The Scripture speaks after another manner Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father 1 Joh. 4. 16.
Torment but never quite consume and make an end of those that are burning in it We read that sinners must dwell with Everlasting Burnings Our Lord tells you that in Hell the Worm dies not and the Fire is not quenched and he says this thrice nay six times together that man may believe and fear Mar. 9. 43. 48. And into this Hell the wicked shall be turned and all the Nations that forget God Psal 9. 17. This is as certain as 't is certain God is true and Powerful and Just and Holy 5. Look the very worst of you into the Gospel and behold the Lord Jesus stretching forth his hand all the day long even to them that are Disobedient and Gain-saying Rom. 10. 21. Stretching forth the hand is as much as inviting sinners to come to him and offering Salvation to them He has Justified and washed and sanctified and saved as bad as you And if you will at length consent to be sanctified as well as saved and come to him he will do both for the most guilty and defiled among you Oh! Look to Jesus whom you have slighted and cry to be drawn to him Secondly Let meerly Moral men prove themselves These have very great need to search themselves that they may not be undon for ever by self-confidence When I speak of Morality I do not mean an universal respect unto the precepts of the Moral Law for such a kind of respect only those who are truly Regenerate and Religious yeild unto the Lords Commands But by Morality I understand an external Righteousness and freedom from more gross and notorious iniquities such a Moralist was the Pharisee who said God I thank thee I am not as other men are Extortioners Vnjust Adulterers Luke 18. 11. And such Morality was to be found in the Apostle Paul while he was Graceless before his Conversion Touching the Righteousness of the Law I was blamelesse says he Phil. 3. 6. Now Persons upon Examination may know themselves to be but meerly moral by these following signs 1. Meerly moral men are great strangers to the Corruption of their own Natures Hereupon they think themselves to be whole and do not apprehend any necessity of a new Birth of having a New Heart given to them When Nicodemus the Pharisee came to Christ Christ told him of the Corruption of Nature That which is Born of the Flesh is Flesh and except a man be Born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Joh. 3. 3. 6. The Apostle Paul while a Pharisee was alive in his own Thoughts though really dead in Trespasses and sins Moral men not knowing what they are by Nature continue securely in a state of Nature and suppose they have no need of the Blood and Spirit of Christ whereby alone they might be Justified and Renewed in order to Salvation 2. Meerly moral men though blameless in their Lives yet their Hearts are allowed to be wicked The Pharisees of old were against actual Murther but allowed of Malice Envy and Revenge they were free from gross Adultery but made nothing of Evil Concupiscence Therefore our Lord. Matt. 5. does at large shew the spirituality and extent of the Law of God and how it lays an obligation upon the very Heart unto Purity and Meekness and Love as well as requires external Conformity to the Letter of it in the Life and Conversation What kind of Hearts have these Moral men What Pride and high Thoughts of themselves what hatred is allowed to lodge in them What Ignorance and Contempt of Communion with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ How exceeding suitable and desirable are the Wealth Preferments and Delights of this World but their Hearts are meer strangers unto the Love of God and delight in him and rejoycing in Christ Jesus And which is worst of all they think this is needless and that their Hearts are so good they need not be changed and made better 3. Meerly Moral men do rest in their own External Righteousness and rest upon it They are confident that good living and giving every man his due is enough though the mean while the World and the God of this World fill their Hearts They act as if that Precept were not in the Bible My Son give me thy Heart Prov. 23. 26. As if they had never read of Davids practise Psal 25. 1. Vnto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul And as they rest in their own external Righteousness as if inward Holiness were not required so they rest and rely upon it as if this were enough to justifie them before God and to purchase their acceptance and Salvation But this ruines them and cuts them short of the Righteousness of the Son of God Rom. 10. 3 4. For they being Ignorant of Gods Righteousness and going about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God for Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that Beleiveth Thus you meerly moral men may know your selves And oh That you would be advised 1. To Consider that Morality can neither justifie it self nor you It cannot justifie it self because 't is meerly external a piece of Pageantry and Hypocrisie for want of inward purity and how then can it justifie you before that God who is so glorious in Righteousness and Holiness You certainly stand in need of Christ as well as the greatest sinners in the World and must needs to Hell without Him The Apostle Paul was a great Moralist before he was a Christian but when his Eyes were open Christ was valued as the onely Justifier and Saviour of sinful and lost man and says he I desire to be found in Him not having my own Righteousness Phil. 3. 9. 2. Pray that the Commandment may come with Power and shew your sins even those that lye hid in your very Hearts and make you sensible of your damned and lost Estate Rom. 7. 9. I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandement came sin revived and I died Notwithstanding all my confidence of my Goodness and good Estate before I saw my self by Law a condemned and dead man and no hope of life without Jesus a Mediatour 3. Be sensible of the necessity of the New-Birth and cry for the Spirit Those that are born again are born of the Spirit of God Joh. 3. 6. That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit This Spirit God is willing to give to all that ask him seeing indeed their need of him Begg hard for the Spirit that by him you may be enlightned convinced of sin and set at Liberty from it that you may be drawn to Christ and changed into the glorious image of God which does consist not in Righteousness meerly external but in Righteousness and true Holiness Thirdly Let unsound Professors prove themselves Why should such entertain a confidence which the Lord will reject Why should they joyn with a subtle Serpent to deceive themselves Oh! that they
Thus have I finished this Subject of Self-Examination a Duty which the Ungodly mind not which Hypocrites are afraid and do not care to meddle with and which if Saints would more frequently and thorowly engage in there would be less unbelief and fear more joy and Faith in the Church of Christ You that are Saints In this discourse I have been helping of your Joy Let it not be hindred by your selves Some clusters of Canaan might be brought to the Wilderness and more of Heavens joys might be tasted in the Vale of Tears if the Heirs of Heaven would but take more pains in self-trial to clear up their Title And as for you that are Hypocrites and Vnbeleivers I have don you a kindness in telling you what you are and what you may expect hereafter If after all you will put a cheat upon your own souls you must be blamed and your selves must smart for it If you will cry peace and safety till Christ himself does thunder that sentence in your ears Go ye Cursed into Everlasting fire Who can help it Alas Alas 'T will be too late to look up to Heaven and to look into your selves when the Gulph is fixed between Heaven and you Let every sinner therefore try his own ways and cry to the Lord to search and change and turn his Heart For 't is the greatest Wisdom to prevent those mistakes which will be the mistakers Eternal ruine and which after death will be found impossible to be corrected Herbert page 105. CAnst he idle Canst thou play Foolish soul who sinn'd to day Rivers run and springs each one Know their home and get them gone Hast thou tears or hast thou none If poor soul thou hast no tears Would thou hadst no faults or fears Who hath these those ills forbears But if yet thou idle be Foolish Soul who di'd for thee Who did leave his Fathers Throne To assume thy Flesh and Bone Had he life or had he none If he had not liv'd for thee Thou hadst di'd most wretchedly And two deaths had been thy fee. He so far thy good did plot That his own self he forgot Did he die or did he not If he had not di'd for thee Thou hadst liv'd in misery Two lives worse than ten deaths be He that loseth Gold though dross Tells to all he meets his cross He that sins hath he no loss He that finds a silver vein Thinks on it and thinks again Brings thy Saviours death no gain Who in Heart not ever kneels Neither sin nor Saviour feels Meditations ON THE LORDS SUPPER MEDITATIONS I. WHerefore do I spend my money for that which is not Bread And my labour for that which can never satisfie Many a time have I made trial of the things that are visible but the higher my expectations have been raised the greater has been my disappointment I have sought that among the Creatures which is not to be found Sin has turned this World into a Country far from God and truly Husks are the best fare that ever this World hath yeilded me 'T is high time to come out from the World and to be separate left my Soul perish for hunger there Meat that perishes is improper for a Soul that is of an immortal nature and of an Everlasting duration I will arise and go unto my God and Father He has promised to satiate and replenish the weary and sorrowful Soul In his House I am sure there is Bread enough and to spare MEDITATION II. Boast not O Mammon of thy Treasures Unless thou hast that which is of sufficient value to be a ransom for me Can all the Wealth of both the Indies pay the debt which by sin I have contracted Can Riches satisfie for the wrong I have done to the justice of God by my Transgression Oh no I was not Redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Pardon Grace and Glory are such gifts of God as are not to be purchased with money for if they were so many Rich men would not be lost for ever Wealth cannot buy any out of the Devils possession but rather brings them more under his power it cannot save any from Hell but rather proves a means to send them thither For they that will be Rich fall into Tempttaion and a Snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in Destruction and Perdition MEDITATION III. O my Soul strive not to load thy self with the thick clay of this present World this will debase thee exceedingly and defile and burthen thee Thou needest that which is of more value then Gold that perishes to enrich thee and that is precious Faith Thou needest a garment to cover thy nakedness which no Shop on Earth can furnish thee withal and that is the Robe of Christs Righteousness Thou needest Food to satisfie thy hunger which cannot be got for money or price but may be had without it and that is the Bread of God which came down from Heaven to give Life unto the World Thou art of Heavenly original and therefore mind not Earthly things for it can never be well with thee untill thou return to that All-sufficient Lord who is the Father of Spirits and alone can fill them out of his own fulness MEDITATION IV. Lord Thou who art full of Love nay love it self and art jealous of my love lest it should be misplaced Turn away my Eyes that they may not be set upon that which is not If Riches take to themselves wings and fly away as an Eagle towards Heaven let my Heart be so wise as to get the start of them and fly away first from such transitory and fading vanities and fly towards the highest Heaven of all How great a gain will it be to lose my love to the World And though it be no gain at all to thee for me to love thee who art so self-sufficient from Everlasting to Everlasting yet I shall hereby be an Eternal gainer and shall be interested in that love which is Everlasting and unchangeable Oh! Love me freely in the Son of thy love and inflame my Heart with love to Thee 'T is my Honour that I have leave to love thee who art so high and glorious and 't is thy first and great Command that I should love thee with my whole Heart and Soul and Strength Let this Command be kept and let not the biggest offer the World can make me ever tempt me to break it so as to prevail with me MEDITATION V. Pleasures of sin and sence have often charmed and deceived me Those things which have gratified the Eye the Ear the Touch the Taste have had a kind of an inchanting Force and Power Sensual Delights have been some of the finest and strongest cords of vanity to draw me a way from God and Duty But now I see what madness 't is to please my self and displease my Lord
it than if it were not of Divine Original and Authority but meerly of humane invention Joh. 3. ult He that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Mar. 16. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned Joh. 8. 24. If ye believe not that I am He the true Messiah the only Saviour ye shall die in your sins Hell is in a special manner called the portion of the unbelievers If Jesus Christ the only expiatory sacrifice for sins be despised there remaineth no other besides but a certain fearful looking for of vengeance and of fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries Heb. 10. 3. They are in a state of Nature that are resolved workers of iniquity Let the Lord be never so angry and threaten what he pleases they dare to sin notwithstanding Children of disobedience must needs be the children of wrath Col. 3. 6. The wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience Those whose hearts speak that language Jer. 44. 16. As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord we will not hearken to thee but are bewitched by the pleasure and gain of sin still to continue the servants of it these are the persons which shall at last receive the wages of sin death eternal 'T is a mad resolution to be proud and filthy and unjust and profane whatever the Gospel commands to the contrary 't is in effect to give consent to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2. Thes 1. 8. 9. 4. They are in a state of Nature who under a profession of Religion practise wickedness secretly or at least regard iniquity in their hearts How many woes does our Lord thunder out against Hypocrites in one Chapter and at last concludes with a terrible vehemency Ye serpents ye generation of vipers how can ye escape the damnation of hell Mat. 23. 33. Hell is especially prepared for the Hypocrites as well as for the unbelievers If our hearts and hands are full of wickedness malice filthiness and secret dishonesty if we can commit sin delightfully and securely as long as 't is done closely what do all our duties signifie The Lord abhors both us and them Hark how he speaks to such Hypocrites Bring no more vain oblations Sabbaths and calling of Assemblies I cannot away with it is iniquity even the solemn Meeting they are a trouble to me I am weary to bear them And when you spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you and though you make many prayers yet I will not hear you Esa 1. 13 14 15. 5. They are in a state of Nature who are lovers of this present World 1 Joh. 2. 15. Love not the World neither the things that are in the World if any man love the World the love of the Father is not in him The love of the Father may be taken actively and passively The lover of this World has no sincere love to the Father nor any interest in the Fathers special love How plainly and severely does the Apostle James speak Jam. 4. 4. Ye Adulterers and Adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of the World is enmity with God whoever therefore will be a friend of the World is the enemy of God Then we may be said to be friends and lovers of the World when we conform to the sinful customs and manners and fashions of the World living by sence as the World does and when in our hearts and eager pursuits we prefer the VVorld and the gain delights and preferments of it before God before Christ before Grace before Glory Thou that in thy heart despisest a Treasure in Heaven and really esteemest Silver and Gold of far greater value 't is as impossible for thee while of this mind to go to Heaven as for a Camel to go through the eye of a Needle The young man in the Gospel was of an unblameable conversation but he wanted one thing and indeed the principal to make him a real Saint a true Disciple because he valued his great possessions above Christ and a treasure in Heaven that was offered to him Mat. 19. 20 24. Of this mind was that worldly-minded Papist who said He would not leave his part in Paris for a part in Paradise 6. They are in a state of Nature who go about to establish their own Righteousness this was the fault and the ruine of the Jews of old they thought their own righteousness sufficient and the establishing of their own righteousness was their own downfal a proud conceit of their own righteousness hindred them from submitting to the righteousness of God Rom. 10. 3. Trusting in our righteousness will prove as destructive to us as continuance in our iniquities If we think by our prayers and duties and deeds of righteousness to satisfie for the sins which we have committed against the Lord of Heaven 't is a sign we do not understand the Holiness and Justice of God nor the nature and demerit of Sin nor the imperfection of our very best services 'T is a sign of great pride and that Jesus Christ and our need of him are not rightly understood and thus being whole in our own conceit or thinking we can make our selves whole we shall fall short of the onely Saviour who came to seek and to save that which is lost Luk. 9. 10. Who is a Physician not to the well but to the sick Who came to call not the Righteous but Sinners to repentance Mat. 9. 12 13. 7. They are in a state of Nature who are haters of their Brethern God is love but malice is one great part of the Devils Image 1 Joh. 3. 15. Whosoever hateth his Brother is a Murtherer and ye know that no Murtherer hath eternal life abiding in him The malicious man Cain is his Brother Beelzebub is his Father but he is certainly a stranger and enemy to the God of love and peace Let a man speak never so confidently that he is in the light yet if he hate his Brother he is in darkness even until now 1 Joh. 2. 9. so 1 Joh. 3. 10. In this the Children of God are manifested and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother True love will suffer long and be kind it will not envy or be easily provoked it will bear and believe all things it will forgive and cover a multitude of sins But they that will not forgive others 't is expresly said themselves shall not be forgiven Mat. 6. 15. If ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses Hatred of the Brethren is a black mark indeed especially if the Brethren are hated because they faithfully reprove and for their holiness sake 8. They are in a state of Nature who embrace damnable Heresies being given up to strong delusions to
upon things above Slavish fear does not act us but the Sanctifying Spirit Slavish fear cannot make us desire to be acted not by Slavish fear but it must needs be some other Principle that is put within us Augustine compares Childlike and Slavish fear unto two Women that are married the one is Chaste the other desires to be an Harlot but is not one through fear of her Husbands anger The chaste one fears her Husbands displeasure but loves his company the wanton one fears her Husbands displeasure but wishes his absence Now suppose this wanton Wife should begin to grudge her heart to others and should desire to love and delight in her Husband she would then be no longer acted by a Slavish fear but it would argue her mind changed and that there were some beginning of conjugal affection and sense of her duty A desire to love the Lord above all can never be the product of meer fear but manifests a sense that he is indeed most desirable 6. They that are acted meerly by Slavish fear though they are affrighted at the thoughts of Hell yet Spiritual things are not suitable to them they do not mind and savour the things of the Spirit but only the things of the Flesh which shews an unchanged heart though there be an awakened Conscience The heart of such is all for the earth and carthly things and these things are really preferr'd before grace and glory The World unto such unrenewed ones is lookt upon as a better and more proper portion than God himself If therefore the World is become low in our esteem and the vanity of it evident and we had rather have the Lord to be our God and Father and portion than to have the greatest abundance of earthly enjoyments without him this speaks a real love and not a servile fear only 't is a good sign when the greatest outward felicity and prosperity is judged inferior to that happiness of having the Lord to be our God Psal 144. ult 7. They that are acted meerly by Slavish fear are not jealous of themselves and afraid lest they should be acted by nothing else This very concernedness and godly jealousie argues gracious desires and principles In a word Slavish fear will never carry us so far as to make us consent unto a true and lasting Conversion unto God False motives can never make us desire to be truly sincere and upright Christians and to be acted only by motives that are right If therefore in Religion we are willing that our Principles should be pure and good our ends right and our actions and the manner of doing them according to the will of God it may serve to satisfie us that we are of Davids mind who prayed and such a prayer never meets with a deaf ear Psal 119. 80. Let my heart be sound in thy Statutes that I be not ashamed Case 5. The fifth Case is this How may we know that we have indeed accepted Christ He is offered unto all received by few He stands at the door and knocks but few hear his voice and open the door to him We may call our selves by his Name and profess to be his and receive his Ordinances and engage in them and yet not receive himself and yet this Reception must be else there can be no Reconciliation no Adoption no Salvation Thus therefore we may prove our selves and know whether we have indeed received Christ 1. If we have accepted Christ we have seen so as to be affected with our need of him The prodigal was ready to perish in the far Country necessity drove him home to his Fathers house The Israelites in the Wilderness were stung and ready to die by the fiery Serpents and then they lookt up unto the Brazen Serpent for cure We shall never upon right terms receive our Lord and Saviour till we perceive we are lost and ruin'd and must needs be everlastingly miserable without him Oh then we shall subscribe to any Articles of agreement that Jesus may be ours who can justifie us by his blood and deliver us from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1. ult 2. If we have accepted Christ we have been made dead to the Law Rom. 7. 4. Wherefore my Brethren ye are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him that is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God So Gal. 2. 19. I am dead to the Law that I might live unto God You must not imagine by deadness to the Law is meant such a disobligation from it that we have no tie upon us to obey it for the Apostle hear speaks of living unto God and bringing forth fruit to him Now living unto God and bringing forth the fruits of righteousness is what the law requires Then therefore we are dead to the Law when we are not irritated and provoked to transgress because the Law forbids transgression and when we expect no justification before God by our obedience to the Law By the deeds of the Law shall no Flesh be justified in his sight Rom. 3. 20. There is not any Law given which can give life to the Sinner for then righteousness and justification should have been by the Law Gal. 3. 21. Those therefore that receive Christ receive him as The Lord their Righteousness and dare not expect justification before God upon the account of any obedience or righteousness of their own 3. If we have accepted Christ we are reconciled to the Cross we shall rely upon Christ crucified being persuaded that the blood shed upon the Cross for Sin was the blood of him that was truely God as well as man and consequently sufficient to make an atonement for us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1. 7. We shall also conform to the crucifixion of Christ by crucifying the Flesh with the affections and lusts of it Gal. 5. 24. The World also will be crucified to us Gal. 6. 14. Sin has laid it under a Curse and we shall look upon the World as the Jews did on Christ when they crucified him as having no form nor comliness no such beauty in it that we should so eagerly desire it Finally we shall be willing to take up the Cross and deny our selves and suffer persecution and go through any tribulation which lies in our way to the Kingdom of Heaven They that are offended at persecution and in such times of temptation fall away never received Christ or his Word into their hearts indeed 4. If we have accepted Christ we submit unto his Scepter entertain his Word and are willing to obey him God hath exalted him to be a Prince and a Saviour and Believers must gladly consent that this Saviour should be exalted into the throne of their hearts and rule as Prince there They who will not have this Lord to reign over them are Enemies and shall be dealt with and destroyed as Enemies at last
remedy Thus the rich man in the Gospel thought of nothing but taking his ease eating drinking and making merry till his Soul was required and lost and he was made to feel the torment and vengeance of eternal Fire 6. These careless Sinners who will not prove themselves their destruction will be sudden unexpected nay contrary to expectation and so will be the more terrible At present they mind not what they do but God remembers all their wickedness Hos 7. 2. And when he shall call them to an account for all what horrour and confusion will seize upon them They thought the Lord as little regarded their Sins as they did themselves and never expected after reckonings What all their good things shall be taken away which can last but for a short time and eternal evils shall come in their room when they shall find and feel themselves most miserable in the hottest lowest Hell and that'tis utterly impossible that ever their wretched condition should be alter'd Oh then they will curse their folly and madness who before did bless themselves and their foregoing presumption and security will make their pain and anguish and despair to be the more intolerable Vse 3. Of Direction And there are three great things which I shall give you directions concerning First How to prove your selves so as to attain unto an assurance of the love of God Secondly How to prove your selves before you engage in that Ordinance of the Lords Supper Thirdly How to prove and call your selves to an account every day that you may walk with the greater circumspection In the first place I am to direct you how to prove your selves so as to attain unto an assurance of the love of God Before I come to the directions themselves I shall lay down some Arguments to persuade all Saints to labour after this Assurance 't is pitty and Saint should be without it 't is pitty any of Gods Children should be ignorant of that most near and blessed and everlasting Relation in which they stand to him Now to make you prize assurance at an high rate and to give all diligence to get it Consider 1. Assurance of the love of God will inflame your hearts with greater love to him What the Apostle says in remarkable 1 Joh. 4. 19. We love him because he first loved us When you know that all your Debts are remitted freely and that very much is forgiven you you cannot chuse but have much love unto him that forgave you Cos amoris amor Love is the whetstone of love Pray therefore for the manifestation of Gods love to you that the light of his countenance may warm your hearts and your Souls may love him with the greater strength and ardency Unbelieving doubts and fears have a natural tendency to chill and damp affection whereas when you know that you are the Children of God you cannot but love him as incomparably the best of all Fathers 2. Assurance of the love of God will fill you with joy and wonder The Apostle tells us that having received the atonement there followed joy in God Rom. 5. 11. And not only so but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now received the atonement Well may the assured Believer rejoyce for his name is written in Heaven And there are no Errata in the Book of Life no blots there made no name ever razed out which is down there And how may such an one wonder that the free grace of God should make such a difference between him and others between him and his former self When he was first loved he was worthy to be loathed he was loved freely for he was found lying polluted in his blood 3. Assurance of the love of God will take away the difficulty of Religion When once you know that God is yours Christ yours the Promises yours things present and to come yours you will not think much of any thing you are required to do or part with Apprehension that you are dear Children will make you follow God indeed Eph. 5. 1. and follow hard after him Apprehension that you are pleasant to him will cause you to take the more pleasure in him and in his service An assurance that God is ready to assist you in every piece of work he enjoyns you ready to meet you in his Ordinances and to be found of you when you seek him and that he will not forget your labour of love Heb. 6. 10. This will make you to love your labour for your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. 4. Assurance of the love of God will make earthly things contemptible in your eyes When you know your interest in the Fountain of living Waters how little will you value the broken Cisterns When the Psalmist had been assured that God was his portion for ever things on Earth became undesirable Psal 73. 25 26. The Apostle being persuaded of his title to things invisible and eternal he counts the things that are seen which are temporal not worth a look from him 2 Cor. 4. 18. And David is so far from fancying them that he prays he may never cast an eye or hanker after them any more Psal 119. 37. Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way They that know and believe the love which God hath to them are satisfied that his love hath provided far better things than the World can boast of or the men of the World know of Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man what God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. Those believing Souls that were in assured expectation of a better Country than any in this World to wit an Heavenly Country they confessed they were Strangers and Pilgrims upon Earth Heb. 11. 13. Earth and the things of the Earth were very mean and inconsiderable in their eyes 5. Assurance of the love of God will be a mighty antidote and preservative against temptation with what confidence will it make you to look unto your Lord and Father for help against the Tempter and his grace will be sufficient for you 2 Cor. 12. 9. so that you shall be strong enough to resist the Devil and make him flee from you The Assured Believer can more easily silence Satan than others can because he has tasted and seen how good and gracious the Lord is he has experienced that peace in the God of love and peace which the World can neither give nor take away therefore he does the more contemn all the offers which Satan can make to him in the hour of temptation The assured Believer may cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now I have found real contentment now I have tasted true joy Earth cannot yield it Sin is the sure hindrance of it in God alone 't is to be found Temptation upon such an one is likely to have but
small success 6. Assurance of the love of God will lift you up above the fear of evil tidings Psal 112. 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Why should those be afraid who dwell in the secret place of the most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty Psal 91. 1. The Saint has the Almighty on his side who surely is able to protect him He is under the shadow of the Almighty the Lord with his wings does cover him that violence may not be offered to him nay he abides under this Shadow so that he is safe at all times He dwells in the Most High and who then can reach him Nay he dwells in the secret place of the most High which shews how precious he is in Gods account and how far out of harms way Single David supposes an whole Host encamped against him yet says his heart shall not fear Psal 27. 3. and knowledge of his interest in God is the ground of his confidence vers 1. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my Life of whom shall I be afraid 7. Assurance of the love of God will make you very holy and heavenly The Grace of God is but presumed upon and abused when'tis made an encouragement unto licentiousness Hark to the Apostle Rom. 6. 1 2. What shall we say then shall we continue in Sin that grace may abound God forbid how shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein Those who know they are under Grace do most abhor the dominion of Sin v. 14. they live most to God and are most forward to be the Servants of Righteousness The Conversation of such will be much in Heaven Phil. 3. 20. The Heir in his minority does often think of the Estate he is to enjoy Those who know they are the Children of God will often think of what they are to partake of hereafter for they are Heirs of God and joint Hiers with Christ they are begotten again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead unto an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. No contemplation will be so delightful to us as that of Heaven when once we know that our Lord is gone to prepare a place for us and will come again and receive us to himself that where he is we may be for ever also 8. Assurance of the love of God will make you to abound in praises He has made you new creatures to this very end that you should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. How does the Apostle Peter break out into thanksgiving upon this account 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again The Apostle Paul speaks to the same purpose Eph. 1. 3 4 5 6 7. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ He hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be Holy and without blame before him in Love He hath predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children He hath made us accepted in the beloved in whom we have Redemption through his Blood the Forgiveness of sins according to the Riches of his Grace How much has the Lord wrought both in and for those he has made Believers He has abounded towards them in Wisdom in Grace in Power in Love Praise is a debt Praise is expected and Praise is comely Though all his Works praise the Lord yet Saints look upon themselves as under a more special and peculiar obligation to magnifie and blesse his Name 9. Assurance of the Love of God will make Afflictions tolerable nay Death it self desirable The bitterest Cup will down more easily when you see t is reached forth to you by the hand of a Father The curse of the Cross is gone and it may be the better born and the Sting of Death is taken out and now Death and the Grave may be triumphed over What was Death to old Simeon when his Eyes had seen Gods Salvation it was but a peaceable departure out of a troublesome World Luk. 1. 29. 30. What was Death to the Apostle Paul who knew that assoon as ever he was absent from the Body he should be present with the Lord It was not dreadful but desirable Phil. 1. 23. I desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better These are the Arguments and are they not strong ones to perswade you to labour after Assurance The Directions how to prove your selves so as to attain this Assurance follow 1. Set selves as in the presence of the All-Seeing and Heart searching God Who knows you who will judge you and who alone can make you to know your selves You cannot possibly deceive him for every Creature is manifest in his sight all things are naked and open to his veiw Heb. 4. 13. Your Spirits will be apt both to trifle and to juggle unlesse they are awed with a sence of the Lords Omniscience Let Conscience in the searching of you act as Gods Officer and as Gods Officer in Gods presence and then it will deal the more faithfully 2. Pray that your Spirits may give a true Testimony concerning you And that they may do so you must be well acquainted with Scripture-signs and characters of true Grace and then with great intention reflect upon your selves to see whether you have the marks of Christs sheep upon you whether you have the characters of Gods Children A wrong judgment of your selves how extreamly prejudicial would it be to you Adjure your Spirits therefore in the name of the Lord to tell you the very Truth and cry unto the Lord himself that he would not suffer you to fancy or call your selves his Children if you are really but hypocrites and strangers to him that you may not cry peace and safety when God speaks just the contrary 2. Be willing to find out every thing that 's evil in you in order to your more compleat purging David prays see if there be any evil way in me and lead me in the way Everlasting Psal 139. 24. And Psal 19. 12. He desires to be cleansed from secret sins that nothing wicked might borrow the shape of lawful and good and thereby abide in him The more corruption is found our and mortified the more fruitful you will be John 15. 2. Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit And the more fruitful you are the more evident it will be that you are really the living branches of the true Vine which is Christ Jesus 4. Pray hard That if you have any Grace the Lord would increase it and bring it
into exercise that it may be the more apparent Little Grace is nearest unto no Grace much Grace is nearer unto Glory When Grace lies dormant as it were and asleep in the Habit it may be doubted of but when 't is vigorously acted the Truth of it will more easily be granted Thus the Hare when she sits close is not perceived but when she is started then she is visible to all Pray therefore to resemble the Thessalonians whose Faith did grow exceedingly and whose Love abounded 2 Thes 1. 3. And that your Faith may work and your Love put you upon labour this is the way to have your spiritual estate cleared up to you 5. Find out and avoid what really nourishes and keeps up your Doubts and Fears Entertain not high Thoughts of your selves your gifts your parts your attainments for deadness and darkness and doubting will follow upon spiritual pride Check the spirit in you which lusteth unto Envy Jam. 4. 5. Abhor all lascivious thoughts and motions at the first rising of them Let not any Earthly enjoyment get too high a room in your Heart nor too large a share in your Affections Suffer not your Spirits to be ruffled and disordered by passion and peevishness In short connive at no corruption but mortifie all your members upon Earth Col. 3. 5. Not sparing the right Hand or right Eye For if you deal gently with any of your lusts and suffer them ever an anon to prevail they will render your condition doubtful and will be a strong impediment unto Assurance and Consolation 6. When you are proving your selves heed not Satan in his unreasonable injections You need not doubt but this Accuser of the Brethren will be very busie and use many wiles to hinder you from attaining peace of Conscience The Christians comfort which is the Christians Heaven upon Earth is the Hell and Torment of this envious Spirit therefore he does what he can to hinder it He starts a great many captious questions in the minds of Humbled and Awakened ones How do you know but that you are of the number of the not Elected Is not the day of Grace past and the Spirit quite gone Are you not judicially blinded and hardened Can you ever hope for an interest in and sense of the Love of God who have been such rebels heretofore and such revolters and back-slinders since a profession of Religion Sometimes this Enemy of souls will charge those that are sincere with hypocrisie in a most peremptory manner he tells them that all their duties are a meer Abomination that they have not one jot of saving Faith that they are meer strangers unto godly sorrow and repentance that they have nothing at all of the Love of God in them Calumniare audacter aliquid haerebit Satan charges boldly and thereby hopes something will stick whereby the soul will be disquieted But such injections as these are not to be regarded because they come from him that is called a Lyar and it may be known they proceed from him because he proves not what he injects by Scripture nay he overlooks all that the Scripture speaks for the souls encouragement And his design in these injections is to make duty neglected to drive souls to despair and to lay aside the profession and practice of Religion Be altogether deaf to Satan perceiving his evil design and pray that the God of peace would bruise Satan under your feet Rom. 16. 20. 7. Add not unto the Word of God Prov. 30. 6. My meaning is this believe nothing either for or against your selves but accoring to the written Word of God rightly understood and applyed Many question their state because their Hearts are so dead in Prayer because they find so much hardness and unaffectedness under Ordinances Mercies Afflictions because they fall so exceeding short of what they would fain both be and do But where does the Word tell you that where there is true Grace all deadness and hardness of Heart is removed Or that none are real Saints but who are absolutely perfect in Holiness The Apostle Paul found evil present with him when about to do that which is good Rom. 7. 21. And the beleiving Galatians had flesh as well as spirit and this flesh was very active and lusted against the spirit so that they could not do the things which they would have done Gal. 5. 17. You have spiritual life else you would not have spiritual sense to feel and be weary of remainders of corruption you would not have a will to be and do good and still to be and do better if God had not wrought will this in you 8. Be sure not to thrust away that consolation which the Word of God hands forth to you but humbly and thankfully accept it Though the Heart be naturally deceitful above all things yet so far as 't is renewed it deals truly and sincerely and Conscience being enlightned by the Word of God is to be credittd in its Testimony 1 Joh. 3. 21. Beloved if our Heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God If therefore upon the strictest search your Hearts do witness for you that there are good things in you towards God as it was said concerning Ahijah the Son of Jeroboam 1 King 14. 13. If you find that God is preferred before the World that you are willing to receive the Son as the way to the Father and that you consent nay earnestly desire to be sanctified throughout by the Spirit You should not dispute against your comfort but gladly accept of the peace of the Gospel for you are the Sons of peace You will grieve the Spirit of God and add to your own grief if you will not heed the Scripture speaking plainly for you and for your relief and if your Souls refuse to be comforted Ps 77. 2. Take heed of rash answers of your selves that you are rank Hypocrites and that all the grace you have is but common or counterfeit unbeleif is not to decide but the Word is to judge concerning the sincerity of Grace and if the Word speak peace you are not to keep your selves under trouble 9. Hold on in self-proving and praying and resolve never to give over trying and crying tell you know you are the Lords and have the light of his Countenance Tell him that his favour is better then life and that you know not how to live much less do you know how to dye without the sence of his Love Be thankful for hopes and probabilities but rest not there till you can speak as the Spouse in the Canticles Chap. 6. 4. I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine And as the Apostle Paul does Gal. 2. 20. The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me Beg that the Spirit may put all out of question and seal you to the day of Redemption The Spirits Testimony is of absolute necessity to bring us to an Assurance that we are the Children of God Now this Testimony
of the Spirit supposes that we are convinced of Sin and Righteousness it also supposes that we are sanctified in Heart and Life in a degree and long for perfect Holiness The Spirit then heightens the actings of Grace and evidences the Change he has wrought and makes us plainly to perceive and feel that we hate our sin prize our Redeemer and Love and Fear and Desire after our God And this real change in our Heart being evidenced then our relation unto God is also shewn that we are the Children and Heirs of the Lord Almighty that his love to us is Everlasting and his kindness shall never depart from us Satans mouth is now stopt and the Spirit causes the Conscience from the Word to be quieted and satisfied clouds are scattered doubts and fears are removed consolation is strong and joy unspeakable and glorious Thanks millions of Thanks be unto God for the Mighty Comforter Who gives a check to Hell and says Let their be Light and Joy where before there was darkness and doubtting and sorrow Who evidences Electing Love from Everlasting and causes Triumph and Rapture of Spirit in assured expectation of glory to Everlasting 10. Let me add one Word more having attained Assurance of the Love of God Take the right course to keep what you have gotten Here I shall name a few particulars 1. Be low in your own Thoughts if you continue humble God will continue to re vive and comfort you Esa 57. 15. 2. Offer unto your God and Father Thanksgiving If you are thankful for the light of his countenance that 's the way to have his face still to shine upon you 3. Take heed of presumptuous sins David lost his joy when he ventured to be unclean and bloody nay take heed of lesser sins for these will dead the Heart grieve the Holy Ghost and dispose to greater 4. Be very serious in the Ordinances of Christ if the House if the Table of the Lord be neglected you will kill your comfort frequent the Lords Temple if you would see his Beauty that is his glorious holiness and have a continued sense of his Love Ps 27. 4. 5. Study the unchangeableness of Gods Love in Christ and the sureness of his Covenant This will be matter of perpetual gladness to see your selves in the Heart and hands of the Father and of Christ from whose love none can separate you Rom. 8. ult out of whose hands none can pluck you Joh. 10. 28 29. 6. Walk continually in the fear of God This is the way to have the Spirits Consolations Acts 9. 31. Then had the Churches rest throughout Judea and Samaria and Gallilee and were edified and walking in the Fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplyed 7. Use this World as not abusing it 1 Cor. 7. 31. If you are too much taken with worldly comforts your spiritual ones will abate but if in reference to earthly things you rejoice as if you rejoyced not your joy in the Lord will be the greater Look upon your selves as strangers and that this present World is but the House of your Pilgrimage then Gods statutes will be your Songs and fill you with the greater joy Psal 119. 54. 8. Husband your time to the best advantage and have the end of time in your eye Dye daily 1 Cor. 15. 31. If you think much of your dissolution it will make you so wise as to keep your Evidence for Heaven clear and to take heed of blotting them that you may have them to shew when stepping into Eternity In the second place I am to direct you how to prove your selves before you engage in that Ordinance of the Lords Supper To come to the Lords Table is a duty which Christ commanded when he was dying And if the words of a Dying Father or of adying Friend are remarked and remembred how much more the command of a dying Redeemer The circumstance of time is very observable which the Apostle mentions 1 Cor. 11. 23 24. The same night in which he was betrayed the Lord Jesus took the Bread and break it to set forth his own being bruised and wounded killed for the Transgressions of his People He bids his Church Do this that they might remember what He their Head had suffered for them When the Pass-over was instituted and was eaten at Evening and the Children of Israel were brought out of the Land of Aegypt out of the House of Bondage Moses says It was a Night much to be observed unto the Lord Exod. 12. 42. Oh! How much more is that time to be observed when Our Lord Jesus wrought a far greater and more glori-Redemption and Deliverance when being himself delivered for our offences and raised again for our Justification he saved his Church from the Wrath of God the Devils power the Dominion of sin the sting of Death and the vengeance of Eternal Fire Upon the first day of the week Christ ceased from his own works as God did from his upon the seventh day of the week There remaineth therefore the Greek Word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sabbath or rest unto the People of God Heb. 4. 9 10. This Ordinance of the Supper is in no wise to be Administred unto all though they be never so ungodly We are indeed to Preach the Gospel to every Creature but there must be at least a professed subjection to the Gospel or else persons are not to be admitted to this Holy and Heavenly Banquet Those who are for Railing in the Communion Table I wish they were for a Spiritual Rail of Scripture Discipline and that in the Administration of these sacred Mysteries there were a separation made between the Precious and the Vile In the more pure and ancient times two sorts of Persons were debarred from the Lords Table the Catechumeni and the Lapsi the ignorant and not well instructed in the Faith and those who had fallen into scandalous sins And why should either of these be admitted now to eat and drink Judgment to themselves To prevent the incurring of the guilt instead of receiving the benefits of the Blood of Christ the Apostle prescribes self-examination Now That he who would be a welcom Guest at the Lords Table may prove himself thorowly and to purpose let him seriously and as in the Presence of God propose unto himself these following Questions 1. Am I acquainted with or a stranger to the great things of the Gospel Do I know the Mystery of God and of the Father and of christ Or is the black vail of ignorance still upon my Heart The Apostle speaks of some who have need to be taught which are the first principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5. 12. And am not I one of that number How can I pretend to Faith in Christ or Love to God if I have not so much as a notional knowledge of either The Communicant must have some Knowledge of the fundamental Doctrines of the Christian
that Jesus who dyed upon the Cross is able to save to the uttermost and willing to save all that come to him Jesus is the man who is Gods Fellow he thought it no Robbery to be equal with God Psal 2. 6. He is indeed the true God and Eternal Life 1 John 5. 20. Certainly then Help is laid upon One that is mighty and that has sufficient power to save Jesus is he who was fore-ordained before the Foundation of the World 1 Pet. 1. 20. And pitcht upon in Gods purpose and decree to be the Redeemer of lost Man and at last he was made manifest having been Typified and Beleived in long before He undertook to be Mans Surety and to pay the price for his Redemption And just when he was dying he cryes out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is finished and then gave up the Ghost John 19. 30. As if he had said I undertook to satisfie Divine Justice that had been wronged and to appease the Anger of God which had been provoked by the sin of man I undertook to remove the Curse of the Law to conquer and Redeem from Death and Hell and quite to spoil the Principalities and Powers of Darkness I undertook to Ransom precious Souls that were lost and Purchase a Church that may come at last to live with me and my Father and shout forth Hallelujahs unto Him that sits upon the Throne and unto the Lamb forever And this great work which I undertook I have now finished Doubtlesse the Lord Jesus is able to save and his willingness he declares abundantly The Communicant should thus argue with himself O! My soul Is not Jesus a Merciful High Preist as well as a Mighty Saviour Behold him Weeping over Jerusalem the Inhabitants whereof were Enemies to him and would not be gathered And wishing they had known the things of their Peace and will he not with Joy receive those that come to him and put their Trust under the shaddow of his Wings Hark does he not say I will give rest to the weary and heavy laden Does he not assure thee that those that come to him he will in no wise cast out What though thou art utterly unworthy Christ saves none but such for 't is his design that they may cry Grace Grace forevermore 8. The Communicant should ask himself Do I look upon the New Testament and Covenant whereof Jesus is the Mediator as sure and Everlasting David speaks excellently concerning this 2 sam 23. 5. God hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure this is all my Salvation and all my desire This Covenant is ordered in all things because the Promises of it are so admirably suited unto the necessities of poor sinners The Lord here Promises Mercy to the Miserable Pardon to the Guilty Cleansing to the Defiled Healing to the Distempered Soul Liberty to the Captives Light to the Blind Rest to the Weary Satisfaction to Empty Strength to the Weak Establishment to the Wavering and Salvation to the Lost And because all things else are insufficient to make them happy the Lord Promises that he himself will be their God their Father their Portion and that forever and ever And what more can be desired Now this Covenant is as sure as the Word the Oath the Seal the Truth the Power the Love the Blood of God can make it This Covenant is sometimes styled a Testament and in this Testament Christ has bequeathed the greatest things unto Beleivers here we find the richest Legacies that ever were left The favour of God the Sanctifying Spirit a New Heart Peace of Conscience Joy unspeakable the good things of this present World Grace to persevere to the end and a farr more exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory hereafter are the things bequeathed by our dying Lord. And the Testatour having dyed the Testament is of force and stands firm and fast forever Heb. 9. 15 16 17. O my Soul should the Communicant then say Set thy self to Study the Covenant of thy Lord. Consider how great things are made over and how firm the settlement is Be pacified O! My conscience with the promises of Pordon Embrace O my very Heart the Promises of purity that by these I may be made a partaker of the Divine Nature and escape the Corruption that is in the World through lust Rejoice O! My Soul in this highest Happiness that God in Christ is Thine And Triumph O! My Spirit in hope of that Glory that most certainly and very shortly is to be Revealed 9. The Communicant should examine and ask himself Am I willing to break the League Eternally between my Heart and my Lusts Do I consent to have all the deeds of the Body mortified without exception Under the Law the Inticerto Idolatry was to be destroyed how neer soever If thy Brother or thy Son or Daughter or the Wife of thy Bosom or thy Friend which is as thy own Soul intice thee secretly saying Let us go after other Gods and serve them thou shalt not consent nor hearken to him but thou shalt surely kill him thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to Death and after the Hand of all his People Deut. 13. 6. 8 9. And the reason is assigned v. 10. Because he sought to thrust thee away from the Lord thy God There is never a sin or lust which thou canst indulge but the tendency of it is to thrust thee away from the Lord thy God No sin therefore upon any account is to be spared Search thy self therefore for corruption is a lurking thing Unfeignedly desire to have all this old Leaven purged out that thou mayst be fit to feed on Christ the Passeover Speak thus O! My Heart At last lay aside thy deceitful dealing and tell me truly as thou wilt answer it another day whether love to sin is turned into hatred Dost thou give consent that thy pride thy passion thy unclean affections thy love of the World and all other sins should be Crucified Dost thou slight sinful delights that thou mayest taste the pleasantness and peace which is in Wisdoms wayes Dost thou esteem Godliness to be greater gain then any wickedness can yeild Oh! cherish none of thy iniquities for one sin allowed will make the Supper and all other Ordinances ineffectual to Salvation and prove thy utter and Eternal Ruine Just as one Dagger thrust into the Heart will dispatch a man as certainly as if he had as many wounds given him as Caesar in the Senate or Attilius Regulus in the nailed Barrel 10. The Communicant should ask himself Have I a Spiritual Appetite do I hunger and thirst after Righteousness Mat. 5. 6. Do I count Holiness the Glory of God and the truest Glory of Man Do I see a deformity in wickedness and an excellency in being Righteous Do I desire to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and that New man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Eph. 4. 24. Are
and amazing kindness and love of God The Father himself looks here and is delighted in the Obedience and Sufferings of his Son through whom without any prejudice to his Justice and Holiness his Grace and Mercy have a full vent and a free course to be glorified among the Sons of men The Beleivers under the Old Testament looked unto Jesus though he was more darkly represented to them Moses and the Prophets spake of him and Abraham himself rejoyced to see his day And under the New Testament he is more fully revealed Here therefore I will fix my eye and living and dying Behold this Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the World MEDITATION XII I am in my self a lost Creature My sins my sins have ruin'd me the sins which I have lov'd and pleaded for and taken so much pleasure in have done me the greatest harm Wo wo is me that I have sinned I have broken the best Law and rebelled against the best Lord. I have sided with the Enemies of my Salvation to destroy my self 'T is an endless task to number the Stars in the Firmament or the Sand upon the Sea shore or the days of Eternity and I may as well do all this as number my iniquities Innumerable Evils have compassed me about my iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up they are more then the hairs of my Head therefore my heart faileth me And if the wages of the least sin be Death and Hell what large wages and what a low place in Hell have I deserved Gods anger is just his power is terrible his patience is wonderful his mercy is utterly undeserved I should be all despair were it not for the Grace of God and the Blood of God but these are sufficient grounds of hope and Everlasting Consolation MEDITATION XIII I plainly perceive that all mankind have suffered shipwrack The first man Adam had the steering of the Vessel and he run it upon the Rocks and lost himself and his whole progeny All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God The calamity is general the whole World is become guilty before God there is none that understandeth or seeketh after God there is none that doeth good no not one 'T is truly lamentable that the humane nature should be so infected so corrupted as that every mind should be carnal and enmity against God that every Heart should be like an adamant stone that every neck should be like an iron sinew All are born the Children of wrath and with strong inclinations to be the Children of Disobedience So that when the Son of God came into the World to dye and save it He found the World lying in wickedness secure in sin and hastning towards Everlasting misery MEDITATION XIV Whence is this to Man that a Saviour should be provided for him Were there no Creatures fell besides Yes an innumerable Host of Angels kept not their first estate but left their own Habitation The Angels that sinned were excellent and glorious in their first Creation but they grew proud and Enemies to Truth and voluntarily departed and were justly banished from the Lord that made them And when these Angels sinned no mercy that we read of was extended to them The Scripture expressely says that God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell That was a dreadful fall indeed from the highest Heaven to the lowest Hell those mighty Spirits are fettered in Chains of darkness and are reserved unto the judgement of the great day they never that we find had a Redeemer provided nor a pardon offered nor after they had made themselves miserable were they ever brought within the reach and possibility of Mercy The Son of God took not on him the nature of Angels or he took not hold of the Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham MEDITATION XV. Lord What was man that thou wert thus mindful of him Or the Son of man that the Son of God should come and visit him Admirable condescension That thou whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain shouldst rejoyce in the habitable parts of the Earth and that thy delights should be with the Sons of men Can man be profitable unto God Is it any gain to the Almighty that any make their ways perfect Lord Man has the benefit of Salvation 't is but reason that thou shouldst have intirely all the Glory Man is therefore subservient to thine honour because his meanness makes thy condescension and his guilt and vileness does render thy Grace the more wonderful When 〈◊〉 Creature so undeserving nay that deserves so ill is so highly advanced as to be saved the power and grace which does advance and save him is matter of the greater admiration MEDITATION XVI Who is this Lord Jesus that undertakes the work of mans Redemption He is the express Image of his Fathers Person the Brightness of his Glory He is to be Worshipped with the same Worship and has the same Eternal Power and Godhead with the Father and the Spirit He it is who created all things in Heaven and Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones Dominions Principalities and Powers all things were created by him and for him and he is before all things and by him all things consist The Elect Angels adore him the Reprobate ones he has spoyled and triumphed over he has all power in Heaven and Earth and Commands the Keys of Hell and Death He is Wonderful in Counsel the Mighty God the Prince of Peace How safe is it then to trust in this Lord Jesus 't is the highest reason to believe in him that is so mighty that is Almighty for the must needs be able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him Whosoever Believeth in him shall not be confounded MEDITATION XVII O my Soul let thy Faith be fixed and settled on the Godhead of thy Lord and Saviour were he not God 't were both sin and folly to rely upon him Faith in him would be altogether vain but since he is the true God and Eternal Life They shall not perish but have Everlasting Life that do indeed beleive in him Christ thy Righteousness is the Lord Jehovah in him therefore thou mayst confidently expect to be justified and thou mayst Glory and rejoyce for ever The Blood of Christ is called Gods own Blood because 't is the Blood of him that is truly God and over all God blessed forever as well as truly man And surely the sufferings of him that was God can make satisfaction for the sins that thou hast been guilty of against God Thou art amazed to see thy iniquities increased and thy Trespasse grown up to the Heavens Thou art astonished and desolate and horribly afraid to see how high thy sin strikes even at God himself But withal take notice how Christ who is God does stoop and humble himself He that thought it no Robbery to be equal
dead to sin and live to Righteousness MEDITATION XXXVI Is the Cup of blessing at the Table the Communion of the Blood of Christ indeed How should my Soul and all that is within me bless the Lords Name when I take it into my hand My Lord does in effect say to me Here is the New Testament sealed and confirmed there is remission of all thy sins Here is sanctifying Grace here is an assurance of mine and my Fathers love here is a pledge and earnest of Glory and Immortality This Blood of Jesus is deservedly styled precious 't is the Blood of the Lamb without spot nay 't is the Blood of the Lord Jehovah To make light of this Blood as if it were an unholy or common thing is to deny the Lord that bought us and to bring upon our selves certain and swift destruction But whosoever by Faith applyes this Blood of Jesus shall find it sufficient to cleanse them from all unrighteousness MEDITATION XXXVII Dearest Lord How great is the vertue of that blood of thine which was shed upon the Cross without the gates of Jerusalem It can appease thy Fathers anger though provoked unto great fierceness it can remove the greatest guilt it can cure and cleanse the most leprous and defiled Soul it can heal the most wounded and enraged Conscience Oh blessed Laver where I may wash and be clean where I may bath and be eased Effectual medicine which heals every spiritual malady How wonderful was thy love which made thee shed thy blood how happy is thy Church for whom thy blood is shed Lord I love thee I rest upon thee I rejoyce in thee who hast loved thy People and washed them from their sins in thy own Blood and hast made them Kings and Priests unto God and thy Father who gavest thy self for thy Church that thou mightest sanctifie and cleanse it and present it to thy self a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish MEDITATION XXXVIII Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed This is my Answer unto the Accuser of the Brethren when he tells me of my manifold Transgressions All that he can truly lay to my charge I am ready to lay to my own nay I subscribe guilty to all that is down in the book of the Omniscient Gods remembrance but then I add Christ dyed Christ shed his Blood that sin might be pardoned and purged and I am willing to be cleansed as well as pardoned And if the Blood of Christ be enough to satisfie divine justice surely 't is sufficient to satisfie and quiet the most awakened Conscience I have indeed like a Sheep gon astray and turned to my own way but the Lord has laid on Christ all my iniquities he endured the chastisement of my peace he felt the stripes that I might be healed Hereby Satan is silenced my own desponding Spirit revived and encouraged and in the Name and Mediation of Jesus I can go unto God himself though he is so glorious in Righteousness and Holiness as a Child unto a Father MEDITATION XXXIX The Blood of Christ does speak and speaks better things then the Blood of Abel No voice more loud then that of Blood no blood does cry like that of God This blood does speak both to God and Me it speaks to God and what ever I pray for which I really need this blood cryes that I may obtain Blessings of all sorts were purchased by the shedding of it and it is continually pleading that what it purchased may be bestowed Hence is the efficacy of Prayer because what the belieuer prays for the blood of Christ speaks for How loud does it cry in Gods ears Lord pity and pardon the humbled and Believing Soul Heal and Comfort the Contrite and Broken hearted Oh give converting and Renewing Grace to all that do desire it Those that fear thy Wrath let them escape it Those that prize thy love love them freely and for ever Receive all returning sinners and take away all their iniquities Give Grace give Glory and no good thing withhold from them that seek thee in sincerity Thus the blood of Christ does intercede with God And the Lord having contrived the shedding of it on purpose that without any derogation from his Righteousness he might shew mercy to the Children of men certainly its intercession for mercy shall not be in vain MEDITATIONS XL. The blood of Christ does speak also to Me. And how good and comfortable are the words of it Soul be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help and Salvation found God was angry with thee but I have appeased his Wrath. He whom thou wast ready to find a consuming Fire is become a God in Covenant nay a Father to thee That blood which was shed upon the Cross has made thy Peace though heretofore never so much a stranger never so great an Enemy Behold Hell lockt up thou shalt never fall into that place of Wo behold the way into the Holiest of all is open Thou hast liberty to come with boldness to the Throne of Grace and within a little while thou shalt have an abundant entrance into Glory Dear Lord What am I that blood and such blood as thine should be shed for me Why wast thou at such expence and cost for the Redemption and Salvation of such a Wretch such a Rebel Thou hast mercy because thou wilt have mercy thy exceeding rich and glorious Grace must be matter of a delightful transport and sweet astonishment to Eternity MEDITATION XLI My Lords love and kindness should thaw and melt my heart That God whom for so long a time I neither lov'd nor fear'd nor cared to be acquainted with but dishonoured and sinn'd against with so high an hand had he indeed purposes of Grace towards me from Eternity That Jesus whom I shut and barr'd the door of my Heart so fast against whose word I was deaf unto and whose Spirit I resisted for so long a time has He indeed born my sins and carried my sorrows Oh that my head were Waters and my eyes Fountains of Tears Oh stony Heart for shame now become like wax and be melted in the midst of my Bowels I am a prodigy of unkindness wo is me that I have sinned Wo is me that I who have sinn'd so much do grieve no more Surely all my days I will walk softly in the bitterness of my Soul I will be vile in my own eyes and wonder that the Lord should have respect to such an one as I My own sin and my Lords Love shall be my Study I will compare them together that sin may be lamented and loathed according to the desert of it and that my Repentance may be indeed Evangelical and after a godly manner MEDITATION XLII O my Soul if thy
to serve me too much mine to do me any real harm Christ by dying has taken out the sting of Death so that I need not any longer be under bondage through the Fear of Death O Death Thou hast left thy sting in the side of Christ and there hast lost it O Grave My Lord has broke thy gates open and because he is risen I may joyfully conclude my own Resurrection My body must lye in darkness for a while but it shall not always be Death's Prisoner This corruptible shall put on incorruption this mortal shall put on immortality and as the Corn cast into the ground does rise with advantage every single grain yeilding sometimes an hundred fold so my flesh shall come up out of the Earth with an hundred fold better qualities then now it has 'T is sown in weakness 't is raised in power 't is sown in dishonour 't is raised in glory But O my Soul Death will not be able at all to seize on thee Thou wilt be delivered out of a dungeon when thou leavest thine Earthly Tabernacle and go unto a glorious Palace assoon as ever thou art absent from the Body thou wilt be present with the Lord assoon as thou art departed thou will be with Christ and how much better that is thou wilt find to thy full and Everlasting joy MEDITATION XLVIII If my Beloved is mine and all things mine is there not reason I should be His His I am and His I will be to eternity Lord I am Thine for thou hast made me and not I my self I am thine by the right of purchase as well as Creation for thou hast bought me with a price Nay thou hast new made me on purpose for thine own use and that I should shew forth thy praises And I do willingly resign and yeild my self to thee if I am thy Servant make use of me if I am thy Treasure keep me if I am a child let me be imployed in my Fathers business if I am Betrothed to thee let thy love and jealousie secure me from other Lovers Oh let me be wholly only always Thine Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity Let my tongue be like an Angels continually sounding forth thy Name Let my hands be holy the path of my feet pondered let all my members be yeilded as instruments of Righteousness and let my soul with all its powers love and serve thee Lord sanctifie and satisfie and save me and honour me by employing me for I lift up my soul and give my very heart to thee MEDITATION XLIX Ten thousand times ten thousand praises to the God of love and peace Who would not worship thee and give thee glory O thou King of Saints Let thy Church on Earth as well as Heaven ring aloud with Hallelujah's Who is God save the Lord who is a Rock save our God! Who in Heaven above or in Earth beneath is to be compared to Thee a God glorious in holiness terrible in Majesty rich in mercy abounding in Grace wonderful in working and keeping truth for ever Who can by searching find out God! who can find out the Almighty to perfection It is high as Heaven what can we do Deeper then Hell what can we know Who is a God like unto thee abundant in loving kindness goodness and truth Delighting in mercy Forgiving iniquity Transgression and sin and reconciling the world to himself in Christ Glory be to God in the highest for such good will towards men Let the Heavens rejoyce and let the Earth be glad let the Sea roar and the fulness thereof Let the floods clap their hands and the hills be joyful together Let all the creatures joyn in magnifying that God which made them And let all Saints shout aloud for joy unto Him who has visited and redeemed them MEDITATION L. Lord How much art thou above thy Creatures reach Who besides thy self can conceive thy excellency Who can shew forth all thy praise Thou art exalted above the blessing and the thoughts of Angels above the songs of Seraphims Everlasting thanksgivings are thy due Oh let me live with thee to Eternity that I may ever be paying this debt of praises Bless the Lord ye innumerable company of Angels which excell in strength who see the Glory of your Maker and Lord Praise him O ye Thrones Dominions Principallities and Powers Exalt that mighty and gracious God who elected and confirmed you when so many other Angels sinn'd and are eternally left and miserable in their Apostacy O all ye Triumphant Saints that are with the Lamb upon the heavenly Mount Sion Strike up with your Harps and if it be possible let your strains be still higher and higher Ascribe blessing and honour and glory and power unto Him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever O thou Militant Church Begin this heavenly work of praising here on Earth Thy Redemption and deliverance is begun and will most certainly be compleated The Captain of thy Salvation will stand by thee in thy spiritual warfare and having made thee more then victorious over all thy Enemies will bestow upon thee the promised Crown of life and glory MEDITATION LI. Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name What hast thou breath for but that it should be spent in his praises Wherefore hast thou a tongue at command but that it should be employed in glorifying thy Lord and hereby become thy glory Should not a slave that has been in very hard and cruel bondage be thankful to him that redeemed him Should not a Malefactor condemned to dye be thankful unto Him that pardoned him Should not the patient that has laboured under a Death threatning distemper be thankful to the Physician that has cured him And how much greater reason is there O my Soul that thou shouldst abound in thanksgivings unto thy God and Saviour Thou wast in the worst sense enslaved and he has made thee free indeed Thou wast condemned to the second Death to be separated for ever from the Lord and to be thrown into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone and he by dying himself has purchased a pardon for thee Thou wast sick of spiritual which are the worst kind of plagues and He is the Lord that heals thee Awake Awake Oh my soul Awake Awake And utter a song of praise Rejoyce in Christ Jesus Glory in the Father of mercies Who forgiveth all thy iniquities who healeth all thy Diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies MEDITATION LII Shall I not magnifie and advance my Lord who am so highly advanced my self I was once in darkness and securely went on towards the blackness of darkness forever but I am called out of darkness into marvellous light â— I was once a stranger and a forreiner but now I am a fellow Citizen with the Saints and of the houshold of God I am become a child of God who
nothing sad shall be seen nothing evil shall be feared because the cheifest good shall be possessed MEDITATION LVIII Lord I am thine save me save me or I shall surely perish bring me safe to the Haven preserve me to thy heavenly Kingdom that neither Faith nor Conscience nor my soul may suffer shipwrack Thou hast made an Everlasting Covenant with me and at thy Table this Covenant has been sealed Oh never turn away from me to do me good and let thy power and love and the fear of thy name secure me from Apostacy I am not sufficient to be my own keeper but who shall be able to pluck me out of the hand of Christ and of the Father who is greater then all Thou art of power to establish me and canst easily keep me from falling and present me faultless before the presence of thy glory with exceeding great joy Oh let not my faith fail nor my love cool nor my watchfulness abate let Satans wiles and devices be unsuccessful help me to slight the worlds frowns and to be deaf and dead to the flatteries and smiles of it Let me obtain mercy to be faithful in thy Covenant let my spirit be cured of its natural fickleness and treachery let resolutions to be the Lords and to serve the Lord be peremptory being made and kept with a strength beyond my own And let me at last be able to say O God my Heart is fixed my Heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Herbert pag. 140. KIng of Glory King of Peace I will love thee And that love may never cease I will move thee Thou hast granted my request Thou hast heard me Thou didst note my working breast Thou hast spar'd me Wherefore with my utmost art I will sing thee And the cream of all my heart I will bring thee Though my sins against me cry'd Thou didst clear me And alone when they reply'd Thou didst hear me Seven whole days not one in seven I will praise thee In my Heart though not in Heaven I can raise thee Thou grew'st soft and moist with Tears Thou relentedst And when Justice call'd for fears Thou dissentedst Small it is in this poor sort To enroll thee Even Eternity is too short To extoll thee FINIS Books to be Sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Hundred select Sermons on several Texts by Tho Horton D. D. Sermons on 4 select Psalms viz. 4th 42 51 63. by Tho. Horton D. D. Mr. Baxters Christian Directory Sermons on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Collossians by Mr. J. Daille translated into English by F. S. with Dr. Tho. Goodwins and Dr. John Owens Epistles Recommendatory An Exposition of Christs Temptation on Matth. 4. and Peters Sermon to Cornelius and circumspect walking By Dr. Tho Taylor A Practical Exposition on the 3d. Chapter of the first Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians with the Godly mans choice on Psalm 4. v. 6 7 8. by Anthony Burgess Dr. Donns 40 Sermons being his 3 Volumes Pareus Exposition on the Revelations General Martyrlogia with the Lives of 32 English Divines by Sam. Clark A Narrative of the Horrid Popish Plot. A Narrative of Knox and Lane The Witch of Endor Popes Ware-house All four Published by Dr. Titus Oates Robert Jenneson Esq His narrative Dugdales Narrative Mr. Tho. Dangerfields of the Sham Presbyterian Plot. Smiths Account of the 14 Popish Malefactors in Newgate Animadversions on the 5 Jesuits Speeches The Excommunicated Price a Tragedy as it was acted by his Holinesses Servants By Captain William Bedlow Protestant Conformist plea for moderation A Conference between a Bensalian Bishop and an English Doctor concerning Church Government A Caution to all English Protestants A Lenetive for the Clergie Broughtons Works published by Dr. Light-foot Books 4to The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration By George Swinnock M. A. An Antidote against Quakerism by Stephen Scandret An Exposition of the five first Chapters of Ezekiel with usefull observations thereupon by William Greenhil The Gospel Covenant opened by Pet. Bulkley Gods holy Mind touching matters Moral which he uttered in ten Commandments Also an Exposition on the Lords Prayer by Edward Eston B. D. The fiery Jesuit or an Historical Collection of the rise encrease doctrines and deeds of the Jesuits exposed to view for the sake of London Horologiographia optica Dyaling universal and particular speculative and practical together with a Description of the Court of Arts by a new Method by Sylvanus Morgan Regimen sanitatis-salemi or the Regiment of Health containing Directions and instructions for the guide and government of mans life A seasonable Apology for Religion by Matthew Pool Seperation no Schism in answer to a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor by J. S. The Practical Divinity of the Papist discovered to be destructive to true Religion and mens Souls by J. Clark son A Case of Conscience viz. whether it be lawful for any person to act contrary to the opinion of his own Conscience formed from arguments that to him appear very probable though not necessary or demonstrative by Dr. Collings The Creatures goodness as they came out of Gods hand and the good-mans mercy to the bruit-Creatures in two Sermons by Tho. Hodges B. D. Certain Considerations tending to promote Peace and Unity among Protestants Mediocria or the most plain and natural apprehensions which the Scripture offers concerning the great Doctrines of the Christian Religiion of Election Redemption the Covenant the Law and Gospel and Perfection Sermons at the Funeral of Mr. James Janeway by Nath. Vincent The Vanity of man in his best estate in a discourse on Psal 39. 5. at the Funeral of the Lady Susanna Keate by Richard Kidder M. A. Mr. Cautons by Mr. Henry Hurst and Mr. Nath. Vincent Mr. Sorrels by Mr. Benj. Smith Mr. Wadsworth by Mr. R. Bragg Mr. Newcomens by Mr. Fairson Mr. Thomas Vincents by Mr. Slater Mr. Corbets by Mr. Richard Baxter Mr. Bakers by Mr. Nath. Vincent Mr. Marshalls by Mr. Tomlins Mr. Johnsons by Mr. Loid Mrs. Fishers by Mr. Scot. Dr. Whittakers by Dr. Annesly Mr. Wells by Mr. Thomas Watson Mr. Stubs by Mr. Watson Mr. Stubs by Mr. Richard Baxter Hodges Vanity of man as mortal Mrs. Lyes by Mr. Lamb. Vertuous Daughter by Brion Sir Thomas Viners by Dr. Spurslow Mr. Perns by Ainsworth Work and Reward of a Christian by R. Raworth Mr. Wests Funeral Sermon by Mr. Cole Mr. Webbs by Mr. David Burges Baeuters which is the true Church Hodges Creatures goodness Naked Truth Doolitles Protestants Answer Mr. Kidders Charity directed Scholars address Dr. Crossmans Sermon Humphrys peaceable disquisitions Hodges considerations to promote peace An Endeavour for Peace A conference between a Papist and a Jew and a Protestant and a Jew An Essay for the Education of Gentlewomen A warning for Servants or the Case of Margaret Clark An Answer to Dr. Stilling fleets Sermon by the peaceable design A Discourse of Pluralities A
We have known and believed the love that God hath to us 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know that we have passed from death to life And v. 19. Hereby we know that we are of the Truth and shall assure our hearts before him This assurance was not the effect of a particular and extraordinary revelation peculiar to that first age of Christianity but was the result of those charcters of Grace which are to be found even in the Saints now as well as then The consolations of the Spirit were not confin'd to the Primitive times but as a Comforter he is to abide with the Church for ever Joh. 14. 16. And indeed those who walk in the fear of God may expect the comforts of the Holy Ghost without any presumption The Apostle bids us to draw nigh with a true heart in full assurance of faith Heb. 10. 22. And 2 Pet. 2. 10. We are commanded to give diligence to make our calling and election sure What impiety is it then to say that Assurance is an impious confidence What is it that the Church of Rome does not strike at She strikes at our Liberties at our Lives would clasp the Book of the Gospel and lock it up in an unknown Tongue She would baffle our very senses and lord it over our Consciences and exercise dominion over our Faith and rob us of our peace and comfort and joy in Gods Salvation Vse 2. It may serve for a great and just lamentation that this duty of Self-proving is so exceedingly neglected by the generality even of those unto whom the Gospel is preached Multitudes are as unconcerned what is likely to become of them in another World as if there were not a pin to chuse between Heaven and Hell as if eternal Life did not deserve to be desired and eternal Death were not worthy of their fear Men are willing to know whether they thrive in the World there is anxious enquiring what the Parliament does and what the times are likely to prove whether peaceable and prosperous or full of tumult and confusion But alass alass 't is no part of the enquiry of the most among us What Eternity is likely to prove to them whether an Eternity of horror and woe or an Eternity of joy and blessedness A great number live in the prophane and total neglect of God and godliness and will not give the Gospel so much as the hearing but truely there are also many who will pray attend upon the Word preached and profess high and talk religiously who never talk with themselves nor call their hearts to task nor speak such language as this to themselves O animula vagula blandula Quae nunc abibis in loca O my Soul in what state art thou And where art thou likely to be lodg'd when once thou hast left this earthly Tabernacle The consequences of this neglect of Self-examination are fatal and truely lamentable 1. These careless Sinners that prove not themselves know not themselves they know neither their Sore not the way of Cure their Sins are hid from them and so they must needs be strangers to Repentance and godly Sorrow they remember not their own wickedness so as to mourn and condemn themselves therefore God will remember it so to condemn and punish them He that is ignorant of himself must needs remain impenitent and hard-hearted and such do treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath Rom. 2. 5. 2. The not proving themselves is the ground of Sinners presumptuous confidence False hope cannot bear a serious Trial but they that try not themselves are full of such hopes and such hopes the stronger they are the more destructive The hope of them that are Hypocrites and forget God is compared to a Spiders Web 't is spun out of themselves but 't is easily cut off and they and their Hope shall perish together Job 8. 13 14. They that prove not themselves in how certain danger are they of building their house upon the sand And when the Rain descends and the floods come and beat upon their house 't will fall and great will be the fall of it Mat. 7. 27. 3. They that prove not themselves hide their faces and esteem not the Lord of Life and Glory they feel not their sickness they sancy they are whole and value not Physician they are more afraid to be cured of their Disease than to die of it They have no hunger and so they slight the bread of life they never were weary and heavy laden and so they mind not him that alone can give them rest they never were thirsty in a Spiritual sence so the invitation is not hearkned to to come and drink of the Water of Life freely for want of proving themselves they know not in what a most wretched and lost condition they are no wonder then if they neglect great Salvation and how shall such escape Heb. 2. 3. When the Apostle says How shall we escape He does not say what to intimate that the punishment which will follow upon neglecting the great Salvation whereof Christ is the Author is much sorer than tongue can utter or heart is able to conceive or reach 4. They that prove not themselves know not what they are doing they are breaking a Law most worthy to be kept with as great chariness as the Apple of our Eyes they are engaged in the service of Sin whose wages is Death and Hell they are the Devils Vassals who hates and strives to ruine those who serve him with the greatest labour they are provoking the Lord more and more to anger and provoking themselves to the confusion of their own faces 'T is very bad and sad work they are employed about and because they neither prove their work nor themselves they do not in a penitential way cry out What have we done But what they have done they will do still whatever comes on 't therefore the Lord complains Jer. 8. 6. I hearkned and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying What have I done Every one turned to his course as the horse rusheth into the battel 5. They that prove not themselves know not whither they are going these careless Sinners consider not that their most pleasant Sins will be as bitter and as deadly as the very gall of Asps at last that of Solomon is verified in them Prov. 14. 12. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death The end of that broad way our Lord speaks of his hid from the multitude which go in it They are blind and do not see afar off nay though Death is near at hand and Hell follows immediately upon Death yet they do not see it Woe unto them they fly from God and they run post haste towards ruine and do not understand what dreadful and everlasting destruction they are near till they have actually and utterly destroyed themselves and that beyond