heirship and all the priviledges and liberties of the children of God Sanctification to mortifie the power and dominion of sin and to quicken our graces and duties to support us against and under all fiery tentations to eularge and fortifie our spirits under dificult services and to persevere to the end Phil. 1.6 1â— that at last we may attain the redemption of our bodies from the dust and the resurrection to glory But these resort more properly under the tenth and last chapter and therefore here I forbear 7. The next place sets forth Faith by our cleaving to the Lord with full purpose of heart Aâ—s 11 23. Isai 28.16 When the soul is glewed by an holy love to the mercies and goodness of God it will then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stedfastly abide with him It makes not haste out of the mountains of Zion as if full of bogs and quakemires Deut. 10.20 Josh 2â— 8 1 Cor. 1.17 2 Cor. 11 2 but as being setled on the strong and lofty rock of ages This closing of the soul with God is often set down in Scripture by that trust and assiance which a true believer hath in God adhering on cleaving to God is a term also which sometimes attends upon conjugal relation wherby true and faithful persons having the yoke of that union lined with the soft velvet of love 1 Cor. 6.17 become one as in person by the law so much more in spirit and delight To the same purpose the Apostle affirms that true believers being united to Christ by a true and lively faith become one spirit with the Lord and long daily to be more sully espoused by larger affections of the unction of Christs spirit in order to the solemnity of that glorious marriage-day of the Lamb. Rom. 7.4 Rev 19 7 Phil 3 20 And this is true faith indeed when persons long for the appearance of Christ in glory 8. Next follows that term of embracing of Christ as the Saints of old being first perswaded of the truth and goodness of the promises Heb 1â— 13 then at length embraced them utrispue ulnis with all affection and what are the promises but the precious fine linnen wherein Christ our sacrifice was involved after his death at his funeral which is the principal object of our saith even Christ in his sufferings This act of embracing notes our ardent affection to him delight in him and heavenly communion begun betwixt Christ and the heart of a believer Love is Faiths Agent and factor Faith worketh by love a true lover of Christ is certainly a true believer in him and this love increases by faith and faith by love For the soul determines it The more I know of his Excellencies the more I believe in him Rom. 5.4 5 and I love him more because I have the experience of Christs love to me In this very state of the valley there is a mixing of hearts and spirits but in heaven the soul is swallowed up in his love for ever 9. In the ninth place a Believer arrives at this reverent freedom with the Lord in all its streights and dificulties to cast its cares and burdens upon him being both commanded and encouraged by him to do it Whenever I am afraid saith David Psal 56.3 He trust in thee If the heart safely trust in a friend Prov. 31 11. there follows a mutual unvailing and disclosing of the most secret and bosome counsels Psal 71.3 Jer 20.12 Psal 142 2 So does the soul pour out its sorrows and open its whole cause before God. Three things make a friend or relation desirable power to protect wisdom to advise and love to comfort and mingle joys sorrows together All these are eminently and transcendently found in heaven There 's a heart large enough to entertain thy moans Jam 1â— wise enough to guide thee in the dark turns of Providence and so good as not to upbraid thee and can command Legions of Angels at a beck for protection â— Pet. 5 7. Let us therefore cast our care upon him for he careth for us and 't is worth notice what the Apostle terms thy care the Psalmist terms thy burden promising that the Lord will sustain thee to shew that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dividing cares Psal 55.22 heart-rending cares are great burdens But divine sustentation and support of the soul in trouble plainly shews that God takes a fatherly care of thee and will not suffer thee finally to be moved as Davids song in the end of that Psalm since thou art a righteous man and hast cast all thy soul-battering cares upon Gods promise which are but so many tentations to try thy faith and trust in him Besides this trust is exprest by casting anchor within the vail Heb 6 19 When the ship of the soul being turned up-side down as to the world though too near the earth in this bodily estate yet in spirit sails above the firmament and makes all its sails upward still Rev 11.19 and if any storm arises it then rides at Anchor upon the Ark in heaven within the vail beyond the starry Canopy as upon the rock of life the Lord Christ himself 10 In the tenth and last place faith acts by Resignation giving up all its comforts into his heavenly hand when a true believer both living and dying commends his spirit into his divine manutenency during this frail life in all the mighty turns circles or helixes of providence full of intricate meanders and mazes past finding out is led by a hand coming down from heaven So that all ends well with a Saint his stormy dayes do always end in a sun-shine evening He gives up himself to the guidance of his counsel and as to death both for time place way and method yields up all to his safe conduct and yet sometimes breaths out with a most humble and reverent motion his soul still lying in the dust of submission before him to grant him an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or an easy departure out of this life if it may be his holy pleasure and still quietly hoping and waiting for his salvation Thus Jacob in the Old Testament in the midst of his last languishments cries out I have waited for that Salvation O Lord gen 59.18 Luke 2.30 23 46. and good old Simeon in the New Let thy Servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen and mine arms embraced my Saviour and thy Salvation This did our most blessed Lord Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and so did blessed Stephen Lord Jesus receive my spirit testifying to the Deity of Christ Acts 7.59 the immortality of his soul and the resurrection of his body in the same prayer of resignation There may be found in Scripture some other passages exhibiting the nature of Faith and Trust as fixing the heart choosing of Christ waiting for his coming and expecting the blessed day much to the same effect
but to cut off prolixity Psal 108 1. Luke 10. ult I shal rather convert the former ten particulars with the like into some spiritual Soliloquies since all of them exhibit some excellent benefits flowing from Christ alluring the soul to him as by the smell of those precious ointments wherewith he was affused and inaugurated into all his offices by the Holy Ghost which was signified by the inunction of the Aaronieal Priesthood of old in type by a choice composition of myrrhe or Benzoin cinamon sweet calamus cassia lignea Exod. 30.24 and oil-olive So was our holy Lord conse crated a Priest for ever over the house of God. Psal 45.7 Let us now breathe out our warm desires and flowing hopes in some few Ejaculations as to all the ten particulars into his own bosom The Soliloquies 1 O Blessed Lord I am scorchd and burnt up with the sense of thy wrath the thunders of thy Law amaze my soul Death and Eternity make my bexes to quake Psal 22.15.119.13 I am dryed like a pot-sheard or as a bottle in smoke Vox faucibus haeret my tongue is ready to cleave to the roof of my mouth But I come to thee as a gracious Saviour inviting calling promising to help me in those fainting agonies I thirst after thee as the fountain of Siloam and more than David after the water of Bethlehem 2. I faint and my soul quivers upon my pale lips nay is upon the wing to take flight into eternâ—ty I look up for some reviving smiles from the light of thy countenance Do thou look down O blessed Lord with one beam of mercy and it cures me for ever speak Lord for my soul waits to hear that peace which is the fruit of thy lips Psal 45.2 and that grace which was poured out into them O let me not faint nor sink into the dust of death and perish for ever For I have chosen to exhale my soul into thy bosom and dye at thy feet These are the sweet ardours of Faith. 3. Now then since I am come to thee O my blessed Saviour and that with my whole soul and come at the call of thy Word and Spirit For I heard thy voice in the woods of the wilderness and am returned to lie down at thy foot shall the hungry go emty away from the feast of such a Solomon Thou didst invite me by thy Ministers in many a choice calling Sermon and I made no excuse Luke 1.53 Prov 9.3 though too much delay so speaks my sorow yet the feet of those who brought the glad tidings of thy love were to me more beautiful and enamouring than the ruddy morning 4. Moreover O searcher of Reins thou knowest that I am inwardly willing to receive thee upon all the terms in thy holy Gospel signified by thy heavenly call since then my bended will inclines its bowing head towards thy bosom and my whole soul cries after thee since my hands are stretcht out towards thy holy place and my parched mouth wide open to receive that Nectar of heaven the waters of life O fail not â—he expectation of the needy that commits his soul to thee be not silent to my cries Psal 40.2 that ascend out of the deep and dark pit and from the horrible clay 5. Thou hast O Saviour full of bowels given strength to my feet and restored the nerves and sinews that hung shriveld about my anckle bones as thou didst to the cripple at the Temple-gate so deal with me thy Lazarus that 's spiritually lame and full of fores Acts 3.7 yet limps towards the throne of grace the Temple of mercy Strengthen my hands O Lord that I may as firmly take hold of thy love as I am freely come to thee for thy Salvation 6. Yea most blessed Saviour I begin to be encouraged by the warm beams of thy love and feel some vertue flowing from thee to invigorate all the muscles and tendons of my affections and whatever incites and inspirits the motive faculty of my soul so that I now most humbly and reverently beg leave and permission to lean upon thee and to lay my soul down by thee and in thy bosome to repose as far as thou shalt graciously please to admit me into thy communion for succor suâ—port and comfort 7. O stay me with flaggons for I am faint by the strong and over coming beams of divine love and yet resolved in thy strength to cleave to the arm of thy power 1 Cor. 6.17 and by the unction of thy spirit to be united into one spirit with the Lord. 8. And to embrace thy love that everlasting love which sprang from thee in thine electing mercy and pity before the world began 9. And am now become more solicitous by thine aid and help to cast all my cares upon thee then ever I was anxious and distressed as to events while those pressures caused my foul to groan out to heaven 10. I am now determined by thy power to breathe out my soul at last only into thy compassionate bosome Col. 1.11 to be kept to the day of Redemption and being strengthned with all might by thy glorious power humbly resolve to wait with all patience in the fresh actings of Faith till I see thy face in the joyful morning of the resurrection The soul having in these few panting Soliloquies poured forth its breakings of heart before God desires yet further to be resolved in one question to help its joy and therewith I shall conclude this chapter Quest How may I discern the truth and integrity of these breathings of the soul to be the true actings of Faith. Answ I answer labour to feel the pulse of thy soul as once a Greek Physitian touching the arterial pulse of a young Prince of Macedon knew whether his heart wâ—nt So may we assuredly know where our treasure is seated and where our love is planted if we find our hearts to be where Christ is set down even at the right-hand of God. But le ts reply a little more distinctly Col. 3 1 2. 1. Consider where thy soul doth most acquisce where dost thou feel thy soul at most rest and quiet He that bids his soul take ease in a fat barn was but a gross fool Luke 12.18 and he that puts his hope or trust in a clod of yellow clay bows down to a dumb Idol that cannot profit But if as David when dying we have all our hope and salvation in the covenant of a living God 2 Sam. 23. establisht to us in all things and sure If thou repose thy weary spirits in the bosome of Christ and findest thy lingring weariness to wear away in the warm bath of his Love and resignest thy self into his tuition and under the canopy of heaven and exercising thy self in applying precious promises suitable to thy captive state by the rivers of Babylon and patiently waitest for his bright and blessed appearance and Kingdom
the people of Antioch that among so many thousands in that great City that scarce an hundred would be saved and he doubted of that too When we ruminate and consider of the pride vanity luxury wantonness excess and rioting pleasure and vain-glory envy backbiting and variance both among Ministers and people neglect of holy duties love of the world and the perishing trash and trifles therein The contempt of the Gospel and faithful Ministers we must subscribe to that of our Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fear not little yea very little or diminutive flock when not only all the wild beasts and wolves but the goats also are separated For it is your Fathers good pleasure to give to you a Kingdom Luk. 12.32 Since the number then comparatively is so very small and the danger of miscarrying so very great oh how does it stand us in stead to make the things of Eternity establisht and sure which ushers in the next corollary 9. That the knowledge of our sincerity and integrity is of great use to gain both peace and joy in believing which is a principal aim in the foregoing treatise For though the want of Assurance doth not prove us to be under the power of unbelief yet this defect shews the weakness of our Faith and keeps the yoke of bondage in manifold fears and torments too strait and pinching upon the necks of some that are truly gracious It is thy greatest interest then to clear the case and to state thine evidences by answering to the questions at the end of each chapter or to the whole in general or by any sound way and method to manifest a work of true grace and faith in thy heart Phrase things term or call them how thou wilt but be sure the work be right between God and thee Sincerity will clear up all under various misprisions and accusations of undiscerning friends who usually insult upon persons in adversity not for want of censorious pride and folly which they seldom come to own and behold but in the glass of their own calamities yet holy Job stood his ground and which was bitter indeed to conflict with their severe animosities when under a cloud from God yet still held fast his integrity before the Lord. This is such a strong pillar that a Christian may lean the whole strength and stress of his soul upon it in the name and power of God. A dear and intimate conjugal relation who is mentioned before chapter 8 would sometimes be upon this point But am I right indeed am I sincere in my heart and love to Christ if I could but prove that clearly I know all were well I answered how do you know or can prove the truth of your love in the relation wherein you stand but by descending into your heart and examining the inward honest inclinations and readiness of spirit to any kindness and labour of love For any one may assuredly know that they have true love or any other natural affection within their bowels unless their senses and brains be deficient We may tell whether we mean honestly and truly in what we profess and do Whether our tongues agree with our hearts or whether there be found a secret aversation and loathing within or not It is so verily in the case between Christ and us ask your soul the question and answer it from the integrity of your conscience and then pronounce with the Spouse so often mentioned Song 2.16 I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine for he feedeth among the Lillies and Spice-beds of graces in my heart There are manifold signs of true grace set down by some most whereof might be spared being but like pitch or birdlime to entangle discouraging Spirits use but few and those very pertinent if thou find a true one truly wrought in thee t is enough for then all are there in semine in the seed-plot tho under ground As suppose unfained love to the Brethren or constant pantings after God and delight in secret communion or the like Be but sure of its true being within you it will do your buisiness by serious pondering and rumination upon it with the aid of Gods Spirit Some are over-free in multiplying tokens it shews a popular invention but not very logical and rational because usually co-incident and but little comfort rather sorrow and perplexity arises thence to mourning souls under the absence of God and therefore be advised to forbear because they will not agree to the various forms especially the lowest state of Christians and then there 's wise work for tentations when you grieve the generation of the just whom God would not have grieved Psal 73.15 If then all your multiplied signs do not comfortably agree with thy strict and impartial search Be not cast down For an honest heart having true love to Christ tho mixt with failings yet all lamented and none allowed Rom. 7.5 but hated and striven against with an inward content of soul and joy that it can bear up against the stream of corruption and with all its care towes the boat up the River toward the Spring of its happiness and tho it find much unholiness ye◠melts and grieves over it studies amendment in what the word and conscience smites upon and that with some improvement in mortification and some growing in grace or a gracious willingness to be and do so mixt with honest endeavours tho it be not so lively and flourishing as it would tho the soul labours and sweat in the fire of contention and conflict with its lusts and corruptions and feels not that success it prayes and thirsts after yet do not discourage nor greive thine own spirit and so hinder its elevation to work and service The root of grace appears to me to be plainly in thee and that it will by degrees wax and increase like the house of David and if thou canst perceive some growth tho but little it is a sure and certain Index of life If thou daily diest in some measure to sin Psal 18. and particularly to that sin which thou art most inclined to thy peevish froward cursed proud contentious humors and lusts or any else upon sudden inroads of Satan which thy heart and faithful Ministers and Friends check thee for and beginnest to live a little more to holiness then thou didst and growest perseverest in grace and art watchful against thy lusts and humbly and meekly thankful to them that reprove thee and labourest to imitate the holiness and meekness of Christ the beloved I must say and insist upon it that sincerity is the cardo rei the very hinge of that door that lets thee into life and salvation and if thou dost truly love him who pardons all thy foolishness I say then th◠thou fear the work that it was not right at first at such a time when thou thoughtst it was a sound and a true conversion never stand puzling and frighting your spirits about the point what that
your feet in the way to bliss and happiness 3. Stop up the casements of thy senses at any approaches of vanity Prov. 4.25 Let thine eyes look right forward and take heed to thy going Wax up thine ears as Vlysses in Homer from the Syren-songs of fools that may split thy soul upon the Rocks of Charib dis The five senses are as so many rushing flood gates to set open the heart to all iniquity 4. Beg of God a quickned heart to secret and family-duties Cry to the Lord Psal 80.18 Jer. 10.25 Quicken me and I 'le call upon thy name and tremble to be among those families that for not calling on Gods Name shall have his fury poured out upon them Family-prayer is like some Elixir or morning antidote in pestilential times and like some anodyne or cooling cordial julep in an evening to procure beloved sleep in the bosome of God. I was told a notable passage from a holy man a native of Lancashire Mr. Hilton that a witch being to be turned over confessed at her Execution that she could never bewitch the person or family as I remember of a certain godly man in that country because she could never find him come out of his doors without prayer in a morning Again I beseech you let us take heed of Omission-sins and beg pardon for and assistance both of memory and strength against them yet be not too much discouraged if age sickness or weakness or some sudden disappointments hinder or impair thy work Nay if sometimes the sweet wind of the spirit do not breath so fragrantly upon thy garden of spices with the same benigne influences as to melt thy heart in holy ardors and flames of love remember that relentings and mournings under such apprehended absences of the spirit do manifestly infer the inward presence of the same holy spirit in the compunction and brokenness and languishments of heart for Christ do shew a sickness for want of communion visible by secret invisible touches of his love Behold he stands behind the wall Sâ—ng 2.9 and will by and by look forth at a window and shew himself through the lattesse to thee Let me here interpose an humble and earnest request to all persons who may light upon these lines to set upon a speedy and sincere reformation of all things displeasing in his sight that the Lord may bless us and restore and preserve our mercies and especially to conserve the Gospel among us Le ts ' also mix prayer with holy thankfulness for the least of mercies which reminds of a passage of Mr. John Ball when occasionally at a very short and mean dinner with Adams Ale as the Author terms it he breaks out into these words It would cost a man many a years labour to be truly and throughly thankful for one piece of bread and cheese Clearks lives p. 176. Oh how many poor persons in this land would leap at the crusts parings and offals which many lewd persons and wastful servants fling away presumptuously against the command of our Lord who could make bread by a word out of stones out of nothing and yet bids that nothing be lost while as they consider not what bitter poverty they may howl under John 6 1â— nor the dreadful judgment of a famine of bread and water But then how much more abundantly thankful ought we to be for the festival-days of the Gospel which we have enjoyed that so we provoke not the master of the feast to remove both his flourishing table and such ungrateful guests Since many people are even weary of their faithful and painful Ministers who are so disheartned grieved and wearied with abuses offered to them that we may justly fear lest God should prove weary of us all as we are weary of him and provoke him to take away the golden and put brazen candlesticks in their room as that holy man Dr. Owen exprest himself with much sadness to that purpose a little before his ascent to the spirits of just men made perfect Le ts earnestly implore the divine love and patience to forbid these dangerous symptoms and return in mercy to us again 5. Look well to the flocks of your families that no sin break forth without rebuke restraint and punishment as the matter requires study and beg for prudence in government Take heed of multiplying over-many especially impertinent words in family-prayer lest worshippers prove sleepers and disturb that duty by snoring Remember that God is in heaven and thou upon earth Eccles 5.2 therefore let thy words be few It often makes the ways of Religion tedious and irksome to young persons and sometimes hinders their looking towards heaven In all points labour to keep servants and children in full work and business and keep them from gadding with Dinah For womens chaste behaviour gives a flatter denial than their saying of no to wanton fellows They come too near a grant to airy women that would seem to deny it Let the reins of government be held in a gentle hand moderata durant Let not little faults be the object of severe chastisements yet wise correction is most necessary tho now fled from this dissolute age which is the true cause of many enormities 't is hard for good persons to retrieve it while wicked persons are so rampant and powerful but do what thou canst in the wisest way for a good mans paths are ordered of the Lord. Ill and sordid breeding and evil communications affects many thousands with corrupt manners all their dayes Good education helps to sweeten ill-tempers betimes as a new vessel that 's scented with a vinous liquor And although under bad influences at birth and in nursing by a froward milk as Plutarch points it yet wise parents by the blessing of God may greatly form and lick their conversation into some smooth civilities It s a weighty work to fashion young ones to religious habits it tames the heathen fierceness and barbarism of some natures and brings them up by degrees to advance in some measure the glory of God their countries benefit and their own peace Eph. 1.2 within and ornament without Whereas others who are hurt by bad presidents and examples in the ungraceful carriage of Superiours who care not to prune or lop off the wild luxuriancies of youth they often prove quarrelsome and contentious wretches in age disturbers of families the instruments of mischief in cities and towns and if many then they prove firebrands to whole Nations 6. Deliver your souls from this wicked generation fly youthful lusts Acts 2.40 fast away tentations beat down the flesh that great Ass as Hilarion terms it by moderation and abstinence especially from wine and strong drink and all excesses Shun as a serpent or a flying dragon the dreadful madness of these days which tends in the end to shame and beggery here to the ruine of many ancient and famous families who have swallowed many a park and many a
Lordship and drunk down the royalty of fishing in many Rivers As 't is easy to see in the turns of estates from the old to new upstart races in the antiquities of many counties described by diligent men of late But what is worst of all they are ready to sink into everlasting burnings in flaming pitch and brimstone in that direful and bottomless lake Quest 2. If true holiness be so rare a Jewel and always connexed with true Faith then help us to know whether we are indeed truly sanctified Answ 1. I answer we may know that we are truly sanctified if we have been exercised in godly sorrow and repentance for sin joyned with an holy hatred against it True penitent tears like salt-waters do purge and cleanse the soul Bitter sorrows and an inward sense ef Gods wrath with an holy awe of Gods precepts and threatnings Zâ—ch 12 10. and a sincere desire of a mendment fit the souls pallace for the carrying on of grace Holiness of life and reformation of our ways does alway follow inward and sincere Repentance 2. An inward satisfaction with and some delight from the heart in a convincing Preacher that searches his heart to the bottom and le ts out the old corruption and then pours in the Samaritan Oyle of the Gospel upon the acute wine of the Law yea he reverences and loves him for his work sake and faithfulness to his Patient Obj But may not an unfanctified person shew outward holiness and have some inward dogmatical Faith as Herod and others A. Their Obedience is neither universal nor permanent Luk. 8.13 Heb. 6.4 10.24 2 Pet. 2.20 and their Faith not rooted in an unfeigned love to Christ No more here to this intending a further measure in the eighth Chapter To conclude about Sanctification with the words of that holy and reverend Person Bp. Vsher in his little sheet about the two Witnesses Being askt by a Lady of Honour what Sanctification was after some modest diversion brake out into this expression That it was the offering up tho whole will to God See Brit. Divinâ— at Dort. p. 11â— which was more than all burnt offerings and Sacrifices To which I may subjoyn that none need to dread or fly back from the flames of affection in this free-will Offering tho' it be difficult to â—â—esh and blood for t is perfumed with the Frankincense of our Lords passion-offering at the brazen Altar and the fragrant mingled Incense of his intercession at the golden Altar So that in conclusion all the holy wayes of wisdom are pleasantness and all her paths are peace Thus much at present to explain a little the nature of holiness in this Chapter together with a sad lamentation dropt upon the Herse of vain Professors in these dayes But le ts add Let him that stands take heed lest he falls be not high-minded but fear for thou standest by Faith Rom. 11 20. 1 Cor. 4.7 and that grace of God alone makes thee to differ Let us now finish this excellent and useful Subject of Holiness tho' mixt with some warm reflections for the good of souls and come to a very comfortable Subject about the Beauty and joy of Faith in the Throne of assurance tho' I should interweave a shorter Chapter about the infirmities of Believers to prevent stumbling at the threshold of Assurance and now I hope somewhat to change my voice in more sweet lessons of comfort for the use of broken and mournful Saints The Foundation indeed is laid in the Doctrines of Faith and holiness if faithful Souls will diligently build gold and precious stones upon it they may erect the most stately and Imperial Temple in the whole World not like the Pygmy Pyramids of Egypt up to the Clouds and Vapors but like the Cedar-Temple of the second Solomon all wrought with Saints and Cherubims whose Pinacles reach within the highest Heavens nec habent umbras all shadows and mists are flâ—d away Still remember that all must pass thru ' the Temple of vertue and grace before they can enter the Temple of heavenly glory CHAP VII THis Chapter about the infirmities of Believers for the same fore-written causes I lay aside at present and proceed to the Eighth about the Doctrine of Assurance CHAP. VIII Of the Assurance of FAITH THe nature of Assurance and Method to attain it is the Subject of this Chapter In former times Faith was represented under the notion of assurance or a Saints particular certainty that Christ died for his own soul among the rest of Believers Like to that special priviledg to which Paul prescribes Gaâ— 2. â—0 that Christ loved him and died for him But now more diligent observation of Holy Scripture and experience hath cleared up this point that assurance is the belief Rom. 5.1 that we are justified by Faith in Christ and so have peace with God. It is the application of Faith or a perswasion of our hearts concerning the love of God. Joh. 3.19 When the Spirit of God sets his seal upon our hearts with the impression of the image of Christ as in wax or as the Antients graved the effigies of their Princes on a Cornelian or Opal or such precious Stones Eph. 3.12 Joh. 14.23 It produces a confidence of access by Faith in Christ and is daily more and more evidenced by the abode of both Father and Son with us when the ripe Grapes of Eshcol are cast into our bosoms and Christ himself comes in to sup with us Rev. 3.20 Assurance shines by a reflex beam of the souls eye upon it self When a Saint sitting down in the closet of his own heart takes a clear view of his face in the glass of Faith. I may term it a Saints belief of his own Faith. Assurance is the cream of Faith when t is settled it s the joy of Faith springing in the Soul from the warm healing beams of the Sun of righteousness rising upon its humble valleys Some take Faith to be a trust on the promise for remission of our own sins in particular or conjoyned with reliance dependance adherence and affiance When having cast all our hope and expectation of heaven and happiness into the arms of Christ alone and thence infer the promise to have been made to us in particular by an immediate consequence drawn from our special and personal application of the indefinite or more general promise and taking it as a divine Oracle to us in particular and therefore call it special Faith the promise being thereby assigned to me immediately as certainly as to any in the world because I have set to my seal that God is truth and accepted him upon his Word When this is done to wait with joyful expectation that God will perform it at the day of Christ But what is all this any more than Faith and assurance tied up together in a bundle of sweet smelling Myrrhe Psal 1.6 drest up in various words to
this work and grant this mercy to such petitioners at the throne of grace Perhaps thou wilt answer All this I find even sweet inclinations in me by grace to accept Mat 8.3 embrace and perform But oh blessed Lord I beg that I might be cleansed from the leprosy of sin oh that I might be holy To this I rejoyn a question Art thou willing to be holy according to the Gospel rules to accept the proffers of mercy as both pardoning and purging to be holy as well as happy in Christs method that is to use sincere endeavours after that holiness which thou declarest to thirst for if thou upon calling in the power of his might with integrity of heart doest really intend and set about it to use purging graces and ordinances and wait with perseverance for the manifestation and aid of the Spirit of grace whereof beneath I may then be humbly bold to say to thee though as yet but low it may be in the state of grace Luk. 19.5 yet oh thou little but zealous Zacheus come down and Christ may dine at thine house this day 1 cor 3.22 I may then say The Covenant is yours Christ is yours God is yours life and death and all is yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods. Stretch out in the blessed name of the Son of God and in his power and at his command the hand of your longing thirsting hungring panting hastning Will to the Lord of life and the great work is done and thou art happy I confess I need say no more but that I desire to enlarge upon this so desirable a Theam considering that one thing may be sanctified to take with one Spirit that may not with another but le ts ever remember the connexion of holiness with Faith in the sixth chapter Col. 2.2 if you would obtain to be the heirs of clear full and strong Assurance to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and the Father and of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a spiritual acquaintance with God as a gracious Father in Christ John 17.3 This is life eternal to know thee the only true God in and together with Christ as a Father to dwell abide withus But le ts proceed to a second means of applicaâ—ion 2. Particular promises made in ancient times concern every particular believer in all succeeding ages For whatsoever was written aforetime was writ for our learning Rom. 15.4 that we might have hope As all the precepts concern us and we concern our selves in duty and obedience to them then why not interested in the promises unless there be some special reason assignable to the contrary 1 cor 10.11 Heb. 13.5 Rom. 4 24. We may observe also that all the examples of unbelief and Gods displeasure to ancient Israel and the particulars unto some persons among them were set forth for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come to us that live in the ends of the earth or ages of the world Joshuahs Faith and Courage is recorded for us The Faith of Abraham is recited not for his sake alone but ours also to whom it shall bâ— imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead The Apostle having inrolled the memorials of many famous Patriarks before our Lords time Heb. 11.40.13.8 concludes that they without us shall not be made perfect Whose Faith let us follow since Christ is the same yesterday in Joshaah's time to day in Pauls and for ever throâ—gh all generations All the sheep of Christ drink of the same River of life the same streams of the promise that runs through paradise in â—mne volubilis aevum It comes originally from the secret channels of the Ocean of divine and eternal love and breaks or springs forth out of the rocky mountain of Zion and the various sources of its Ordinances So that every Saint may sing with David Psal 87.7 All my springs are in thee O Zion in thee O God of Zion All the promises are in and thru ' Christ the Prince of Zion 2 Cor. 1.20 Yea and Amen even certain inviolable and unchangeable 3. If thou wouldest successfully apply the promises labour to strengthen the habit of Faith by frequent actings of it upon Christ in the Promise Remember to be every day ejaculating up to heaven and casting the eye of Faith upon a Saviour in glory Rev. 506. a Lamb as it had been slain and standing in the midst of the Elders by the Throne of God. This is a sweet method to breed love to Christ and love will raise thee up to some assurance and confidence in his love God is love and his mercy to sinners in misery is the fruit of his love and love springs out of the original goodness in the nature of God who delights in them Psal 33.18.147.11 that hope in his mercy and trust in his love and when the love of God to us begins to warm our hearts with the inward feeling and tast of it as the foretast of the Wine of the Kingdom it encreases Faith and experience of it advances us into higher degrees of love Then this sweet sense of divine eternal electing love brought into our hearts by Faith leads us at last into the pleasant fields of Assurance 4. That so we may particularly apply the promises call to mind and ruminate upon the qualifications mentioned in the promises and if you can find such gracious inclinations wrought in you by the Spirit of God then may you humbly determine your selves to be heirs of the promises I would not strain hard in the examination of many great things required in the promises but if thou canst by a sincere search find in thee a humble broken-hearted frame it is a covenant frame if thou find in thee a penitent fear to sin a holy trembling at Gods Word a thirsting after Christ with some sparks of true love to him Psal 147.3 Isai 66.2 tho thou mayest seem to faint under the sense of wrath sometimes yet if thou resolve in his strength still to thirst after him and his pardoning love and to hope for it in his promise yea and if thou perish and thy heart-strings break yet to gasp out thy last at his foot Thou art the desirable person the Daniel the man of desires the Samuel the asked of God the Nathanael the gift of God without guile the beloved the acceptable person that shall be taken into his bosom for ever Only and alwayes remember and perfectly conâ— this lesson I intreat thee in the Lord that these actings must alwayes be connexed with holiness as 't is expresly determined Chapt. 6. and which I do so often recal to mind and the Lord by his powerful grace enable us to do it then may est thou draw forth a perfect lot for thy self out of our Joshuah's Book of the Land of Canaan which is above all heavens Thus
Tokens sent before Marriage and to be sure God will not lose his earnest nor be defeated of the fore tokens of his contract of love to souls sometimes the Spirit is compared to fire and yields both the light of joy the heat of love and influences or quicknings for service And 't is this lively Faith which works by love effectually thru ' the Spirit But I would speak a little more distinctly for the observation and the experience of holy men hath set to their seals that they do find and feel sometimes a most illustrious irradiation upon their hearts from the Spirit of God which I take to be of two sorts The 1. We may call an irradiation of concurse with our spirits The 2. An irradiation of incidence upon our spirits Give leave to use the terms and explain them to the meanest The First or the irradiation of concurse is then dispensed when he shines upon our Argumentation when we have laboured with our spirits used scripture mediums and upon examination suited them to our hearts in their most inward sincere and humble searches then comes the spirit of God and witnesses with our spirits that we are the children of God. When we have toiled and sweat many a time in our closets and brought things as we hope some times to a pritty good issue then thru ' one tentation or another our unbelieving hearts fly off from the Conclusion and all our comfort vanishes But now when our arguings by evident Scripture tokens are finisht over and over and yet still we demurre to lay hold on the Tree of life and while we stick in the mire of fear doubtings and hesitancies and wander under dark clouds in the depth of midnight then comes in the spirit of God Rom. 8.16 as the Morning Star glittering over the Horizon and clears all This is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the co-witness of the Spirit of God. 2. The other is that which I beg leave from a term in Opticks to call the irradiation of incidence and is then illustriously performed when the Spirit of God in his most free and glorious agency is pleased to shine personally upon our spirits without and apart from all argumentation whatsoever This comunion with the spirit draws nigh to that of Angelical intuition where by acts of volition and luminous emanation they converse mutually together in a higher degree than we do here by ratiocination with mediums and consequences This is the point we are now upon to shew that the Spirit of God when he pleases without any previous foregoing arguments doth testifie by a secret still heart-ravishing voice Acts 2.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and doth sweetly and suddenly as 't is said in the Acts dart in a ray perswading and satisfying the soul in an instant that thou art a Child of God that sin is pardoned and that thou shalt be saved page 147. Which I reâ—ember the British Divines at Dort call the â—pirits speaking to the heart and even in darker times there were some of the Ilâ—uminate both of Spain and Germany and France that had to do I am perswaded with many distrssed souls in their secret confessions were acquainted with great worâ—nigs in the hearts of penitents but few of â—hem had skill to manage those inward methods Of which things we may find some â—otable footsteps in Bonaventure Gerson Thanlerus and sundry others So that of this inwaâ—d clear and bright perswasion of Gods love to the heart we have no solid reason to doubt but that some holy persons have enjoyed it Austin at his conversion in the garden at Millain had a voice though he had no vision as Paul had in the fields by Damascus I shall be sparing and touch but an instance or two Dr. Manton spake it in my hearing at Oxon of one that being in conflict in prayer had a beam shining into the chamber and being desired by him to have a care of delusion answered O Mr. Manton little do you know what God may do for his poor distressed children or very like words But the caution was wise and grave I know one also who being for almost a week deeply distressed about Eternity had an impression as like a voice within as if he heard it comforting in these words I will give thee rest and so iâ— followed speedily and joyfully and at another time I will not leave thee noâ— forsake thee I might also hint at the beam upon the wall in prayer to Dr. Winter in his life and the voices of Angels to Mr. Patrick Simpson I must confess they are great priviledges and sweetnesses which God may it his divine good plâ—asure and I am perswadâ—d doth sometimes instil and drop in to gracious when timorous hearts anâ— whose constitutions the great former oâ— hearts and spirits knows full well to bâ— naturally over subject to fears and inwarâ— commotions he like a most gracious and Tender Father full of pity and bowels discerns our frames See Mr. Maâ—hers prevalency of prayer Psal 103. p 17.14 at the end of his Tract of N. E. troubles Psal 40.17 By his loving eye and remembring that we are dust is mindfull of us in our low condition whereas many proud and disdainful persons set light by the inward sorrows of broken and contrite souls And are like lamps despised in the thought of him that is at ease But says David though I am poor and needy yet the Lord thinketh upon me and with how many precious thoughts his goodness is pleased to embroider and enamel upon the hearts of his holy humble meek and trembling children For your high exalted boasting persons tho' it may be have some few grains of grace at bottom are seldom visited with these inward joyes But the meek will he teach his ways Such blessed thoughts of grace David could not number Ps 139.17 18 they were more than the Sands of the Sea or the stars of heaven for multitude But now if these or such like lines should fall under the view or knowledge of any prophane or scoffing Ishmael that may vilifie the works of God and like bruits speak ignorantly of what they know not would advise them to forbear presumptious speeches 2 Pet. 2 12. Jude 10. lest their bonds be made strong lest the Terrors horrors of the almighty should one day drink up their spirits So that when Gods Servants shall rejoyce and sing for joy of heart they shall cry for sorrow of heart and howl for vexation of spirit Isal 65.14 But yet because there may be such things as Enthusiasines and transformation of Angels of darkness among some that call themselves Sweet-singers and among others that have more need to mourn over their follies and delusions in the dust of shame I would speak somewhat to that question of an humble Soul. Quest How may I comfort my heart that this irradiation you speak of is a true and immediate work of the Spirit of God and
no delusion Answ In answer to this I must first in all manner of humble modesty declare that I would not dare to meddle too far with such deep and mysterious workings and influences only professing with all thankfulness to the Majesty of divine mercy that having had some glimpses of hope a little sometimes and thirsting after some further and clearer helps from heaven we faint not utterly but striving after to attain towards the resurrection of the dead crave leave to set down somewhat that hope may be a clue to conduct us out 〈◊〉 the Labrinth and maze of delusion The first and best token that these aâ—â— no deceits can only arise from the spirt himself According to that saying of â—oy Iohn It is the Spirit that beareth witness that the Spirit is truth 1 John 5.6 Whitak de sacramentis p. As I remember thâ—â— learned Whitaker in his book of the Sacraments says it should be translated I have forgot the page my books being laid upâ—â— But this is a great truth as no better light to see the Sun by Psal 36.9.34.5 than his own light So 't is of the Spirit as David expresses In thy light we shall see light and they looked to him and their faces were enlightened This is the apprehension of learned gracious persons that the spirit of God never speaks by this his inward heavenly voice but that he graciously helps them to know that it is no delusion but that it is he even the spirit himself that speaketh to them This phrase of speaking to the heart and in and upon the heart is more visible in the Original Hebrew of the Old Testament and was well known to the Prophets of old and is much treated upon among Jewish Antiquiaries Out of whom I must not here stand to enlarge but call to mind what the Apostle Peter mentions of the Day-star arising in our hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 so that it is as clear when the spirit of God does thus shine and testifie yea and more radiant than the Sun at Noon-day without clouds I shall say no more to this but what our Lord to the Angel at Pergamus of them that have a new name written in the white stone Rev. 2.17 which none knoweth saving he that receiveth it 2. I need say little more but that wherever the Spirit doth so illustriously speak and shine it is concomitant with growing in holiness For this most holy Spirit of God is still a building and increasing in such the works of holiness they are of a heavenly frame rivers of holy discourse flow from their lips in prudent seasons they are not vain and trifling spirits but grave and serious and yet chearful For the joy of the Lord is their strength and they have inward delights and value not the cracklings of fools Divine joy is a weighty thing and yet greatly upholds the spirits and sustains their griefs and infirmities If you come into their company by a blessed accident as they say of the Adepti in Philosophy there 's a glittering star shines from their converse society 3. They are the most humble persons living For the humble he will teach his way and shew his Covenant Psal 25.9 I know they may fall sometimes and othertimes have need of a little holy courage against despisers But the main of their conversation is like them of whom the spirit of God says they took notice of them that they had conversed with Jesus Acts 4 13. who was meek and lowly if we imitate him we shall find this rest and remember that Moses the meekest man had the greatest interviews with God in the Mountain Such as are given to much prate and length of idle impertinent discourses are seldom and little or never acquainted with the Spirit of God. 4. They are also the sweetest persons and fullest of love though sometimes provokt by fierce evil spirits about them but if their natural tempers had been before somewhat eager and sharp yet now they are washed purged whitened and sweetned by the Spirit of God. Tender to the Tempted kind to the afflicted pitiful to all bear every ones burden with a gracious frame onely they are taught by the holy Spirit 1 cor 23 4.5 as to such as prate with malicious words against them to imitate hole John not to succumbe under a prouâ—â— Diotrephes 3 John 9. but loves a child of God as such with the full stream of his Spirit And this love to the brethren is much more to Christ himself being filled with the love of the Spirit which by degrees casts out the torments of fear 1 John. 4.18 and gives a blessed confidence as to the Appearing of the Day of Judgment To end this we must remember that the holy Spirit of God doth never witness or illustrate apart from the Word Isa 8 20. 〈◊〉 any light in you try it by the Word and Testimony and hence that as Tentations and afflictions sanctified so the manifestations and communions of the Spirit help us to understand holy Scriptures and promises by experience Let us then be sure as far as possible that the person that pretends to be thus illustrated prove himself to be an holy person in heart and deed or else all 's like a puft and swoln delusion and such an onâ— must lie down in sorrow For the Spirit of God is a most holy spirit and never seals but as he is the holy Spirit of Promise upon the holy heart of an holy child of God. Well then to end this second part of the Spirits illustration Eph 1 3. Rom. 8.16 1 John 4.13 I say it is not meant of the Spirit of God concurring or witnessing with our spirits in the point of assurance clearing up our doubts dispelling the mists and clouds uponour spirits But it is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or like an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a bright shining Ray a most illustrious beam streaming down from heaven into the inmost chambers of our hearts and is an act distinct and apart from his former blessed concurse with our spirits in time of argumentation or the gracious application of the promises for our peace and comfort it is an irresistable evidence of divine love See Dr Owen of the spirit 167. scattering all the clouds of diffidence and distrust in that very moment and when this immediate irradiation flows in though it may be a distinct act from that upon argumentation yet it cannot be totally severed from it because in this glorious light though we may see further yet cannot but see any argument we think meet to touch upon to be also illustrated by it as the Moon in her increases may be seen in the heavens like a cloud in the day time which also has its light from the Sun while he is yet shining bright within our hemisphere at the same time and when these come together they make heavenly work indeed That these blessed
of my own deficiency and intreat a candid Reader to pardon what is here done out of a great thirst and desire to cast in some mites for initiated believers as may help I hope and add to their faith or the joy of faith and supply something of what is yet lacking in the faith of some weaker christians with whom we converse in Ordinances Divinity is an Ocean that hath neither shoares nor bottom there is room enough without envy for every one to spread new Sails and in continual travelling we may still see more wonders of God in these Deeps But yet not to prescind and cut off all proper method and genuine handling of this subject I shall first set down the true nature and essence of this grace of saving faith and then proceed to the rest of the chapters in their prescribed order Now since it hath pleased the goodness of God to give spiritual life to many thousands in these British Isles that have and do believe by the instrumentality of several burning and shining lights ever since the latter end of the Reign of Tiberius Gildas deexciâ— Britan. when the Gospel began first to shine among our praecessors whom God hath raised from age to age out of his infinite mercy as serviceable under his divine commission to open and apply the holy Scriptures from Joseph of Arimathea and his companions at Glastenbury as our Ancestors do generally determine it and have handed it through dark and gloomy times Spelman concil Tom. 1. till its brightness recovered again by the industry of German of Auxere and Lupus of Troyes their disputation at Vepulam against Pelagius his errors and heresies Nay through his divine goodness there never wanted some worthy patrons of the truth under British Saxon and Nerman Governments till the days of Wicklif that great Luminary whose rayes shone into Bohemia Helvâ—tia and thence into Poland as a late worthy Rector of Lesna an university in that Kingdom sometimes since did acquaint me that they own it And after him still sprang up more and more illustrious persons till the restauration from Popery Since which the doctrines of holy â—aith derived from Scripture have been set forth by the Reformed in several Nations and called a Body of confessions printed in quarto But to let them pass I shall for the maine follow that Type of truth which our own teachers have gather out of those sacred pages In the first place then the church of England having exhibited the main doctrines consonant to the holy Scriptures in their Articles Catechism and Homilies I shall name some particulars to our purpose about Faith. In the eleventh Article we have this clause That we are justified by faith only is a most wholsome doctrine and very full of comfort See Nowels Catechism Homilies edit Lond. 1635. Fol. p. 22. Homily of â—alvation or justification part 1. p. 14. as is more largly expressed in the homily of Justification of which more fully in the confession of Faith and the defence of it by Bishop Jewel some hints see in the Catechism but especially the Homilies In the fourteenth Homily thus Lively Faith is a true trust and confidence of the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ and farther that this true and lively faith is not ours but by Gods working in us and again p. 17. 'T is not the act of faith that justifies that were by some act or vertue that is within our selves c and again p. 18. By Faith given us of God we embrace the promise of Gods mercy and of the remission of our sins and yet still more fully in the third part p. 20. True christian faith is c to have a sure trust and confidence in Gods merciful promises to be saved from everlasting damnation by Christ whereof doth follow a loving heart to obey his Commandments In the little Catechism there are hints to the same purpose as that in the answer about Baptism there is required Faith Whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God. But le ts proceed to others The Assembly of Divines in their Confession of Faith after some previous Discourse about it expresly thus The principal act of saving Faith are accepting receiving and resting upon Christ alone for Justification Sanctification and eternal life by vertue of the covenant of Grace There 's also much to the same effect amplified in the larger and contracted in the shorter Catethism The Declaration of the Faith and Order of the Congregational Churches in England met at the Savoy in London by the Elders and Messengers Octob. 12. 1658. express it in the very same words Chap. 14. Sect. 2. Page 24. which are before rehearsed out of the confession of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster All these Societies then for substance do most harmoniously agree in the same Doctrine of Faith exclusive of works in the point of Justification And oh that they would also once agree to live quietly and peaceably by each other as becomes Professors of the same holy Faith washt in the same holy Baptism and called in one hope of the same calling and as becomes the worshippers of one Lord and one God and Father of all Eph. 4.5 who is above all and through all and in all that truly believe We agree in Judgment as to the great points of Salvation and why not affection and brotherly love and peace forbearing one another in little matters not introduced into the primitive Churches before the declension and apostacy began I am sure the Church of England teaches other Doctrine in the second and third part of the ☞ Sermon of Faith. Well then we are at amity in this great particular That Faith is the gracious acting of the whole soul or heart of a sincere Christian whereby he rests and relies upon a crucified Saviour for remission of sins and eternal life grounded on the precious promises of God which is infused and wrought there by the holy Spirit at our new birth and convertion from sin to holiness In this Declaration of the nature of Faith we may for distinction sake take more especial notice of the succeeding particulars in peculiar Sections SECT I. 1. FIrst We may enquire where this Grace of Faith is subjected and that 's exprest to be in the whole man. The Subject of its inherence is not this or that particular faculty but the whole Soul or heart of Man as the Scripture often expresses it and we may observe that some times the Heart is put for the a 1 King. 3.9 understanding sometimes for the b Act. 7.39 will other times for c 1 Cor. 7.37 purpose for the affection of d Mat. 6.21 love for inordinate e Rom. 1.24 lusts in their seat for f Eccl 6.7 desire and for the g Luk. 1.16 21.14 Acts 8 37 Luk. 24 Rom. 10.9 Prov 3 5 memory Now that Faith is scituate first in geral in the heart and then in
without great mercy to the innocent party For the truth is Sancâ—ior copulâ— cordis quam corporis it can be no less than an original cheat and a wicked action when a Woman accepts a Husband meerly for gain or honour when her heart was never honestly and truly towards him It was the false act of a strange or whorish heart in the sight of God when others whose spirits were right might have stood sincere and faithful being filld with candor and sweetness in conjugal Relations Even so it is as to outward hypocritical and feigned Professors who take Christ in the Sun-shine of the Gospel and in hope of a great inheritance when the will in its personal adherence to Christ for his righteousness and holiness never came to a true and real union Whereas the Will is the main point in Marriage according to the determinate rule of the civil Law Consensus non concubitus efficit matrimonium Cod. Justin T is consent and not the bed that makes it So in all moral actions contracts and agreements neither is it otherwise in this grand spiritual concernment of the soul when the Judgment has declared the undone and ruined estate of any out of Christ and proclaimed the rare excellencies that are in him and how appropriate a Saviour to scatter all our fears root out all despondencies and to supply all its wants and indigencies Then comes in the Will and chooses his person as the most lovely in Heaven and Earth consents to all his gracious offers and sincerely embraces his love and mercy with unspeakable joy and thankfulness and delightful resolutions of new and constant Obedience The soul then being invited by Christ in such sweet alluring terms Rev 24 17 Isa 551 Song 1 3 as these Whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely and ho every one that thirsteth c. it finds a sweet inclination smelling fragrantly of the precious anointings of the Spirit when this powerful faculty is turned about renewed and filled with the balsome of heaven and thereby through infinite grace and irresistable power allured to look and run after him to accept him and close with him on the terms of the New Covenant of grace In Scripture therefore the Will is often phrased and signified by the bea rt Thus Solomon prayes at the Dedication that the Lord would incline their hearts that is 1 King 8 58 Psal 119 36 112. sweetly bend their wills to keep his laws and David thus incline my bea rt unto thy testimonies and to perform thy Statutes To incline the will is when divine light has set before the understanding the knowledge of the true good this divine power inwardly moves the will to it Lactant. de Orig c 3 de fals sap l. 3. c. 10 de ira Dei c 7. Bp Wilkins in a set discourse 8. Lond. 1678. not by any force or coaction but by a sweet melting and moulding it into the Will of God. Man is a rational creature and a religious as Lactantius seems to make the last his specifick difference from bruits So that when the stony heart is by infinite power changed into golden oar then 't is melted by the fire of divine love in the furnace of godly repentance and by degrees cast into the mould of the divine will and effigiated or shaped into the exact image of his Son. After this great work the renewed soul finds its will determina ely carried to blessed objects and turned quite about to delight in heavenly persons and things There 's no compulsion in the point but natura renovata fertur the soul being changed is now by its own spontaneous freedom carried with a spiritual naturality to that which is coadequate to its essence and hath received from God a blessed recovery to an enjoyment of and a complacency in this supreame and everlasting good Now though the soul can do no otherwise as far as 't is renewed yet it is no way compelled but acts according to its own delight and pleasure For the whole soul whole heart whole will so far as renewed is carried out with all the Sails of its desires and satiated with the sense and comfort of this most happy change and when come to heaven will be fully concentred in those enjoyments and bathed in that Ocean of bliss no otherwise in their though minute proportion than God himself the humane nature of our Lord then holy Angels and the Saints in glory After which manner some of the Ancients and several of the Moderns express themselves I shall a little touch upon what Strangius declares to this point Libertas naturae est ab omni necessitate Strangig de Voluntate Dei amstel 1657. p. 683. l 3 c. 14 p. 686. quae repugnat naturae voluntatis Liberty of nature is when free from all necessity which is a thing repugnant to the nature of the Will. Again Necessity doth not overthrow our Liberty Again p. 687. Indifferency lies then in the nature of Liberty when it can act or not act about the same object when it may choose either that or another and afterward instances in God in Angels and in the blessed Saints 690. and so Pemble p. 87. Ant Burges of sin p. 312. whose will is determined to true Good c. This powerful and sweet motion and inclination of the will of a believer by the spirit of God may be happily shadowed forth by the inclination of the mind in persons carried towards union in the Marriage-covenant It is of God and generally little or no reason to be given of many of their choices but an influence or impulse from heaven in those that out of pure and honest affection give mutual consent to that relation and not for any base and sinister ends but for personal delight in each other wherein that unspotted intaminated love in rational beings so vastly differs from bruitish lusts and draws nigh to an Angelical Excellency like that of an honourable Lady to a Philosopher in Scotland mentioned by Burton in his book of Melancholly How much more and transcendently excellent is that joyful and heavenly love moving in the heart by the finger of God in a soul that thirsts after spiritual espousals to the Lord of Life There is no adumbration of our union to the Lord Jesus more proper or pertinent than this wherein the Scripture doth so greatly delight To the accomplishment whereof the drawing of the Father is requisite and 't is performed by inward teaching Eph. 5.32 Rev. 19.7 Johae 6.44 45 and thereby producing a heavenly inclination to this union and communion with his Son as the most excellent person and most beloved of the Soul. This secret work being formed upon the heart makes up that inseparable conjunction with Christ which shall triumph in the same chariot to eternity Moreover when 't is freely consented to by the Soul For the gracious heart acts voluntarily tho by
the spirits instigation and inflexion then does God impute the righteousness of his beloved Son to that soul being now become a true believer and by inward intire love in the heart espoused to him Hence it follows that whatever the son hath the Father makes over to a Saint who by vertue of those espousals enters into a right and title to Christ Wisdom â— cor 1.30 righteousness sanctification and redemption and becomes a co-heir with Christ of the same inheritance in the kingdom of glory and as it is here in the kingdom of grace so much more in heaven above fulget radiis mariti the Church shineth not by reflected but by infused or implanted rayes of her husbands glory being one with Christ in mystical union the same spirit and the same glory being in them as our Lord sets it out I in them and thou in me John 17.22 23. Ezek. 16.14 John 1.12 and the glory which thou gavest me have I given them that they may be one even as we are one In his comliness we are made perfect For on them that receive him the Father bestoweth a powerful and magnificent priviledge to become the adopted sons of God. Having discoursed a little largely with thanks to the stronger christians for their leave and candid forbearance of time as to the weaker Saints about the nature of the will as being the principal seat of Faith and the seminary of its fruitful effects Let us now proceed In the third place to the affections of the soul which are indeed but several emanations or streams from the Will and may be compared to semidiametral lines that flow from this center and run out into the spacious circumference of actions For when the heart or will inclines this or that way or to their opposites it then shines forth in those extensive eradiations by the passions and several affections of the Soul. As for instance Isa 26. the church of God in the Prophet cries out with my soul have I desired thee in the night season So in respect to fear holy persons are said to fear God in the singleness of heart Col. 3.22 Dâ—ut 13.3 Judg. 16 152. Song 1 4 7 and others are recounted to love and trust in the Lord with all their hearts and love is stated to be from the heart In this love of our hearts to Christ lies the quintescence of our union and thence a spouse like reverence and a sweet holy fear to offend or displease him in the least Eph. 5.33 The like whereof is commanded in Scripture to be the holy deportment of all Wives to their Husbands Let the Wife sâ—e or look to it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that she fear or reverence her Husband Insomuch that Solomon brings in the Spouse with such a reverent care when her bridegroom was asleep that she charges all persons in and about the place to make no noise that may disturb or awake her beloved till he please â—ong 2.3 She is filled with an heart-ravishing joy in communion with him though here but through the lattesse of Ordinances takes sweet complacency in an holy rest in his fellowship â—ong 2.5 and feels a delicious faintness in the sick agonies of love is always satiated in his society but never satisfied always filled to the brim with pleasure and running over in his praise to the daughters of Jerusalem while the fountain of love pours out of the heart of Christ into the bosome of a Saint by a true perpetual motion this glorious person 〈◊〉 5.7 delighting in his goodness and rejoycing over us with singing These and many more are the pure unstained sanctified motions of the will so far as renewed rectified by grace and acting towards its native and genuine objects at first concreated with it as fit proper and qualified for it 'T is the will then â—sal 42.1 8.25 which desires loves thirsts longs and pants after the living God and is never quiet or settles its full complacency on any person or thing besides God alone but there 't is satiated with all manner of delight and joy for evermore 4. In the next place conscience comes in to act its part and having lookt round about upon all the pre-actings of the soul subscribes to the new creation with this eulogy Behold all the work of God is very good It is a mixt act of the soul flowing from the understanding and will together and proceeds from an inward work Simplicius as a philosopher expresses it if I remember right When the soul makes dialogues within it self It is the reflexion of the soul upon all its precedent acts whether radical or deduced wherein conviction is mainely concerned As the Evangelist speaks of some Pharisees that they were convinced of their own consciences John 8.9 which do accuse or excuse according to the nature of the light and integrity within and so helps the soul to assurance by a diligent intuition into the actings of Faith. Conscience is the souls looking-glass Rom. 2.15 wherein it beholds all the red flashings upon its face when others talk behind them at a distance This inward redness more especially rises from the immediate rebukes of this vicegerent and happy are such who have their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience nil conscire sibi Heb. 10.22 nullaque aubescere onlpa To be conscious of no guilt and to have no faults staining vermilion upon the cheeks of conscience I might enlarge in the next place upon the power of fancy and imagination that anvill and hammer of thoughts in the work-house of the brain But I rather proceed to the last that I shall touch upon and that 's the Memory that wonderful faculty which Austin in his confessions does so extreamly and deservedly admire and the Platonists are so deeply affected with it that they thought the souls science to be little else then reminiscence or a recognition of what it had before its delapse from heaven into the body Memory is the souls christal cabinet replenisht with diamond cells or Loculi so termod by Tully wherein things heard and learned are safely retained and who is able to expound the reason of its rehearsals It is the recollection of the soul upon it self acting over and reviewing every thing at its pleasure and thereby hath a great influence upon the affections to excite them with delight or dolour meminisse juvabit dolehit When we lay up memorials in our hearts the end is to bring them forth of the treasury of a good and honest breast Luk. â— 66 Psal 139.18 63.6 like wise Scribes fitted for the Kingdom of God. Thus David remembers God sometimes to his comfort and when awake was still with God. At other times he remembred God and was troubled comparing his present dolesome state with his former more delicious times This faculty so we may term it Galen being a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a faciendi
upon the foundation or ground-work of our encouragement in the management of this great affair aright by the strength and co-operation of the spirit and that 's no other than by the divine promises laid up in the covenant of grace 'T is the promise allures us the voice of the word calls us the faithfulness of God secures us the motion of the spirit prompts incites and hastens us to come to Christ who most graciously accepts us kisses us and lays us down to rest in his most fragrant bosom And here it is worth our time if every minute were more precious than the whole universe turned into a massy diamond to expatiate upon the freeness the unsought and unforethought love of God in making them the certainty of their accomplishment as built on the essence and veracity of God their riches and preciousness as being equivalent to the Crown of glory encompassed with the golden ring of eternity When we have obtained like precious Faith we shall be made partakers of like precious promises 2 Pet. 1.1 4. Heb. 13.7 6.12 as if we follow the Faith of Saints we shall at last with them inherit the same promised Kingdom In the seventh Place I might trace a little the time of Faiths first infusion SECT 7. and first operation in the heart which is undoubtedly at the new birth when ever it is But how to prescribe and when precisely to determine that in the soul of a Believer is more difficult than to state the quickening or animation of an embrio in the womb of her that is with child or for any Naturallist so set the moment of the first separation of night from day at the initiating crepusculum or ascent of the first attom of the morning raies of the Suns body or the primogenial fermentation of the vegetative soul in the seed Corn in the Earth when it begins to chit or the first vapors in Mineral beds that procreare Mercury into a running liquid body which afterward is congealed by Sulphur into Gold. Its much more difficult to set down the first punctual workings of the Spirit in our hearts Q. But you may ask me Cui Bono To what end were it to be so accurate if it were possible A. I Answer In all humility tho we never attain the precise and nicest time yet as far as we may and with what holy modesty we can attain to dive into these heavenly secrets the sooner we discern the work by so much the sooner may our spiritual joy spring which animates our services and anoints the wheels of our Souls to become like the Chariots of Aminadab For which purpose I refer my Discourse to the third Chapter of this Treatise SECT 8. In the eighth Place I might shew the inseparable union and connexion between Faith and Holiness they are individui comites sweet companions never divided but delighted in each others smiles lovely twins brought forth by grace The heart of a Believer is purified by Faith and his life most orient and beautiful in holiness Act. 15 9 Whoso then pretends to be a Believer and walks not in holiness of life is a self-deceiver and wrongs his own soul But le ts reserve this to a peculiar Chapter below Chap. 6. I should now issue this Chapter but that I desire in the close of every one to answer one or more practical Questions for our spiritual improvement referring to what precedes in the same Chapter Q. 1. If any trembling soul should ask Have I this sound Faith of Gods Elect I should Answer briefly 1. Christ is precious to every one that believes 1 Pet. 2.7 the joy of his heart and delight of his soul when but under this sweet hope and when a little quickened and enlivened in communion I sat under his shadow with great delight Song 2.3 Faith and Love alwayes ride together in Solomons Chariot which is paved with love for the Daughters of Jerusalem 3.10 2. The promises of the Covenant are precious to such a soul they are ornaments of grace about his neck and aetherial Cordials in all its fainting Fits I had fainted Psal 27.13 sayes David had I not believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living It values them above a Kingdom Q. 2. If we fear our state how may we gain Faith Rom. 10. I Answer briefly 1. By diligent attendance on the Word of God Faith cometh by hearing 2. By hearkening to the inward motions of Gods Spirit in hearing the Word Luke 24.31 When thy heart is warmed by some passage in a Sermon take special notice of that particular point It s a sign Christ is conferring with thy heart as with the two Disciples near Emmaus whose hearts burned while he opened the Scriptures 3. Ponder and meditate deeply upon that which warmed thy heart to bring Christs counsel into a resolution for obedience 4. Sacrifice these intentions upon the Altar of Prayer in the Name of Jesus Chrâ—st unto the Father But these things requiring little tracts Gerson Bonaventur Scala I le conclude with that of Gerson the Chancellor of Paris who treating of Meditation states that for the sweetest when the soul opens it self towards Heaven receiving in its precious dewes Psal 85.8 without forced and artificial methods as David I le hearken what God the Lord will say for he will speak peace to my soul Ariani perilpl mar Ery thraeâ— Benjamin itinerar which is like the mother shell of the Oriental Pearl at Baharem which Naturalists relate conceives those precious unions by the dew of Heaven But I must now retire to the second Chapter and t is more than time only I dilated upon this a little the more as being a substantial head in respect to the essential nature of Faith. CHAP II. Various Expressions in Scripture setting forth the Nature of FAITH THe beginning and carrying on of the work of Faith in the heart is set forth in holy Scripture by many pertinent and sweet expressions which tend to enlighten and comfort the souls of dark drooping and weak believers and helping them to discern the inherence of this grace in their hearts Metaphors Parables and Allâ—geries many times teach us when direct Precepts will not do the work Vpon some whereof I shall endeavour to treat in this Chapter and present them as a climax or a Jacobs Ladder whereby to scale the Palaces of eternal joy 1. In the first place Rev. 24.6 22.17 We find this grace set forth by thirsting and hungring after Christ and his righteousness which are strong and vehement appetitions after supply of proper food and moisture to refresh the Spirits and to preserve natural vigoâ— Which if not timely satisfied produce pantings faintness swoundings Psal 42.1 and at last convulsive motions the very harbingers of death Thus did holy David pant after God as the hunted Hart having lickt up a fiery Serpent pants after
the water-brooks Psal 27.13 And at other times he had totally fainted had not Faith fed his hope with a seeing of God in the land of the living The promises of mercy are made to such thirstings and strong desires after God. Isai 55.1 2. 26.8 9 12. Psal 97 12. The desire of our soul sayes the Church is to thy Name and at the remembrance of thine holiness do we rejoyce Again with my soul have I desired thee in the night when others are folded in the arms of the deepest sleep I am musing with deep meditation and am still awake with thee Then follows that holy confidence dropt in from heaven Lord thou wilt ordain peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our works in us whence it follows that when the breathings of the soul are inspired by God thâ—n his ordinance of peace shall issue from the throne of grace Besides The thirst of the soul through defect of the dewes of Zion sometimes proves so extream that it falls into a flaming Fever and lies tossing and tumbling and feeling after cool places Song 2.4 but finds no rest till it comes to the chambers of Christ and then with holy longings and bitter ejaculations cries out My heart and my flesh faileth Oh when shall I come and appear before him when shall I see bis face enjoy his love and rest in his bosom This is a sure act of Faith when the soul prises Christ above all delights in none but him as the incomparable object of his souls satisfaction if it take any comfort in sublunary things t is but in ordine ad Christum in subordination to him and in order to his glory The soul doth anhelare breath and thirst more after him than all the pleasures and treasures of Egypt the Gums of Arabia the Spices of India the Diamonds of Golcondah or the peculiar riches of Princes nay than the fragrant Rivers of Balsam in heaven it self besides him as the holy Psalmist flames it out Whom have I in heaven but thee and whom in earth in comparison with thee Psal 73.25 2. Sometimes Faith is represented by looking up to Christ with a stedfast eye and an earnful countenance till all the visive spirits pass the optick nerve and land in his bosom All the bowels of the Soul are wrackt and torn with convulsive motions and iliack passions the heart faint and sick with many a swounding fit the vital moisture having spent it self at the eyes Psal 38 10. Lam 2.11 is almost blind with the saltness of her tears and ready to give up the ghost in deep sighs and profound palpitations of heart â—ong 1 7. has only a few minutes wherein to cry out O thou whom my soul loveth hungers longs and pants after and being now set down under a Palm in the vally of tears and terrors sinks down and yet looks towards him when flying away like a young Hart upon the Mountains of Lebanon and leaving it in a desolate case forlorn and exposed to the mercy of Tigres and young Leopards Yet the Soul cries out as long as breath and life remains will I look to the place where thine honour dwells as the only one of my soul my Lord and Maker who hast commanded me to look towards thee and be saved Thy Word says Behold me behold me Isai 17.7 45.22 and my heart in obedience replies Thus will I spend my dayes and end my life This Looking to Christ is sometimes shadowed by the stung Israelites looking up to the brazen Serpent Joh. 3.14 In imitation whereof t is thought the Gentiles composed their Talismanical figures whereof the Learned often treat But letting them pass let us call to mind that Israel after their many murmurs in the Wilderness and refractary deportments toward the Rock of ages felt at length the dreadful wrath of God in sending upon them those Alati Serpentes the fiery flying Serpents of Arabia Plin. Epiyhan those angry venomous creatures which having once fastened their needle teeth and dropt their yellow poyson into the wound the stung persons tanquam a dipsade percussi were painted as said of some with various spots of the colour of Serpents and swelld immensely died with an insatiable thirst as in the deadly Calenture at Sea. But such as lookt up to the copper Serpent made at Punon Phâ—nnâ—sia metal la in Arabia and set on a Pole presently received cure as if the flesh of the adder had been laid to the wounds to extract the malignant venom Had they lookt any whither else but to this type of our Saviour all was in vain Had their eye been upon Moses in the moral Law or on Aaron in the ceremonial observances it would have performed no cure it was Christ alone who overcame the great Serpent of the bottomless pit and was lifted up on the cross for this blessed view of Faith. 3. This work of Faith is set forth by coming to Christ at his call Mat. 11.28 according to that sweet invitation of his Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden c. For the burden of sin the Law Gods wrath hell and eternity lie very heavy upon conscience and will prove unsupportable unless eased by his bosom When the soul is ready to starve pines away and lockes black with famine John 6.35 then to hear that blessed voice Whoso cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst Where our holy Lord himself explains coming by believing pedibus fidei with the feâ—t of faith and affections 44 45 46 we come to him for salvation and so 't is used in the neighbour verses Psal 63.8 Sometimes 't is exprest by the souls following hard after God hebr cleaving that is following so closely as if it held him by the garment and drag'd after him In the times of fear and desertion it runs after God Song 1. â— 4. Bern being allured and drawn by the perfumed ointments of his name the rich odours of the promises as powerful attractives to needy and distressed persons othertimes this work is exhibited by the flying of guilty persons in old time to the city of refuge Thus David points at God as his refuge and high rock to fly to and be safe Of ancient times t is reported that the gatâ—s of these cities stood continually open that all the ways were made plain and even that every stumbling block was removed and the passages maintained with accurate care above all the high-ways in Canaan Isa 57.14 and some of the cities might be sâ—ated in plains as Bezer was that difficult ascent might not retard the speed of the flâ—er that so the soul guilty of bloody crimes Deut. 4 43. Numb 35 12 might scape the dreadful avenger that holy Law of God and having retired to the city of Christ might there continue so long as this Eternal High-priest after the order
when thou hast wisely and deliberately weighed the various phrases in the promises then examine the frame of thy heart and if finding them suit in some sweet measure tho not so clearly as thou longest to have it yet fear not delay not to joyn thy heart and the promise together And this moreover I 'll say to thee for thy comfort that tho the hand of thy Faith should shake with some tremblings at present be not dismayed Mat 9.2 Mark 2.5 our blessed Lord who spake to the palsie man both can and will in due time for thy inward hope is an evidence of it speak that great strengthening word to the relaxed nerves and sinews of thy Faith Son be of good cheer 2 Tim. 2.13 thy sins be forgiven thee for if thou hold but the head nay if touch but the hem of his garment virtue will proceed and thou l't perceive it by some sweet settling quietings of Spirit as when the dew of heaven falls in a still evening For he will abide faithful tho we do not in so full and triumphant a manner act Faith upon him Psal 149.4.50.23 yet he will continue to be gracious and will shortly beautifie the meek with salvation If you order your conversation aright he will shew and make to shine the face of your Saviour and the Sun of his salvation upon you his beloved ones That person may certainly conclude himself to be in Christ who walketh in this World as he did all to our proportion and continue in acts of contemplation and adherence 1 Tim. 4.8 Heb. 12.6 embracing the promises Hitherto I have spoken somewhat to the application of the promises whereby we may argue true Faith and thence lay a strong foundation for assurance but before I relinquish this Subject I would touch upon the several Arguments used by the Apostle John which he insists upon in his Epistles written on purpose foâ— the comfort of Bâ—lievers 1 Joh. 1.4 5.13 1 John 3.23 that their joy may be full and that we may know that we have eternal life To which end it is Gods Commandment to believe in the Son and to love one another Let us then mention the chief in Order 1. The first evidence of eternal life is drawn from our walking in the Light that is of holiness 1 John 1.6 2 29. 3.6 9. walking in the truth Epist 3.3 in obedience to his Commandments 1 John 2.3 5 3.24 5.2 3. Epistle 2.6 In imitation of Christs holy walking 1 John 2.6 4.17 and in purifying of our selves according to his pattern 1 John 3.3 and yet all this must be qualified in respect to our infirmities and weaknesses 1 John 1.8 9 10. 2.1 2. 2. The second Argument to prove the truth of grace and assure our selves before God is love to the Brethren 1 John 2.9 10 and chap. 3.11 14. 4.7 12 20. and in his Gospel Joh. 13 35. 3. The third Argument is from our not loving the World nor the things thereof 1 Joh. 2.15 as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes or the pride of life ver 16. That is 1. Pleasures of all sorts as luxury in Diet Habit Houses Gardens rambling about the World without special ends and all inordinacy and intemperateness in the body as Jerom uses to express it iâ— ventre sub ventre For they that love Pleasures and Riotings shall not be rich in purse sayes Solomon nor in grace Prov. 21.17 sayes the whole current of Scripture 2. The lust of the eye which is as to all sorts of covetousness to get and retain by right or by wrong in an excessive appetition of the things of this World which must be left behind us and do not can not fill the heart of man no nor the eye with satisfaction Eccles 5.11 Nor 3. the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the Pride of Ambition Fastuousness Honour and advancement into great places and to be alone in the Earth These things eagerly pursued eat out the heart and power of godliness 4. The fourth Argument is assumed from the anointings of their Spirit 1 Joh. 2 20 27 3.24 4.13 whereof more by and by God willing 5. The fifth Argument is taken from a holy and reverent hearing of Gods Ministers 1 John 4.6 we may know what spirit we are of by this if we receive Christ as Hilary expresses it Qualis ab Apostolis praedicatus est as he was preached by the Apostles and submit to him in all his Offices and Ordinances such a one belongs to the spirit that is of God that keeps the Doctrine of Christ as the Apostle expounds himself Epistle 2. ver 9. 6. The last Argument arises from our love to Christ 1 Iohn 5.1 and in him to the Father Now if these things be found in us we shall then overcome the World 1 Ioh. 5.4 and shall not be touched virulently or fatally by Satan 1 Iohn 5.18 shall have access to God in prayer 1 Iohn 5.14 and shall have boldness in the day of Judgment 1 Iohn 4.17 and this will so settle our sense of the love of God to us that it will by degrees cast out the torment of fear For it will allure us to a holy familiarity with divine love 1 Iohn 4.18 and so sweeten our thoughts and affections of and to him that we may begin to enjoy a kind of heaven upon earth which the Father of his great mercy in Christ grant unto us by the Spirit Having hitherto treated about Argumentation I proceed now to the second Head about attaining Assurance which is by the irradiation of the Spirit of God upon the hearts of Believers For all is in vain as to gaining of solid and permanent comfort unless the Spirit of God come in and confirm us against the innumerable doubts and cavils that will arise upon us under all our Arguings because of the subtlety of satan the natural diffidence of our own hearts and the clouds that arise from the unholiness of our lives and the dread of eternity I design therefore to treat a little while about the witness of the spirit his immediate breathings his bright shinings and as it were speakings within our hearts when a holy soul hath this witness in himself 1 Iohn 5.10 2 Cor. 1.3 Act. 10.44 For in and upon believing the Father of Lights and of all consolations sends in his own due time this his holy spirit like a dove of peace into our hearts who helps us to discern the truth of the work of grace After ye believed sayes the Apostle ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise Eph 1 13. He is sometimes set forth by a Seal and a Witness to the bond of the Covenant by a Seal and an Earnest to the contract about the inheritance 2 Cor. 1.22 by a Seal and a Love-Token or an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word used of old to note
precepts and the promises being the rule of asking We have a most free access to plead the promises both of this and the life to come Eph. 3.12 Heb. 4.16 1 Tim. 4 8. so that by holy degrees and steps we may arrive to further humble confidence of divine mercy 4. When we feel some gracious risings of love to God as pardoning our iniquities for Christs sake and tho we do not so fully and sweetly feel it as we would yet our hearts do pant and long after it This is a true sign of Love. But yet to clear it a little the humble soul will ask Quest How shall I know that I love God Ans I answer Of all the affections that spring and bubble out of the will this is most easily to bediscerned and known Do you know the Sun when you see him walk in brightness do you know that you live by the actings of the senses and the pulsation of your arteries or do you know that you walk when you move your feet and feel your motions from place to place you may as certainly know your affections and the workings of your Soul This distinguishes men from Bruits in the acting of their reason upon all they do and in managing ends and means The affections spiritually beating are the pulsations of the regenerate heart Observe then your Objects if you love the things above better than all below Col. 3.2 Isal 73.25 in your choice and preference tho sometimes under some ebbs and eclipses yet still you find an inward regard to God and his glory and that you perform every action in ordine ad Deum and love all as to the inward sincerity of your heart 1 Cor. 10.31 and enjoy every relation with some desire to work up your mercies towards God in thankfulness and usefulness These are good tokens that you are risen with Christ by Faith and that your life is hid with God in him and that by continued degrees of Sanctification you shall at last arrive to this even to appear with him in Glory 4. But that I may at length wind out of this delightful Labyrinth in discoursing about Assurance Let us hearken to the second Question wherein the Soul being somewhat revived does now start the fourth Particular at the beginning and that is Quest 2. How may I preserve and retain Assurance when it is gained Ans The reason of this Question arises not only from hence because the sweet sense of divine love is a most desirable frame of Spirit and fills the soul to the brim with joy and peace in the Holy Ghost and besides renders persons very serviceable and greatly honours Religion But also because 1. Many gracious persons that have true Faith yet labour under deep fears of Hypocrisie arising from their pious Education not answered by proportionable holiness It puts great jealousies in their hearts that all they have done is but a forced work and a habit of formality attracted from the precepts of godly Ministers and Parents instilling into an inlightned conscience the frightful form of an outward conversation consonant and therefore fear at a strange rate that their diamonds are but as it were from the soft Rock of St. Vincent their Gold but Alchymy their Faith but fained and temporary But be not discouraged For that Faith is true and unfeigned which proceeds from a pure heart 1 Tim. 1.5 19. and a good conscience that is without fraud and guile in setting it naked and open before God Act. 24.16 in labouring and exercising to keep a good conscience in sight of God and Men. You may then rejoyce in the testimony of such a conscience having been upright before him in the main bent of the soul Psal 18.23 and in keeping from your own iniquity What tho thou didst not come in with such remarkable pangs no more did Zacheus nor Lydia T is not the manner but the truth of our coming in to Christ is the great point if thou constantly adhere to the Lord with full purpose of heart Nay what if there were some errors at first Act. 11.23 this puts no bar if the root of the matter be in thee The Apostles followed our Lord at first in some hopes of preferment in the temporal Kingdom of the Messiah but at length understood the Doctrine of the Crosse better which God in great tenderness is pleased to vail from young converts at first or at least preserve them from suffering till they are strengthened and then like the Apostles they still cleave to and continue with the Lord under all trials by the exceeding power of his might And thus as I remember Dr. Crakenthorp in defending of Cyprian and Jerom against some pontificians imputing some errors to them Crakenthorp of the sixth Council P. the better to vindicate their Liberius answers that if they did erre they did it not willingly but were ready to reform upon the first approach of Scripture light and conviction T is so in our case they are ready with that holy man to pray what I see not teach thou me Job 34.32 The mind and will of God is the perfect square rule canon and compass of all their actions and tho they may fail threu ' weakness yet never thru ' wilfulness Wherefore be not out of heart O tender and trembling soul let not go your hope and confidence because you have not had so long and such bitter pangs in the new birth that makes the work the harder but not the truer A child may be born sometimes with greater ease and speed Great horrors may attend great sinners and yet after all their heavy convictions may stick in the birth and never be truly converted till they are truly and perseveringly reformed which indeed cuts the work short and makes the evidence clear If thou hast been under a gentler hand from God bless him with louder Songs of praise For the shorter and sweeter the method the greater is the mercy and as one said A young Saint may make as old Angel. 2. This question begs a full answer because though want of Assurance does not denote an unbeliever yet it keeps a true believer under the dark shades of fear and sorrow Assurance besides in the best of Saints is but an imperfect work because our Faith it self is but imperfect we see but in part because we do but trust in part If our Faith do at any time waver and stagger â—ol 2.2 assurance must needs qviver and shake It 's true there 's mention made of the riches of full Assurance but that 's comparative in respect to some Saints and mentioned as attainnable with full sweetness and may possibly for the main continue pretty constant especially in very active and suffering Saints yet 't is not without ebbs and buâ—â—etings in the best There are but few that walk in the mountain of Sun-shine all their lives as 't is said of Zabarel the Philosopher when one day
suffer great pains travel dust smoke and swelter in their fiery furnaces and though they attain not the great Arcana yeâ— often meet with curious rarities which sufficiently reward their diligence 2 pet 1.5 10. Assurance usually comes in upon our diligent use of prayer meditation and holy walking in some time after several plunges fears and sorrows Though indeed somtimes the wayes of God prove unsearchable and sometimes he is pleased to bestow this favour on a sudden to such as are gracious from their childhood tractable and ingenuous at the calls of God as young Samuel when he understood it by the instruction of an elder Saint and when such have not been defiled by any great staines and blotches in their youth nor caused the ways of God to be evil spoken of by any scandalous sin Quest If now you ask how to preserve it when you have received it in an answer to your earnest prayer Psal 25.7 A. I answer Conservatur qua quaeritur T is preserved by the very same methods 6. Call to mind what former experiences you have enjoyed Having once seen the Kings face it will for ever enlighten yours former mountain-visions makes a Saints heart to shine as bright as Moses's face Psal 34.5 and reflects upon the heart gloriously in the vally of desert once haviâ—g câ—eared up the love of God to you then may you return to that experiment As a fountain shewn by the Angel of the Covenant at Beersheba the well of the sacred â—ath of God Gen 21.14 Rom. 11.29 Heb. 3.14 10.35 Phil. 1.6 It will never dry up it fears no scorching summers For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Caâ—r not away then the beginnings of your confidence For he will perfect what he hath begun till the day of Christ 7. Cherish the sacred motions of the Spirit of God for he takes of the things of Christ not from us our merits faith or holiness for they are of no value but of his blood to comfort us John 16.15 therefore hearken to his affectionate breathings If thou at any time fall thru ' infirmity this holy Spirit helps thee to mourn under the sight of displeased love If thy faith seem to muddle and grope in the dark he will shine upon thy paâ—h again If grace like the sensible plant shrink up by the touch of some rough hand of tentation it will open and expand its branches again by this Suns warm and sweet influences If then the joy of Assurance spring again if the glories of heaven be described as in a lively Landskarp before thine eyes written as it were with bright illuminated letters E capite mortuo sanguinis vel urinae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Song 4. Jerom. bless the Spirit of grace and cry out with the Spouse in the book of Songs Be gone O chill and blasting north and come O fruitful cherisâ—ing distilling south upon the garden of my Soul that the spices thereof may flow forth that my beloved may come and eat his pleasant fruits 8. Be careful in the constant use of Ordinances and pure worship and especiaâ—ly the Lords Supper and considering the times of trouble as frequent as thou canst but woe to them that are obstructers and remember when God opens the doors of his Sanctuary that thou behave with all holy reverence endeavouring to enjoy it in its purity and power There the King sits at his Table Song 1 1â— and the Spiknard fends forth its fragrâ—ant smell At this banquet Faith helps to assure us that we shall as certainly sit with Christ in glory as we now partake of the seals in grace Here Christ is received by the hand of a true believer here we eat drink Christ into our souls As we take the bread and wine into our bodies so by Faith we take his most precious body and blood which being digested with an holy heart is turned into the nerves and spirits of Assurance That thou mayst now sing the holy hymn of praise with a loud voice This is my Lord and my God he will come and save us Let not go this your holy confidence but hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.13 Lastly look dilgently to the holiness of your ways and with it be careful of a humble resigning interpretation of the ways of God towards you that you be never too much elevated or high-crested in prosperity nor in time of adversity despise his corrections Heb. 12.5 Souls conflict p. 321. Rom. 8.28 or faint under them It is a never-sailing rule said holy Sibbs to discern a mans state in grace when he finds every condition draw him nearer to God and when all things work together for his good As the flesh of vipers I may add and other poysons compounded and corrected into Antidotes and mixt well together prevail against contagious diseases so do corrections sanctified sweat out the poyson of fin that it shall never fatally touch the heart and vitals of such as truly love God and are called according to his purpose I shall now conclude this long but sweet Chapter with Mr. Scudders Testimony of the work of Grace Walk p. 555 Lond 8. 1674. The Question being put about Assurance he there asserts that whoso can answer affirmatively to these following queries which I may contract may be assured of Gods peace and love and of his own salvation what ever fears or feelings may seem to happen to the contrary Quest 1 How stand you affected to sin are you afraid to offend God and dare not sin wittingly is it your grief and burden that you cannot abstain it nor get out of it as soon as you would Quest 2. How are you affected to holiness and the power of godliness To know Gods will and do it to fear and please him is it your grief when you fail and your joy when you do well Quest 3. How to the Church of God are you glad when it goes well and grieved when it goes ill and sit trembling with Ely to hear how it goes with the Ark of God however it be with your own particular Quest 4. How towards men do you dislike wicked men and love those that fear the Lord because they are good Quest 5. Can you endure your soul to be ript up and your beloved sin to be smitten by a searching Minister and like him the rather and can yield an obedient ear to such a wise reproof Quest 6. Tho you have not Evidence alwayes or can scarce tell whether you ever had it yet resolve or desire and will as you are able to cleave to God in Christ for salvation by Faith and to trust in no other person nor by no other means to be saved If you can answer Yea to all or Any of these assure your self you are in God 's favour and state of grace and that you sin
Dreadful Bar where all the great Dons of the World shall tremble to appear and none but Sainâ—s shall lift up their heads in that great morning of their Redemption 3. Since this treatise concerns a happy preparation for our state in the world to come it strongly incites to an impartial examination Whether we be in the Faith or no to enquire what graces or what degrees are yet deficient 2 Cor. 13.5 1 Thess 3.10 and especially to work at the main or fundamental grace of all to search what 's lacking there 2 Pet. 1.10 For when the defects are supplied it will give you an abundant entrance into the heavenly Kingdom and certifie you that you have a blessed right and title to that incorruptible inheritance ver 5. Your holy Faith will work sweetly by the help of love and unfeigned Faith is ever coâ—comitant with unfeigned Repentance to purge and cleanse continually both heart and life and then comes thankfulness riding into the heart in the Chariot of love and helps to conduct us into higher measures of service and sweeter degrees of joy Song 3.10 as a prodromus and fore-runner of the eternal happiness 4. This Treatise may serve as a powerful motive to fervent and uncessant love to the Lord Jesus who has done all for us yea more than we can think It cannot enter into our hearts to conceive what he hath purchased and prepared for those that love him Isai 64.4 Oh what delight should we take in him Oh what thankfulness can we express or render to him He has planted his graces in and upon us as so many pearls and jewels to adorn us Prov. 4.9 1.9 Song 7.12 Joh. 14.2 His love is advanced as a Banner and Shield to protect us He is ascended far above all heavens to fit a place for us and then will come again and take us thither Let us give forth all our love to him till we come to the full enjoyment of his Here I would beg a little leave to pour out a complaint and weep over our want of love to Christ for we see and find that we are all too apt by the sad inclination of the old Adam within us to love and embrace any temporary comfort above and beyond him and then to few the old fig-leaf excuses to hide our nakedness from his all-searching eye sometimes we make Idols of Relations if sweet tempered and pleasant like Jonathan and David and so incite God to take them away in displeasure and to plant sower dirty and crabbed tempers in their room and yet 't is in a mixture of mercy to wean us more to himself for very few have the wit and grace to set God on the Throne in the midst of their hearts Rev. 3.20 and let all others wait and tend while he sups with us Let 's pray our heavenly Father and beg it earnestly that if he will please to purge away our former miscarriages and indulge such mercies to us in our pilgrimage that he would please also to teach help and incite our hearts to love him best and above all and love none but as foot-stools to advance our hearts the more to him and to improve all in order to him Then are we more likely to keep and enjoy our mercies and tast more of God in them all till the blessed time of our ascention to his bosom There be multitudes of a far more inferiour orb stamp and form that instead of persons which sometimes have an excellency when holy meek and chearful fit to converse with man Prov. 5.19 1.10 and ordained of God to be his solace but their price is far above Rubies I lament over those that value not persons gracious and rare-tempered which are the very ornaments of the Creation but being of a low and sordid frame fall down and worship fine houses green Gardens fleet Ships bags of Guynnies and such like trash with many other dumb Idols that will not profit in the day of wrath and yet continue dancing in the plains of Dura Dan. 3.1 at the sound of the Organ Flute and Sackbut and in a moment slip down into the Grave I have read of a good Woman that after her conversion having flung away her foolish trifles once upon the opening her Chest and seeing them ly there cries out Oh sayes she these were once my Idols but now she had left her idolatry and minded nobler Objects There be some yet worse that if you attempt them tho by gentle reproofs are not content with ordinary leaves to cover it as being decent comely fashionable but are in mad rave and cry like Micah will ye take away my gods Judg. 18.24 and ask what ailes me They dote upon a painted trifle or a silly lace or a dress with silver hawksbells as one in the West or a well-set Border of false hair Isai 3.24 Tho as Martial reflects Scit te Proserpina canam the Goddess of Hell knows thee to be but a bald Coot But yet they will in their Moon-like tires worship the Queen of heaven When will the world be wise nay when will Christians be modest and sober remembring they are but dust that Paradise had no garments and Heaven will have none and serious christianity and a mortified heart to the vanities of this life if risen with Christ seeks things that are above Col. 3.1 and is not only content but pleased with great moderation in all those things Phil. 4.5 1 Pet. 3.3 like the holy Women that were of old and called their Husbands Lords not afraid of any amazement or scorn from a vain world knowing that all must shortly perish in the dust and clothe red worms with all your Scarlet Vicus Parmensis Imag. Augustorum P. 142.400 Livia the Empress being askt by the Roman Matrons what art she used to render Augustus so kind and gracious as to obtain any thing at his hand Answered I do it by my modesty since I do all things according to his will and mind This would rid the world of Serpents when the Law of kindness sits down in the chair of duty Let not such as would be thought other persons and such as would be highly favoured of God let not such by an Herodias-attire betray their unacquaintance with him the slightness and lowness of their spirits and the deformity of their souls and how little of the image of Christ is formed in them that can delight in things that please him not in midst of their many outward pleasures forget the afflictions of Joseph alluding to the ten Tribes in the rocks and mountains of Media and lay but little to heart the sorrows of the Church of Christ either abroad or at home Amos 6.6 If you truly love the Lord Jesus remember your vanity and foolishness is alwayes before him Psal 69.5 beg his pardon and study these things and walk in the Garden of Gethsemany among his sorrows and drops of blood which may inflame your affections to him and