more pleausible way in their pride and ambition and haughtiness in their conformity to the foolish fashions of this World which vanish away Oh how many in England that are glorious professors are Non-conformists to the Worlds worship that yet at the same time are real Conformist's to an Harlots attire and other professors are posting as fast after the world as if indeed it were their only happiness and all this because there are so many do so and yet counted Saints but now if thou art one that dost not delight in the way of the multitude 't is a good sign God hath set thee apart for himself Eighthly He that Christ hath dyed for will be good in bad times and bad places so it was with Noah in the old World so with Lot in Sodom and Joseph in Aegypt I need not quote these places they are so well known thus it was with Nehemial with those Sabbath-breakers and with Job in the Land of Vz and so with David Psal 120.5 Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech and dwell in the Tents of Kedar so in Revel 2.13 'T is spoken of the Church of Pergamus I know thy works and where thou dwellest even where Satans Seat is this was a bad place and yet there thou holdest fast my Name and hast not denyed my Faith Note here Satans Seat was the place where the Devils Servants did Tiranize over the Saints and yet in that wicked place they held fast the Faith these were some of those Virgins that are spoken of in the Rev. 14.4 That were not defiled with Women Virgins what were they them that were never Married were they them that vowed Chastity no that 's not the meaning of it but they were clean from being defiled with false Worship they did not meddle with Idols and false Worship and this is called in the Rev. 14.2 Fornication he speaks there of Fornication by Idolatry and they were not defiled with this Womanish worship which is else where called no less then Whoredom Hos 2.2 Let her put away her Whoredom out of her sight what did she commit Whoredom with Men no Ezek 6.9 will clear it With their eyes they went a Whoring after their Idols now these were they that were not defiled with Idols and therefore are called Virgins Oh who would defile ones self with such filth but if thou keep thy garments pure in such a day 't is a good sign Christ hath clansed thee Ninethly 'T is a sign thou art a servant of Christ when he calls thee to his work and thou dost not stand parlying with him whether it may be for thy advantage or no when Christ calls men to his work they oft times consult whether it be for their advantage or for their profit or their honour or their safety and they stand parlying with Christ under pretence of prudence and for their security but now his servants will go readily about his work they will not stand parlying whether they shall or shall not go about his work this is no vain notion of my own brain I 'le give thee Scripture for it Look in the Gal. 1.15 Vers 16. When it pleased God to call Paul by his Grace and to reveal his Son in him to preach among the Heathen what then did he plead and say will it be for my safety will it not be prudence to forbear a while to see the event of things no saith Paul But immediately I conferred not with Flesh and Blood I did not stand but went into Arabia c. Now soul canst thou say thou goest to Christ's work without parlying 't is a good sign Christ hath called there Tenthly 'T is a sign thou art one that Christ is Sacrificed for if thou delightests in the will of God saith David Thy Law is written in my heart how doth that appear why I delight to do thy will one that delights to do the will of God 't is a good sign Gods Law is written in his heart now the will of God is made know in his Law and therefore he that delight in the Law of God doth delight in his Will And blessed are they that delight in his Law Psal 1.2 And that delighteth in his Commandments No less I am sure then fourteen times in the Psalm 119. doth David express his delight in the Law Statutes and Testimonies of God as you may see with a cast with your eye in 14.16 24 32 35 47 54 70 77 92 111 143 162 174. Verses besides the many places more in the Psalms ah soul dost thou delight and delight greatly in the Law of God But I would not be too tedious Eleventhly 'T is a sign thou art Gods if thou dost what thou dost for God willingly Psalm 110.3 Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power when the power of the Lord takes hold on thy heart thou wilt be willing to serve him and in 1 Chron. 29 9. A willing mind and a perfect heart are put together and if there be first a willing mind then thou art able to do but little for God yet 't is accepted 2 Cor. 8 12. These things might be much spread or expatiated but time is very precious with me Twelfthly 'T is a good sign thou art a child of God if thou dost desire to enjoy the ordinances of God as thou wast wont to do such an expression David hath some where so in Psal 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord what 's that That I may dwell in the House of the Lord That is in the assembly of the Saints and so in Psal 26.8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy House and the place where thine honour dwelleth He had experience what God was used to communicate there why David could you not rather love the place where all your Courtiers and Nobles and where are all the Royal retinue Oh no I have loved the place where thyne honour dwelleth This was that which made the Apostle Paul exhort them in Heb. 10.25 Not to forsake the assembling of themselves together there be some do forsake the assembling of themselves together I but saith Paul do not you do so why he knew that there Christ was used to display his Banner of Love over them in thy presence is fulness of joy Psal 16. ult I a little kind of Heaven there to them that know it these know somewhat of the worth of Spiritual Bread and Food for souls that makes them rather desire the Bread of affliction and the Water of adversity then that their Teachers should be removed into corners Isa 30.20 They know 't is sad when there is no Vision in the Land 1 Sam. 3.1 And indeed it must needs be sad for there the people perish Prov. 29.18 so in Amos 8.11 When the Famine of the word of the Lord shall come they shall wander from Sea to Sea too and fro from Countrey to the City as they do in a small measure at this day
can discern else what meaneth this courting of the great ones while the poor of the Flock stand by disregarded and when a poor man comes to speak with you I am busie come another time when at the same time if a great one comes then make all ready to give them entertainment and all possible respect shewed them Sirs what doth this come short of that charge Jude 16. Having mens persons in admiration because of advantage If it be not really so I appeal to you whether or no you do not give others just occasion to judge so Oh Sirs precious in the sight of the Lord are all his Saints and so should they be to you excuse me that by the by I return to the Apostles evidence they were also of that Spirit to love the Saints 1 John 4.19 We love him because he first loved us Ah but how shall we know that we love him Verse 20. He that saith he loves God and hates his Brother is a lyer How shall we know who loved God Verse 21. He who loves God loves his Brother also and Chap 5.1 Every one that loveth him that begat that is God loveth him also that is begotten of him Soul dost thou love him that is begotten of God then thou dost love God love God may many a man say why I never saw him how then should I love him Chap. 4.12 No man hath seen God at any time Exod. 33.20 No man can see God and live but in John before quoted If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us Note his love is perfected or compleated in us Ah soul dost thou love thy Brother Saint indeed 't is a good sign thou art a child of God it may be thou thinkest thou hast but little grace it may be but as a Mustard Seed 't is but as a spark of fire in a great heap of ashes a spark of grace in the midst of a great heap of corruption or it may be thou dost not shine in the sight of others so eminently it may be thou canst not discourse nor pray so excellently to appearance as some can I but dost thou love the brethren then I 'le assure thee 't is very well with thee who these brethren are Christ tells us they are they that do the will of the Father Mark 3.35 not thy natural brother if he hath not grace he is not thy brother in Christ 'T is well with thee if thou lovest the Saints so saith the same Apostle 1 Epist John 3.14 And with that I 'le wind up all as to these things We know that we are passed from Death to Life Why how dost thou know John we know by this Because we love the Brethren dost thou love the Brethren of Christ above and beyond all other men and as they are the brethren of Christ meerly upon no false account but only as they are the Brethren of Christ and the Family of God and as they are the Citizens of Heaven 't is a sure sign thou art a child of God and to use the Phrase in the Text One for whom Christ is sacrificed Thus now I have gone over those Carracters that have been found upon some one of the Saints or other that are found in the Word and though it may easily be discerned that they might have been contracted yet let such remember I design if the Lord will the relief of some poor soul that is ready to give up all hope and not what will be spoken either in praise or dispraise For he that will adventure in this sort must not mind mens good or bad report examine thy self therefore soul by what is before thee and if thou canst not find all these things in thee yet if thou findst but here and there one if God set in by his Spirit thou may'st find a little relief to thy poor trembling soul and if thou art found sincere before the Lord thou art a righteous one one that Christ the Righteous is slain for and so comfort is to be ministred to thee and that leads me to a use of consolation Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with him Isa 3.10 So in Eccl. 8.12 Surely it shall go well with him that fears God Here is comfort soul for thee if in Christ who eyer thou art if thou art born of God though but a day old yet surely it shall be well with thee art thou in doubt touching thy condition as in Dent. 28.66 Doth thy life hang in doubt before and thou fearest day and night and hast no assurance of thy life of thy pardon of thy Salvation why behold God hath bid me tell thee to which he hath added this word of assurance surely it shall go well with them that fear God thou saist surely there 's no pardon for me no peace to me and surely it shall go ill with me at last Ah poor soul doth thy life thy pardon haug in doubt and hast thou no assurance of thy life why yet surely it shall go well with them for whom Christ dyed but what consolation is there to be ministred to such truly abundance more then I can tell thee of 1 Cor. 3.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither can the heart of man conceive what is prepared for them that love him but saith the Apostle in the next words 'T is revealed to us by the Spirit 't is the Spirit of God oh soul that revealeth the consolation of God to thee 't is the Spirit that sheweth things and so comfort that is to come and though I cannot tell thee all thy comfort yet I 'le tell thee some of thy comfort for 't is God that comforteth us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort you which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God but in a few particulars I 'le shew thee some of the consolation that pertatineth to thee First I will shew thee a little what thou shalt be delivered from Secondly What thou shalt partake of and be priviledged too very briefly First Thou shalt be delivered from the vengeance threatned against the wicked Ah soul let me tell thee it shall be ill with the wicked Isa 3.11 'T is true the Godly man may be afflicted for his sin for God doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of Men Lam. 3.33 No 't is for some sin he will visit you sometimes the Godly Man shall not go altogether unpunished Jer. 30.11 But here is their comfort I will not make a full end of you no many at time hath he turned away his anger and did not stir up all his wrath Psal 78.38 It may be he let out a little of his anger like the leakings of a Floodgate but yet he did not let open the Flood-gates of his wrath that the full stream might sweep all away before it but now he opens the Flood-gate upon the wicked he reserves
but break out into a use of admiration and first then beloved here 's the Free-grace of God in giving his Son a Sacrifice for those that believe John 3.16 God so loved the World how so why so as one said there is not such another so with so great love that he gave his only begotten Son and 't was so freely too without the least motive to take with his love so loved the World as was unexpected by them so and in such away too that could never have been thought of or contrived by all the wisdom of all the Heavenly Host it was looked on as a demonstration of the love of Abraham to give up his Son a sacrifice to God and truly 't was love indeed I am afraid few in our days have such a love to give up a Son that he loved Gen. 22.2.12 I but this was but to give up the worse to the better the Creature to the Creator but this was more God gave his Son the better for the worse the Creator to dye for the Creature oh infinite immense love that God should give his only Son the Son of his delight Behold my Servant in whom my Soul delighteth and more then that he delighted to give him to dye here is admirable Free-love too and it pleased the Father or the Father took delight or complacency in bruising his Son Oh the free-love of God Secondly Let us here admire the love of the Son that he should offer himself a Sacrifice for sinners that he that was offended should dye for offenders yea that we should have th' offended set offenders free yet this he did for enemies Rom. 5.10 It may be for a friend or a good man some one or other would dare to dye as in Ver. 7. But was it ever known that any dyed for an enemy yea that he should lay down his life himself not by constraint but willingly all the world could not take away his life from him so he saith himself in Matth. 26.53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father and he shall give me more then twelve Legions of Angels they would soon have delivered him or himself could have delivered himself no but he doth it freely without compulsion or force Iohn 10.18 No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down of my self and power to take it up again Where art thou now that saist Christ is not God was there ever any Creature that had power to lay down his life of himself Paul in the strength of Christ in Gods strength could do all things and in that strength could be not onely willing to be bound but to dye but he had not power to lay down his life of himself and if it should be thought that any had power to lay down his life yet no man hath power to take up his life again when he had laid it down nay more is it warantable for man to give his life of himself and no man take it away I but saith Christ no man taketh it away surely none that 's a Creature hath this love of the Son me thinks this should endear our hearts to Christ and make us cry out in the vehemency of our affections as David did of the Law of God Ps 119.97 Oh how love I thy Law it is my meditation all the day Oh how love I the Lord Jesus when we want words then oh how oh how love I the Lord He is my Meditation all the day yea when I remember him on my Bed in the night watches Psalm 63.6 Then my Meditation of him shall be sweet Psalm 104.34 And it would be sweet indeed if we could thus apply him to our selves and say with David and Isaiah Oh Lord thou art my God Psalm 140.6 Isa 25.1 This word my God is a sweet word as when Jesus said to Thomas be not faithless but believing John 20.27 Thomas answered and said my Lord and my God So in the 13. Verse when the two Angels in white asked Mary plain-hearted Mary What is the matter Mary why weepest thou Why saith she because they have taken away my Lord How should this comfort poor souls and how should this endear souls to Christ and make them willing to go through any difficulty when they can say he is my Lord the very thoughts of Christ did make the Spouses heart so rise within her that her tongue could not be silent but she would be setting out his excellency as she was able and when she had not words when her Rhetorick failed her to express her self she crys out as one in an extacy at such a raised rate the is altogether lovely and believer let me ask thee for others know it not is not Christ altogether lovely in his love and in his Free-grace as I have said and oh that by the freeness of his love and grace that any poor soul may be perswaded that there is nothing on his part to be done in a way of merit no no believer Christ hath purchased eternal Redemption for thee Heb. 9.12 And therefore there is nothing for thee to do but answer his love with thy love and that cannot be better known then by living to his praise and rejoycing in him and singing his praises as David saith Psalm 81.1 Sing aloud not only rejoyce but sing and sing aloud Make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob that is to the God of believers yea Vers 2. Take a Psalm and Sing but may a poor foul say I know this work or rather joy for Saints but how shall I know whether I am of this number of believers true I here of glorious things for the Saints And glorious things are spoken of thee oh thou City of God but this is that which marr's all my joy I do not know whether I am a believer but what shall I do to know this that shall be my work as fast as I can come to it but before I give any Carracters of the Saints of God I would a little shew some of the various ways that God takes in the bringing home of his chosed to himself and it may be this may a little satisfie thee and it may be thou mayst find out thy state by this and truly we should try our state by any means we must examine our selves Solomon saith Prov. 27.23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy Flocks And should not we be diligent to know the state of our souls and 't is knowable else why doth the Apostle say Examine your selves whether you be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13.5 And give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Let us search and try our ways and turn again to the Lord Lam. 3.40 Let every man prove his own work and then shall he have rejoycing in himself and not in another If he find his work sound if his work be the work of God if he hath
of Christ least it should like the Flood in the Gospel sweep down thy whole Building together here is comfort for believers but they that do not believe this are condemned already John 3.18 By this time soul thou seest it plain that Christ is a sacrifice for sin if it be not would God I might speak with thee but I proceed to what 's next Secondly Why doth God Pass-over and aquit believers sins why negatively not for our sakes nor any faith and repentance in us for there is nothing naturally in us that may be an argument to move him to pitty us unless this be one that there is none but he doth aquit sins first of all to declare his mercy and good pleasure It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell and 't is his pleasure that of that fulness we all shall receive the grace of Pardon we are not his people because we please him but because it pleaseth him to make us his people 1 Sam. 12.22 God had decreed to call a people to himself God saw his poor people fallen and lost and undone and his bowels yearned over poor man he see poor man in his Blood as 't is Ezek. 16.6 Then God pittyed him and made a Covenant with his Son that he should break the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 When man had broke his Covenant then it was that God in his love and his pity redeemed him then he was pleased to make a New Covenant and by his Mercy Wisdom and Power to consecrate a New and Living Way for the Salvation of poor Souls even by a Covenant that he made with his Son Heb. 10.20 What infinite Free-grace was here that would save them that would not save themselves and what doth this declare but his attribute of Mercy the good pleasure of his own Heart but I must use brevity and proceed Secondly Believers shall be aquitted for the glory of free-grace you 'l say it may be this is all one nay stay there too I say 't is to declare his great Name or to get himself a great Name this is that Joshua urgeth God with to shew himself Josh 7.9 And what wilt thou do unto thy great Name so Jer. 14.7 Though our iniquities testifie against us yet do it for thy Name sake 't is a good plea for poor sinners and so God saith Ezek 36.22 Be it known to you I do it not for your sakes No for whose sake then why Vers 21. For my Holy Names sake God stands wonderfully upon the honour of his great Name he will get him a name of prayse a name of Grace and a name of Power and a name of Wisdom to declare his grace in the misterious way though these poor shallow empty pated men would bear us in hand that God doth forgive sins in an ordinary way even as men forgive one another but then wherein would God get himself a name of Wisdom in the Salvation of Souls that were only to get a name of Mercy and Power c. I dare say such silly empty Creatures as they would think they had wisdom enough to pardon faults in such a way but herein will God get himself a name of wisdom in saving souls in a very misterious way therefore Christ is called the Wisdom of God Luke 11.49 and 1 Cor. 2.7 Alas in an ordinary way poor shallow man could have found out a way to forgive men I but herein doth Gods name of wisdom appear in his Son who is the wisdom of the Father he will declare his name of wisdom by going beyond all mens wisdom to acquit sins that 's another reason Thirdly He will acquit sinners because 't is the nature of his Covenant so to do 't is according to the tenour of Gods Covenant though some times he may aflict them with a Rod for their Pride or Wantonness c. yet saith he my Covenant will I not break with them nor alter the thing that 's gone out of my Mouth Psalm 89.34 Therefore Jeremiah pleads with God in prayer Jer. 14.21 Break not thy Covenant with us What 's the Covenant Gen. 17.7 To be a God to thee and thy Seed after thee who are his Seed but believers for he is the Father of the Faithful Rom. 4.16 so in Jerem. 32.40 I 'le make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I 'le put my fear in their hearts that they shall never depart from me poor souls 't is possible they may sometimes slip out of the way and go astray I but they shall never depart from me so but they shall again own me for their God it may be I may frown on them sometimes for their iniquities I but my loving kindness will I not utterly take away from them so in Ezek. 36. about the 18. Vers God was furious with them but yet in Ver. 28. he would be their God and they should be his people they are his people still he will perform the Covenant made of old with them Exod. 3.6 I am the God of Abram Isaac and Jacob who were these why all of them believers and thou art their brother that art a believer and oh the goodness of God that though we fail in performing our part of the Covenant yet he never fails on his part he is the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13.8 And the Covenants that he makes abide for ever I 'le make an everlasting Covenant with them to thy Seed too I but how long doth this Covenant stand firm for term of years no no man 't is for ever 't is an everlasting Covenant and established Covenant too Jerem. 32.40 Gen. 17.7 To believers is it established they are the Seed of Abra'm though they were born of Abra'm after the flesh yet they are not accounted Abra'ms Seed or Children if they be unbelievers and haters of Christ so Christ tells them Iohn 8.39 40. If you were Abrahams Children you would do the works of Abraham but now you seek to kill me so did not Abraham it is clear then that they are Abrahams children that are so by Faith or Imitation so that you see 't is the nature of the Covenant that sins should be acquitted that they may be a people in Covenant with him and he a God in Covenant with them these things may be profitable to you but I intend not narration but perpensation or a due search of our state whether we are of that number for whom Christ dyed and for whose sins he was sacrificed and slain It may be some will say I Christ dyed we know but what are the singular advantages to us of his death and if we be of that number of his beloved ones why that might be brought in here to incourage thee to try thy self but I shall give it thee God willing in a word of consolation in the close of my thoughts on the Text but before I go any further I cannot
believed in this Lord Jesus Christ that is sacrificed for us then shall he have great rejoycing in himself alone and not in another if a man examine himself alone and find his state good he shall have rejoycing alone what ever others think or speak it matters not much if he find upon due measure and search that his work be right he shall have rejoycing in himself alone and not in another in Gal 6.4 Now it were in vain to bid us try our state if it were not to be known and I hope none dare be so bold as to charge the Spirit of God with Vanity But now a little to hint at the various ways that God uses as means to bring back lost man to himself First He doth it by a strong hand from Heaven thus he did to Paul with thundrings from Heaven as you may read at large Acts 9. Poor Paul was amazed he was in a storm there arose Euraclidon upon him how is it with thee poor soul didst thou ever find thy self tossed in the Tempestuous Waves of Divine frowns immediately darted out from the Almighty wast thou ever smitten down as it were on thy face wast thou ever sensible of Divine anger against thy sin try as thou readest but briefly Secondly Sometimes poverty and want is the means that God uses so it was with the Prodigall Luke 15.15 When he was so hungry that he would have eat with the Swine then 't is said He came to himself though this is but a Parable yet it teacheth us that it 's Gods way by poverty to bring home his children to his house try how 't is with you I confess I am afraid when some people are brought to great straits then they will get into the fellowship of the Saints that so they may be provided for and indeed coming in in such condition their state is to be suspected therefore look to it for this is but too follow Christ for the Loaves and is no less then hipocrisie but if thou art sincere and thou find'st upon due search thou hast no such design 't is well for thee God brought thee low Thirdly God uses to shew his people Visions to bring them to their considerations as with Cornellius Acts 10. beginning God did send him to a secondary means he must hear Peter what he shall tell him but the Vision that he saw was the first step to his conversion this was the Vision of an Angel that he saw at the ninenth hour of the day Have none of you met with the Angel of the Covenant at any time that hath told you you must go to Peter to some faithful Minister to inquire what you shall do but this is not very frequent in our days Fourthly Sometimes God compasseth men round with outward troubles distresses and afflictions he doth afflict them with enemies to bring them home to himself this way God took with Manasseth who was as wicked a man as any you Read of yet such is the power of God that he hath his way to bring him home to himself he hath the hearts of Kings in his own hands which are for the most part the untamedst hearts in the World yet he turns them as the Rivers of Water which way he pleaseth Prov. 21.1 As he did this King 2 Chron. 33.12 When he was in affliction he besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly note here God brought him down before he would humble himself and he prayed to the Lord and 't is said he was intreated of him how is it with you Sirs try I pray you Fifthly Sometimes God brings them to read the Scriptures and there he sets in and takes hold of their hearts thus it was with that Eunuck of Ethiopia a man of great authority under Candace Queen of Ethtopia who 't is said had the charge of all her Treasure note here by the way that God calleth some great men rich men though Christ tells us 't is hard for rich men to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 19.23 Yet he doth not say 't is impossible for the next words almost saith With God all things are possible and though the Apostle saith Not many Mighty nor many Noble are called 1 Cor. 1.26 Yet he doth not say not any for this Centurion and this Eunuck that I speak of even now were called And among the Chief Rulers many believed on him John 12.42 But to return pray you excuse a little my extravagancy I say by reading the Word this great Man was in Gods way and God sendeth Phillip to second his endeavours to open the Scripture to him and so he Believed and was Baptized as you may see in Acts 8. from the Vers 27. to the end this may be witnessed by History that of Austin and others but I forbear have any of you to whom these lines may come found a word by reading take hold on your hearts with power let experience speak I must not enlarge necessity lyeth upon me Sixthly Sometimes souls are called by the Preaching of the Gospel and indeed this is Gods most ordinary way For Faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10.17 And God hath ordinarily two voices in Preaching or speaking to sinners to bring them in First By the voice that shew them their sins and strikes thee down or if you please by a terrible voice the voice of his terrour doth sometimes sound as that word The same Jesus whom you have Crucified he is made both Lord and Christ Acts 2.36 'T is as dreadful a word as could have been spoken for it smote them to the very heart and made them cry out What shall we do this voice made them a terror to themselves this very voice did then shake their Earthly hearts it shaked them so that they were never setled again until 3000. of them were set down safe in Christ but then Secondly God speak sometimes by a sweet still voice after the fire of Christ love is stirred up to them there comes a small still voice then the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land a sweet mild voice by this voice Lydia's heart was opened Ah! when souls have the love of Christ spoken to their hearts then the very love of Christ constraineth them some one way and some other ways are brought over to Christ by Preaching yea by hearing the word Preached there were 3000. souls Acts 2. and Acts 4. 5000. souls brought to Christ these were glorious Sermons that were the means to convert so many souls and Acts 15.7 saith Peter God made choice among us that the Gentils by my Mouth should hear the Gospel and believe So Eph. 3.8 Vnto me who am less then the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should Preach among the Gentils the unsearchable riches of Christ to make men see what is the fellowship of the Mistery Making men see is the very first work upon a soul from God now by the Word Preached mens eyes are opened
therefore Psa 19.8 The Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes and Christ first opens the eyes of the Blind and men are turned from darkness to light I cannot stand to quote you the Text's for all this but you that are wise are aquainted with it and indeed on the contrary they that are lost The God of this World hath blinded their eyes And if the Gospel be hid 't is hid to them that be lost They that are not called have their understanding darkened through the ignorance that is in them Eph. 4.18 What say you have your eyes been opened have you by the Word been made to see these things and is there a constraint laid upon you to walk in the Laws of Jesus 't is the general consent of all I think that Faith comes by hearing and preaching plainly not with the enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power 1 Cor. 2.4 But if all these voices and ways do not bring over souls for God doth call and knock once yea twice yet man perceiveth it not he knocks by word by mercy by affliction yet he hath another way and that is Seventhly By a dream in a Vision of the Night when deep sleep falleth upon men in slumbrings on the bed what then then he openeth the ear and sealeth their instruction that he may withdraw man from his purpose and hide Pride from man thus he keepeth back the soul from the Pit Job 33.15 I am not altogether ignorant what some might say of this Text but certain I am God hath his ways hidden to men oft' times and I have been told by some serious souls that I hope are precious in the Lords sight in some dark Countrey what the Lord hath wrought even in this way therefore fear not oh soul thou art safe from the Pit that art called even this way thus now I have hinted a little at the ways that God doth take to call home his Election I 'le now a little shew you how God doth in his ordinary way begin and go on step by step in his most ordinary way and if it be a little disorderly as to place pray you put that to my charge or bear if you can with me in so doing I 'le put things together First God doth awaken men and open their eyes and therefore they are put together by the Apostle Awake thou that sleepest and immediately it follows and Christ shall give the Light Eph. 5.14 And as I said before Preaching is to make men see Eph. 3.9 So when Christ came the first thing we read he did was that the Blind received their sight Matth. 11. And so when Christ begun to Preach Luke 4.18 What is the first work to recover sight to the blind therefore it was Prophesied of him that he should be a light to the Gentils Isa 42.6 to light them that they may see what a condition they are in Secondly When God brings them to see their condition then he brings them next to a willingness to be out of that dangerous state in which they are when he sees himself a lost fallen son of Adam in a state of wrath nay more when he sees what he hath done against Christ that 't is he that hath taken Christ and by wicked hands hath Crucified and slain him then he wrings the hands and is ready to tear the hair then is there no way of escape And this will in the Third Place put him a doing then with the pricked Jews and the Jaylor Acts 2.37 Acts 16.30 What shall I do to be saved Is there any hope for me then the sould would fain be doing somewhat to pacifie Gods wrath Oh! then will the Lord be pleased with thousands of Lambs or with ten thousands of Rivers of Oyl then shall I give the fruit of my body for the sin of my Soul as in Mic. 6.7 Then duty prayer and fasting and any thing if that will stop Gods mouth be it with reverence spoken then do any thing run any way prethee soul take heed now for now thou art in danger of miscarrying I am very much afraid here many a soul hath run a ground and split when they have been smitten and could not for want of skill know where to rest they have fallen in with that poor deluded people to rest on their own repentance and their fastings c. Lord pitty such poor souls I have had credible information of some that have thus been wrought upon and carried away Oh Sirs here is your greatest danger Oh! now for a skilful Pilot to direct you or else you sink and are undone they lean to their own weak understanding and not to Christ and others there are when convinced do divert the conviction by seeking after satisfaction some other way as Cain looked not after a Saviour but went to Building a City and so wore off the impression that was made on him his heart was taken up with some inferior good like him David speaks of Psalm 52.7 That made not God his strength but trusted in the abundance of his riches Insteed of making the name of the Lord his strong Tower which is Christ Prov. 18.10 He made his riches his refuge or City therefore take heed now soul and look about thee for a right remedy That brings me to the next step Fourthly God brings a poor soul to see a remedy he then gives them a sight of his Son by presenting him to their eye they see before 't is true at first but that was their dreadful state but that was but a glimmering sight or light to this that sight so exceedingly terrified them that they feared and quaked and made them shriek out Oh what shall we do That sight did not shew them as remedy 't is the sight of the remedy and an apprehension of the possibility of attaining that remedy that doth give a little hopes to a poor soul when the soul seeth there is Balme in Gilliad and that there is a Physitian there this makes the poor soul look and long a little and looking and viewing Christ the soul will then loath it self the more when it seeth it self so much unlike Christ before it may be the soul heard of Christ by the hearing of the ear but now my eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes when the soul sees Christ in his doing and suffering and that so freely from no other spring then his own love veryly then the poor soul thinks the worse of it's self and says I am not worthy 't is true I am a little Stung by this fiery Serpent sin but how shall such a defiled eye as my eye is look upon such a glorious bright and splended object as yonder brazen Serpent is Numb 21.9 That stands upon the pole where Purity it self doth hold it up But then a step more Fifthly When Christ is presented and held out to a poor soul then when
the soul begins to see it 's own unworthiness then it will be much fearing that it shall not be accepted will he think you entertain me then Christ shews not only his beauty but his willingness too to embrace thee and saith do you think I am unwilling Alas that is the great complaint I have to make of you You will not come to me that you may have life John 5.40 Alas man there is no want of will in me but in thy self I have done all that I can to make thee willing which is a clear proof of my willingness I have shewed thee that there is a necessity of coming to me he that 's stung cannot be healed unless he look unto me I have shewed thee that there is no cure any where else no acceptance no duty pleasing to God unless you come to me no no man thou canst do nothing without me John 15.5 And that there is neither name nor thing under Heaven by which you can be saved but by me Acts 4.12 If I had told you there had been any cure by your own Faith or your own Repentance or any thing else then indeed you might have said I was not willing because I told you you might seek remedy else where but I tell you I am very willing yea and I do wait for your acceptance of the love that I have declared to you Oh that you would not be unkind to me nor so cruel to your selves as to keep me out of your hearts any longer I profess I am not willing of your ruine but rather that you would be healed I have life for dead souls I have light for dark souls I have strength for weak souls I have holiness for pulluted souls I have ease for pained souls I have health saving health for sick souls I have bread for the hungry and drink for the thirsty clothing for the naked I have Salvation for lost souls nay what have I not that good is and this I have revealed and declared I have brought life yea and eternal life immortallity to light through the Gospel and yet notwithstanding all that I have shewed to manifest their necessity and my own willingness yet I am forced after all to complain that there is none or hardly any that stirreth up himself to take hold on me me and my light me and my life me and my righteousness though they see all their own righteousness to be as filthy Dung-hill rags yet they will not stir up themselves to take hold on me with my all Isa 64 7. Come poor trembling sinner come take hold of my strength come thou that sin is ready to burn up thy spirit I have water that shall allay that heat come buy of me Wine to pour into thy wounds come man without money of thy own righteousness or thy own merit come without thine own worthiness and when a poor soul is brought to see this indeed why then in the next place Sixthly The Soul even leans on it's Beloved then Lord I am thine and will be thine then it runs hastens to this strong Tower wherein it shall be safe Prov. 18.10 Now the soul is lodged safely in the bosom of it 's beloved Oh soul who ever thou be that stand'st trembling and art afraid thou art not worthy I tell thee he want's not thy worth but thy willingness to accept his worth therefore prethee give thy consent this day this present hour before thou stir one foot out of the place never talk of asking counsel of friends nor biding them farewel that are at home as he in the Gospel now saith God I never told thee another time nor too morrow But now is the time the accepted time 2 Cor. 6.2 And too day if thou wilt hear my voice Heb. 3.7 Oh now say as his children that had back sliden from him when he bid them return Jer. 3.22 Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God If it hath not been done before let this be the Marriage-day let the knot be knit this day do not put him off tell to morrow he may leave thee to morrow to the hardness of thy heart and thou mayst dye in thy sins and be damned It may be some poor soul may now say but I have not observed this all along in my soul therefore I doubt 't is not well with me it may be so soul yet there may be some that have and some can remember the manner how the place where the time when God did call them to himself and yet notwithstanding thou hast not taken such special notice of Gods way yet Christ may be as truly thine as his I this would rejoyce my heart indeed would'st thou say if I knew it but how shall I know it truly this leads me to the thing I promised you to try my self and you according to the measure and rule of the Law of liberty and here I would perswade thee to fall to the work of examination and bring thy self to the Touch-stone of the Word and if I speak not according to the rule say that 's mine but if it be according to the Word take heed thou reject it not for by that Word thou must and I must stand or fall I and presently too do not put it off If thou wouldst have present comfort to thy soul or if thou would know thy danger to it presently Oh I am afraid they that are so loath to come to the Sanctuary weights and measure will at last when they are broughtt to it be found with that motto on their foreheads as is left on Record touching the tryal of Beltshazar that wicked man Dan. 5.27 Tekel thou art weighed in the Ballances and art found wanting Prethee Soul come to the Sanctuary-scale betimes that if thou should be found to light thou might have time to get weight before the Market time be over and done and here in this tryal I shall not confine my self to that one only distinguishing Carracter that I find some Learned faithful men in the Church of Christ do give out as the only distinguishing Carracter for souls to Judge their state by and that is whether God the Father God the Son God the Spirit or else some inferior thing be it what it will or can be be a mans or souls chief good and the onely object of his delight and happiness In plain English whether or no upon due search as we say in cold blood that is when a man on the one hand is not lifted up in any way from the Earth from the consideration of trouble that sometimes are met withall among terrene things nor on the other hand when a man lyes pressed hard with some violent temptation that he seems to take little delight in God as Job Jeremiah and David when Gods hand pressed them fore these are not times for a man to pass a right Judgement of his state and he that thus and then judges himself judges only
Modish as the Court in their white Shoos and white Coats like so many Mag-pyes or fools in a play and indeed professors in general are too too guilty in laying out for the back Sirs let me ask you all one question and answer your consciences if not me as you will one day answer the great God do you think Gods poor people do not stand in more need of relief than your backs do of toys I do not ask you so much whether it be an odious thing in the sight of God and true Christians but I ask you what answer you will give when the eternal God shall say I gave you or made you Stewards of so much of the worlds goods I say Stewards for the proudest of you all have nothing of your own for all you say I have riches I have this and that but what answer will you make which will it be best to be able to say I laid it out on Gallantry and Grandure to make a pompous shew or else to say I have laid it out on the poor members of Christ and indeed 't is observed that at Collections for the Poor that the finest folks give the least I am not ignorant of your many evasions and tricks to favour your Pride but though you may put of me with these yet remember how will you be able to answer the eternal God the searcher of all hearts you that are the Lords Ministers me thinks you should loath such persons when you meet them as I have read of a great Man that was such a lover of Justice that when he met an unjust man he would vomit up choller methinks you that love plainness should vomit up choller when you meet Pride and not complement it I would not have thus disgressed but that professors are saying when they are forced upon it this is our failing this is a gross failing to follow the multitude to do evil and to do as the most do but yet remember still believer if thou fall'st thou hast a help a Saviour to save thee from thy Sin Thirdly Thou shalt be delivered from sorrow it may be poor soul thou art now sorrowing and morning thou hast on thy black Sute though it may be for thy breakings with God and thy untoward walking art clothed with black own to the ground Jer. 14.2 Well but bear up soul the day is hastening that there shall be no more such complaints There shall then be no more oh my back my head and heart for all sorrow and sighing shall fly away Isa 35. last And God shall wipe away all tears from thy eyes Revel 21.4 For there shall be no more sorrow nor mourning For so it may be read now it may be indeed of such Oyntment that run down Aarons Reard even to the skirts of his Garments Psal 133.2 Tears it may be are pouring down to the ground yet if thou be one that Christ is slain for all this shall be done away thou shalt see no more sorrow nor fear and will not this a little comfort thee Fourthly Thou shalt be delivered from Wrath to Come do the thoughts of death and darkness terrifie and afright thee why Jesus that is slain for thee Hath delivered thee from the power of darkness Col. 1.13 Oh what a mercy is it but he will yea he hath Delivered from Wrath to Come 1 Thes 1.10 And is not here comfort soul let this bear thee up that art in trouble it may be thou feelest some of the wrath and fury of an inraged enemy here for a time but here is matter of rejoycing for thee they cannot make thy sorrow last long and the wrath that is to come that Jesus hath delivered thee from thus now I have shewed thee what thou shalt be freed from by Christ In the next place I would a little shew them what thou art priviledged unto and indeed I can shew thee but little of it oh what tongue can tell what it is indeed 1. Thou art priviledged to be a Son of God and what dimensions of Glory is this 't is to be an Heir and a joint Heir with Jesus To sit on the same Throne with him and have a Crown put on thy head by him Rom. 8.17 And thus 't is with believers John 1.12 As many as recieved him to them gave he power to become the Son of God To them gave he power or right oâ— priviledged for the Word will bear it to become the Son of God And let me say this 't is no small honour nor no small priviledge to be a Son of God Gal. 3.26 For we are all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus and in Eph. 1 5. Having Predestinated us unto the adoption of Sons or Children by Jesus Christ And oh what an honour is it to be a Son or a child of God which made the Apostle John 1.3 admire oh 't is a wonder Behold what manner of love is this that the Father hath bestowed or conferred upon us that we should be and not onely be but be called the Children of God or Sons of God and is not this comfort for thee oh soul that art a child of God it is looked upon as no small honour to be the son of a Prince but what is it to be a son of the Prince of the Kings of the Earth 2. Thou hast a right to all the promises of God and there are given to believers exceeding great and precious promises 2 Pet. 1.4 And all are made to them in Christ look through all the Book of God and you will find abundance of promises why they are all made to him that is in Christ and in Covenant For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 That is they are all made through him indeed and in truth and is not here comfort oh soul to have all the promises to be thine thou hast a right to them all 3. All things shall work together for good unto thee Rom. 8.28 All things this is strange language will some say marry it may be will every man say will work for good but affliction will come some times and will that work for good yes David could say It was good for me that I was afflicted Psalm 119.71 I and God will bring the evil designs of wicked men to work for the good of his Saints I might have gathered this up into particulars but spare me that but to return God will work good out of the evil will of other men to the Saints Gen. 50.20 Saith Joseph to his brethren that sold him but as for you malicious you envious you you thought evil against me but God meant it unto good God can bring good out of evil to his Saints nay let me say more God can bring good out of the sins of his Saints I speak not this to encourage thee to sin 't is a sign thou art a child of the Devil and not of God if thou
pleasure in him Heb. 10.38 Ah soul I know not so well what thou hast as I know what I have but I have mine iniquity and I do fear so hast thou few that ever I met with but had one beloved above all other this is that David kept himself from Psal 18.23 I kept my self from mine iniquity Oh take head that thine iniquity do not draw thee back but follow the Lord and keep on his way not only begin but follow on Hes 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord there is the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ before but take heed and look forward for if thou look back there is Hell behind at thy heels if thou draw back it will be to perdition Oh that we may never draw back for if we do the fault will be ours for God if he hath begun a good work will go on to perform it or as it may be read finish it Phill. 1.6 Let us then go on after Christ and not draw back from him but Thirdly And lastly to the Saints live as it becometh those that are called by him and make profession of him hath he loved thee with an everlasting love and therefore with loving kindness hath he drawn thee Jer. 31.3 And wilt thou not answer his love by thy Life Oh soul wilt thou not stand for him and own him in bad days wilt thou not plead his cause against all enemies that plead's thy cause with the Father hath God given thee a gift oh improve it for Christ thy Lord he hath dyed for thee and wilt not thou live to him doth he appear before God for thee and wilt not thou appear before Men for his Name sake 't is sad to see how men sneak away and diseart Christ's cause under fine specious pretences 't is not prudence to do things say they when Authority would not have it so and so they have a pretence to cover themselves with that pretence this kind of Spirit was found in some of old in Holy Philpots time said he some persons make themselves a Clock to keep of the Rain with pretence of obeying Magistrates whom we ought to obey though they be evil and wicked but saith he such must learn to give Caesar his and God his due and with Peter obey the higher powers in the Lord c. this he speaks by reason of the cowardness of their Spirits in their Masters cause but oh soul that I could prevail with thee and my own soul to stand to Christs cause Oh I call Heaven and Earth to witness this day bear witness all ye that see or hear of this that I call upon you to plead Christ caused and hold fast his Name and not run away and leave Christ oh live as those that become the Gospel in this very thing oh sad 't is to tell there be some that in this respect have cause the very adversary to speak reproach fully and to blaspheme and as these are cowardly in Christs cause so there are others very debauched in their practices would to God there were no cause to say professors keep loose company many there are that keep a Club with vain Fellows I and I am afraid many times drink to excess oh take shame to your selves who are guilty this is loathsom in the sight of the truly Godly and I tell you you give them just occasion to judge you Hypocritical and rotten at the heart and to spare no rank let me be plain with you who take it upon you to be the Lords Watchmen you of the Ministry 't is sad that you that should be reproevers should fall justly under reproof or rather for I am on exhortation now you that should exhort others should need be exhorted and yet what lives do some of you lead I am ashamed to say debauched of you Oh insteed of a holy self denying life how many of you live an Earthly flesh pleasing life and how are your Families trained up insteed of the School of Christ it may be in a Dancing-School or at the Musick is this a life that becometh Professors but by this time I think I hear some of you begin to say is not it lawful to recreate our selves I am not minded here to answer all the cavils that the flesh will raise but this I 'le said Paul said indeed All things were lawful that is as I conceive with respect to conscience of his own but not expedient that is with respect to conscience of anothers and to my knowledge there are some hardened by your practices Oh how sad is it to see Ministers Wives Children and Families as well as other Professors come into the Congregation and insteed of being patterns of piety are patterns of Pride that insteed of having it said of them they were Modest and adorned with meekness and humility in modest apparel shameful it might be said they were proud high-minded and clad in gaudy Robes like pictures set to sell but I leave you to dispute it with one that will nonplusse you in all your disputations and silence all your objections but Saint thou that art truly such what ever others do though they Eclipse and darken the Glory of God and Religion yet do thou let thy light so shine that others may see thy good works and glorifie God Oh soul have a shinning conversation so saith the Apostle Phill. 1.27 Only let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel Art thou Christ's live as one that wouldst honour Christ it will be an honour to Christian profession it will be a comfort to those that were instrumental in begetting thee to God they will be able to stand up one day and say behold here I am and the Children that thou hast given me Heb. 2.13 Oh I call upon professors now to adorn Religion when the wicked scorn it do you adorn it and you that are members of Churches I do not say of Christ for it doth not appear by you how do you honour Christ when there is no order nor government in your Families no Justice no pitty or if any but a meer carcase insteed of having the Master in the Family at even when the duty of his particular calling is over he is in the Coffee-house which may justly be called the Night Exchange not so much to Traffick as to quaffe it insteed of an exhortation to thy Family and Servants it may be thou sit telling or else hearing a merry jest among thy Company or at best insteed of thy Bible in thy hands asking thy Children and Servants what 's God or Christ or the Holy Ghost it may be thou sittest with Cards in thy hands asking who deals who leads the Table or what 's Trump Sirs take it how you will I speak not groundlesly is this to honour Christ and the profession of Religion Oh let it not be told in Gath nor published in Askelon Oh never wrong Religion so much as to take the