Testament yet he is blessed whose Soul prospers For as it is said of every Man in his civil capacity In his best estate he is altogether vanity Psal 39.5 He is subject to changes none can tell what a day may bring forth Here we have no continuing City Heb. 13.14 So it may truly be said of a person whose Soul prospers whatever his outward condition be he is altogether blessed Psal 94.12 Blessed is the Man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law When instruction hearkened to goes with correction the Soul prospers he is a blessed Man In Job 1. we have a description of Job's prosperous estate First it is said That he was a Man fearing God But we have farther as it were an Inventory given in of his outward condition He had so many Sheep so many Oxen so many Asses so many Camells c. These were a superadded blessing to Job This is set down to shew the praise of Job's patience who bare such a change so as he did 'T is very true a Man may easily over-rate and over-value his worldly estate Verily if Soul-prosperity do not go before outward prosperity outward prosperity is but like a Cypher and signifies nothing if a figure don't go before it A Man may write a sheet of Paper full of Cyphers but all do not make One When Soul-prosperity goes before God hath done much for such persons They have the Earth they shall have Heaven They have the Nether Springs they shall have the Upper Springs so that if it were asked them as Christ did his Disciples Luk. 22.35 Lacked ye any thing They must answer if they will speak as the matter is as the Disciples did They want nothing God hath not dealt so with all those that have shot the gulph and are past danger for Eternity Many of them are cut short yea they may say many times as Peter did Luk. 5.5 We have fished all night and caught nothing Laboured hard and caught not so much as a Sprat for their breakfast Many a Man that labours all the week hath very much ado to bring both ends together his Gettings and his Expences The wants of some are so many that they often know not what to do and the wants of others are so few that they want nothing but to know how to improve what they have To know how to abound is a far greater blessing then to abound Eccl. 3.14 whatsoever God doth is for ever If God give a Man an outward worldly estate it is for ever What to enjoy it for ever No things seen are but for Time But in respect of the use or abuse of them they are forever Now to speak to that which in particular John desires for his friend Gaius That he might be in health Gaius was not sick now that 's clear from vers 6. He did not keep his Bed nor his Chamber nor his House for John adviseth him to bring the Brethren on their way after a godly sort But he was a sickly Man Note Those that have much of the heart of God and live much in the love of God may feel much of the hand of God as in other troubles so in long continued bodily weaknesses That they may be sick is no marvel for they must dye but we speak of long continued weakness Timothy was such a Man 1 Tim. 5.23 It is observed of Calvin that in his latter days he was very sickly and weak contracted as 't was thought by eating too much Alöes Thuanus saith he was so seven years before his death We find Job observed this in his days Job 21.25 One dyes in the bitterness of his Soul never eats his bread with pleasure One dyes What one Even one good Man as well as one bad Man He speaks indifferently of either all things fall alike to all The good Man dyes in bitterness and pain seldom made a good meal Thus ye see it hath been And I note this only for this purpose that we may see that no new thing befalls them with whom God deals so at this day but that which hath been the lott of those whose Souls have prospered 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to Man 2. Gaius was very well with respect to his Spiritual state but he was weakly and sickly therefore John prays that he might be in health Hence note Note A healthy constitution of Body though a Man may be bless'd without it yet in it self is a very great and desirable blessing It is a comprehensive blessing It is the Epitome and Abridgment of all outward blessings It is like Salt that Seasons every Meat It is too true this is not so feelingly acknowledged as it ought to be by those that do enjoy it But when as it is in Job a Man's bones are chastened with a multitude of pains and a Man is worn away with pining sickness it is rare to find such a person that doth not set an higher price on health then he did before And verily it is a very great blessing whether it be by preservation from sickness or by recovery out of sickness 1. If it be by preservation from sickness prize it as a very great mercy It is left upon Record as a very signal Providence and gracious Priviledge vouchsafed to the people of Israel when they were in Egypt where there was so much Sickness Plague and Death Yet Psal 105. there was not one feeble person among them when they came forth for it is said Exod. 12.27 they were able to come for thon foot six hundred thousand Persons And ought it not to be esteemed at this day in this place as a great mercy by those Families which God is pleased to preserve from those sicknesses that some are under If ye do not labour to improve this so that God may not repent that he hath spared you ye do not well 2. It is a very great mercy to have health by recovery from sickness and weakness Hezekiah judged it so Isa 38.19 The living shall praise thee as I do this day David speaks to this Psal 103.5 My Soul praise thou the Lord. He renews thy strength as the Eagle The Eagle as it is said all Birds of prey do casts her feathers once a year new feathers grow up again and then she is fresh and lusty and mounts up as high as before Now that health is so great a blessing will appear in this because while the Lord gives it he puts a very great price into the Man's hands that hath it to further his Soul-prosperity A weakly sickly person is under many disadvantages as to that For observe 1. Weakness long continued infirmity often deprives a person of the publick Ordinances Possibly some may at this day by weakness be deprived of such Meetings as this which we are to reckon publick Ordinances not in respect of the Place but Administration Isa 38.22 What shall be the sign that
the life we live so far as it is gratious and it ought to be so in all things is more in Christ and from Christ and what we expect to receive from Christ then in and from our selves when we think with our selves as the Apostle said Gal. 2.20 Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Therefore interest Christ in all that ye do Look unto him for assistance in every thing Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me and for acceptance of all 1 Pet. 2.5 Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Let us go on thus leaning upon our Beloved The heart of Christ was much upon this that all that are in a state of Union with him should learn this and live under the actual consideration of it Joh. 15.4 5 Abide in me and I in you as the Branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the Vine ye are the Branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing And the more this is learned and accordingly reduced into practice the more the Soul will prosper It is worth our noting that true growth is noted by our growing in Christ Eph. 4.15 But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the Head even Christ 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ As if to grow in parts in duties or any thing else without growing in him were a swelling rather then a growth The swelling of the Leg or Arm is no good sign that the party grows stronger It is thus indeed whiles we are full of our own strength our Souls prosper not 1 Sam. 2.9 for by strength shall no Man prevail Therefore a prospering Soul though it hath and when it hath put on the whole Armour of God yet it is not to trust thereto but to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6.10 Certainly the more deeply this principle is engraven in our hearts and the more we act according to it the better it will be with us He that laboured more abundantly then they all that could say He had finished his course fought the good fight and kept the faith was he that said Not I but the grace of God that was with me 1 Cor. 15.10 Happy are those Souls and more happy they are like to be that are so trained up in a continual sensibleness of their own insufficiency as to what is spiritually good that still there is a looking up for more supplies that we may exercise what we have Phil. 1.19 and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ What Paul prayed for the Thessalonians 2 Thes 3.5 The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ i. e. into the exercise thereof A Soul that would prosper must pray for it self Yea and for that which Paul desired others to pray on his behalf Eph. 6.18 19 Praying alwaies with all Prayer and Supplication that utterance may be given unto me Paul had already a great gift of utterance and memory and had great experience of Gods presence with him in the exercise thereof having preached so well and so long now twenty five years together yet desires their prayers not only for the continuance of these gifts but also for the actual exercise of them so often as ever there was occasion of using them And no doubt Paul did pray thus for himself as often as he was to preach and as little doubt there is but that he did his work so much the better for it and with the better success Thus ye have what I have to say concerning the first thing proposed What concerns the prosperity of the Soul in general wherein it consists and when a Man may be said to prosper SERMON IV. I Now proceed more particularly to demonstrate that in truth and reality the Soul doth prosper according to the degree and measure wherein the Soul abounds in them 1. The Soul prospers when it is full of Praises to God So kept from day to day under the Law of thankfulness that it abounds in thanksgiving to God Col. 2.7 Abounding therein with thanksgiving It is possible some may think otherwise that this is no such great matter but let these following particulars be duely considered and I hope ye will acknowledge it to be as I say Consider then 1. Though it be true that there are some solemn Seasons which call for solemn Praises when God hath abounded in the expressions of his love to us and Fatherly care for us in some special favour bestowed upon us giving us to experience the truth of what David found Psal 31.7 I will rejoice and be glad in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and known my Soul in adversity Though I say this be true yet we are under express obligation to make it part and a great part of our business every day Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of Praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his Name It was David's resolution to keep his heart under the power and authority of this Law Psal 145.2 Every day will I bless thee and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever 2. Though it be true likewise that there be some days when the Lord calls to mourning As Isa 22.12 Yet the saddest hours that the all-disposing Providence of the most wise God brings us into bring no discharge from this duty Neither need we look for it for these two duties are very well consistent together Otherwise we may be sure that God who gives a command sometimes to Mourn would never have given us a command alwaies to Rejoyce if these two had been contrary one to another And besides even in those daies when divine Dispensations call for mourning when things go most cross to our desires and affections yet we have matter of Thanksgiving if it were but for this That it is never so bad with us but it might be worse Paul acknowledgeth this to be a mercy that he had less cause of sorrow then he might have had Phil. 2.27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death but God had mercy on him and not on him only but on me also lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow Psal 118.18 19 The Lord hath chastened me sore but he hath not given me over unto death Open to me the gates of righteousness I will go in to them and I will praise the Lord. This needs not seem strange at all for even then when
which are of all others most dreadful and terrible 1. Such a Soul is designed to be driven away from God with his curse upon them Never to see his face To be Eternally separated from those everlasting joys which Souls that live and prosper in a most absolute fullness do enjoy in the enjoyment of God whilst the everlasting God enjoys his own blessed self If this were all the misery were unspeakable It is said Act. 20.37 38. that when Paul took his leave of his friends at Ephesus it was a very sad partting They all wept very sore fell upon Paul 's neck and kissed him sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake unto them that they should see his face no more If this were such an heart-breaking unto them it must needs be impossible for any that ever tasted in any measure how gracious the Lord is to bear so much as a thought of never seeing of never enjoying God more Ye know for a Man to lose his sight were very sad though he should have no pain in his eyes Solomon saith Eccles 7.11 Truly light is sweet and it is a pleasant thing to behold the Sun So that a Man would scarce think that the greatest Worldly prosperity were enough to repair that loss What then would this blind person think of his condition if besides the loss of his sight one should stand by and continually be dropping scalding Lead into his eyes Yet so it is here For 2. A lost unprosperous Soul is not only designed to be thus driven away from God but it is designed to the same misery and the same torment with the Devils and this they can neither escape nor endure None can answer that question Ezek. 22.14 Can thine heart endure or thine hands be strong in the day when I shall deal with thee No it cannot For who knoweth the power of thine anger even according to thy fear so is thy wrath Psal 90.11 None is able to express yea nor to conceive what a dreadful thing it is to be buried as it were alive under the Tomb-stone of the infinite wrath of the ever-living God Heb. 10.31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Rev. 6.15 16 17 They shall hide themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains And say to the Mountains and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand This is that which Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard nor can possibly enter into the heart of Man to conceive Ye find up and down in the Scripture that whatever is most terrible to sense is made use of to express the terribleness of it and yet comes far short of it Let but this one argument sink into your hearts and be if but once a week seriously thought on and possibly this alone may convince you of the truth of what I say That it is the most rational thing in the World for all those who believe they have immortal Souls in mortal Bodys to mind the well-fare and prosperity of their Souls above all things else in the World 4. Let me add one argument more It is the most rational thing in the World for every Man seriously to mind that which above all things else best answers God's great end in giving him his Being and with it all that is needful for support together with more understanding then the Beasts of the field And if ye ask what this is ye have an answer Prov. 16.4 God made all things for himself For the glorifying of his own blessed name Rom. 11 For of him and through him and to him are all things To whom be glory for ever Amen Now as no Man dishonours God but in doing that which tends to the ruine and destruction of his own Soul So no Man doth any thing or possibly can do any thing which really tends to the will-fare of his own Soul but therein he also glorifies God For instance To live in the exercise of Repentance confessing and humbling our Souls in the sight of God for our daily failings To live in the exercise of Faith applying our selves to Jesus Christ as interceding in our behalf for grace and mercy suitable to our daily necessities resting upon his truth and faithfulness in his promises notwithstanding all difficulties appearing in the way of accomplishment Walking in the fear of the Lord and fruitfulness in every good work These are all great fartherers of Soul-prosperity Josh 7.19 My Son give glory to God and make confession to him Revel 16.9 They repented not to give glory to God Rom. 4.19 20 but was strong in faith giving glory to God Isa 8.13 Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your fear and let him be your dread Joh. 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit This is as certain as that Jesus Christ glorified his Father in finishing the work of Redemption and Salvation for lost sinners Joh. 17.4 Thus ye have the Inference made good Vse 2 If this be so That Soul prosperity is the most desirable prosperity and that it is therefore as ye have heard the most rational thing in the World to mind it above all things else Then be perswaded as the Prophet Isa adviseth ch 46.8 To remember this bring it again to mind resolve upon it and shew your selves to be Men that act according to principles of reason and not Brutes Let that sink into your hearts which ye may read Hos 11.4 The Lord there aggravates their unworthy dealing with him by this That though he knew their aversness to what he had required of them yet he had not drawn them to their duty by violence as unruly Bullocks to the yoak but in a way singularly obliging suitable to rational Creatures He had drawn them with the Cords of a Man with arguments from his bounty and goodness which of all others carry the highest grounds of reason with them why God should be obeyed This I say should be seriously considered that reflecting on our selves and finding that God deals thus with us draws us with the Cords of a Man in an argumentative way to perswaded us to this great duty O then let us be perswaded to stir up our selves with the uttermost bent of our endeavours from this day forward to mind it as the great business of our lives and pray as Gen. 9.27 that God would enlarge our hearts and fill them with desires and resolutions about this matter and diligently hearken to the counsel which God in his word prescribes you in this great affair To make way to acquaint you with what that is I must mind you a little of that which was more largely spoken unto when we first entred upon the explication of the point Two things were then endeavoured to be cleared
that this above all things else hath a powerful influence into its spiritual well-fare and prosperity For this keeps life in faith and heart in hope and enables the Soul to live in the exercise of them both and in the exercise of Repentance and keeps the heart warm with love to Christ In the exercise of which graces as hath been shewed Soul-prosperity doth consist and is much promoted 1 Joh. 3.3 And every one that hath this hope purifieth himself as he is pure Zech. 12.10 I will powre the spirit of grace and supplication and they shall look on him whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him Luk. 7.47 Her sins which are many are forgiven for she loved much 2 Cor. 5.14 15 For the love of Christ constraineth us c. Therefore as ever we desire that our Souls should prosper let us be much in the meditation of the Materials whereof the garment of this Righteousness is made that we may distinctly understand it and let every humbled Sinner wrestling against the workings of his unbelief and making out after an interest in Christ adventure to apply it and to receive it as that which is freely offered unto him Rev. 22.17 And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say Come And let him that is athirst Come and whosoever will let him take the Water of life freely And so put it on though by a weak and trembling faith and continue still to do it that so in due time when the only-wise God sees it best for us we may know we have it This is the way to find rest to our Souls For consider but these two things 1. That as the imputation of Adam's sin was the original of all ungodliness and the undoing of all our Souls so the imputation of this Righteousness to the Soul and the clothing of the Soul with it is the original of all the principles of godliness which are the life and prosperity of the Soul for by the merit of his death Christ purchased them all and by his intercession and pleading this he applyeth them all 2. Consider this That it is as great yea and greater satisfaction to Christ himself to see an humbled conflicting Soul receive it put it on apply it and plead it for what grace and mercy soever it stands in need of I say it is a greater satisfaction to Christ himself to see such a Soul do it then it is to the Soul it self that doth it though he know he hath done it so as is accepted Isa 53.11 He shall see of the travail of his Soul and be satisfied He accounts all the travails of his Soul all his sufferings all his obedience to the Law satisfied for in this And thus much of that Garment of Righteousness which is wrought for the Soul by Christ himself 2. The Soul that prospers must be clothed with the Garment of Righteousness wrought in the Soul by the Spirit of Christ The righteousness wrought in the Soul is the same with that which is called Saving grace and true holiness It is called Righteousness because it is the impression of God's Righteousness upon the Soul in the exercise whereof the Soul works unto God as the chiefest good and utmost end by a right rule set in the Word and therefore often expressed by Vprightness and Sincerity Every Soul that is clothed with the outward garment the Garment of Righteousness wrought for him is also clothed with the inward Garment of Righteousness wrought in him though all are not so well clothed with it as some are but in some measure All are For these two garments though they are distinguished yet they are always worn together and never divided Where Christ is Righteousness to the Soul he hath wrought this Righteousness in the Soul He that puts on Christ puts on The New Man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4.24 Hence it is that when those whose Souls did prosper are said to be righteous Persons as Noah Gen. 7.1 Abel Matth. 23.35 Abraham Isa 41.2 Zachary and Elizabeth Luk. 1.6 And Lot 2 Pet. 2.8 his Soul is said to be a righteous Soul And when it is said That the righteous shall shine as the Sun in the firmament Matth. 13.43 And enter into Eternal Life Matth. 25.46 We must understand it that they were clothed with both these Garments both that of Righteousness wrought for them and that of Righteousness wrought in them And whereas it is said 1 Cor. 6.9 That no unrighteous person can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven We must understand it of those who have not the double clothing of Righteousness He that hath not both hath neither And he that hath the one hath the other And so far as a Man knows that he is clothed with the One so far he knows that he is clothed with the Other and he that questions either will question both He that is in doubt that he hath not the One is in doubt that he hath not the Other In the prosecuting of this point something had need to be said to each of the four Particulars 1. I shall shew what the garment of Righteousness wrought in us is The materials whereof it is made 2. I shall shew that without this garment whatever profession is made of interest in that other Garment of Righteousness which is wrought for us the Soul cannot prosper 3. That the better the Soul is clothed with this garment the more it doth and the better it will prosper 4. Some Directions in reference to the clothing our selves with and well using of this Garment 1. What this Garment of Righteousness wrought in us is or the Materials whereof it is made Ye may take this brief description of it It is that Heaven-born Principle of spiritual life which contains in it the whole seed of God the universal principle of godliness enclining the heart seriously to endeavour that every known truth may be heartily submitted unto every gracious principle exercised every corruption mortified every duty performed every infirmity bewailed the conversation in all things rightly ordered every Providence improved and all as in the sight of God Ye see this garment is made up of several pieces I can do no less and I shall do more then speak a little to each of them 1. It is that Heaven-born principle of spiritual life which contains in it the universal principle of godliness As Original sin is a universal principle of Corruption levening throughout the whole lump of Man's nature So this principle of Righteousness wrought in the Soul graciously renews the whole Man though not wholly The new Creature is born at once though it grows by steps and degrees Therefore every one that thinks or desires to be clothed with it must put on the whole Armour of God Eph. 6.10 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 Giving all diligence add to your faith vertue c. Col. 3.12 13 Put on as the elect of
in this World Not that all these sad effects are seen in every one but some in one and some in another 2. The effects will be found to be as sad in the World to come It is a sad sight to see Men undo themselves with their own mercies as Bees that are drowned in their own Honey but so it is Prov. 1.32 The prosperity of Fools shall destroy them i.e. with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. It is evident from Scritpure that but few shall be saved Matth. 22.14 Many are called but few are chosen And it is as evident that but few of those few will be found among the rich and prosperous 1 Cor. 1.26 For ye see your calling Brethren that not many wise Men after the flesh not many Mighty not many Noble are called Yea it is yet more evident that the Spirit of God speaks in the Scritpure as if Salvation had been almost impropriated to the meaner sort of people and that those who prosper in the World had been almost excluded Jam. 2.5 hath not God chosen the poor of this World rich in faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him The Church is called the Congregation of the poor Psal 74.19 Such as were of the lower rank destitute of Worldly advantages But for the rich and prosperous see Luk. 6.24 25 Wo unto you that are rich for ye have received your consolation Wo unto you that are full for ye shall hunger Wo unto you that laugh now for ye shall mourn and weep Jam. 5.1 Go to now ye rich Men weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon you The Apostle speaks not by way of advice and counsel to prevent their judgment by godly sorrow The exercise of that grace it not expressed by howling but he speaks by way of threat'ning and denouncing wrath and vengeance They had their good things in this life their pleasure upon Earth vers 5. Rev. 18.7 By how much she glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her Yet this is not to be understood as if God would condemn the rich because they were rich no more then he will save the poor for their poverty But he will condemn the rich for their sin and save the poor for their faith and piety through Jesus Christ Much more might be said to shew that Worldly prosperity separated from Soul-prosperity is by no means a prosperity to be desired It is but Eternal misery at a little distance Much less is it to be compared with Soul-prosperity This ye may judge by those effects of it which are seen to be so in this World and will be found to be so in the World to come 2. But now if we consider the Effects and Consequents of Soul-prosperity we shall find they are every way most desirable whether we consider the effects thereof for the present in this life or for the future in the life to come 1. In this life When the Soul prospereth and the divine well-fare thereof is kept in its heavenly temper by divine influences from above then there is such a glory and beauty in it as is much set by in the sight of God Psal 45.11 So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty It is a lovely sight to see any thing grow so as to thrive and prosper Corn on the ground Cattel in the field Fruit on the tree Children in the house growing up as Olive Plants about the Table But the growth and prosperity of the Soul is much more lovely Indeed there is much spiritual beauty and loveliness in the very first principles of spiritual life wherein as I have shewed you the first Foundation of Soul-prosperity as to our discerning it is laid These are much of the same nature and bear the same name with that perfect state of happiness which is enjoy'd in Heaven As that is called Glory so are these 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord. And if so then where all these lovely principles thrive and prosper the spirit of glory rests upon such a Soul as 1 Pet. 4.14 This is so but that which I shall specially instance in as most comprehensive of the blessed effects of Soul-prosperity in this life is that sweet peace within and heavenly serenity of spirit which a prosperous Soul so long as it doth prosper may and if it know its own happiness usually doth enjoy 1. Much sweet peace because of that sweet agreement which there is between a Man's Conscience and Himself Conscience we know if enlightened presseth to duty which if neglected in its season will wound and sting A prosperous Soul is more afraid of this then to be threat'ned with a fiery Furnace Dan. 3.13 That did not affright them at all but a Man may say as Job 27.6 My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live He was not afraid of those rebukings and upbraidings Now when grace is kept in exercise as it is in a prosperous Soul this keeps peace and that when troubles and tryals come upon us as an armed Man 2 Cor. 1.12 Our rejoicing is in this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the World This evidenced the prosperity of his Soul and that was his rejoicing That prayer of the Apostle for others Gal. 6.16 was heard for himself As many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy 2. Much sweet peace because there is a sweet agreement between a Man's affection and his condition A prosperous Soul living and desiring to live in the enjoyment of God is where it would be and is willing to be what God will have him to be in the darkest hours that befall him Rejoicing in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5.2 This subdues his affection to his condition when his condition otherwise would not be according to his affection Being clear in the point of his interest in God he can say how barren soever his condition be of outward comforts The Lord is my portion I have a goodly heritage Psal 16.5 6. Making God his Heaven and his Earth too Psal 73.25 3. A sweet peace because a sweet agreement between a Man's Hope and his Reason When the foundation of Soul-prosperity is first laid being quick'ned with principles of spiritual life it is born again to a lively hope of the heavenly inheritance 1 Pet. 1.3 4. And when the Soul prospers according to the knowledge it hath of its own state it is able to give a reason of its hope as the expression is 1 Pet. 3.15 A reason grounded upon the free promise of God Rom. 2.7 If
Paul had it Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me And he exhorts all that when they have put on the whole armour of God and have every grace ready for exercise yet then to Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6.10 11. 3. Let this be thought on too That though we ought to rest upon Christ for his assistance herein as if he were to do all and we our selves were to do nothing at all yet we ought so to stir up our selves and exercise our most serious thoughts and endeavours herein as if no help at all were to be expected from him Phil. 2.12 13. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do Thus I have shewed you the expressions in the Text leading me that way that what in a natural way is necessary for the health and well-fare of the body that in a spiritual way is as much necessary for the health well-fare and prosperity of the Soul And this I have shewed in four Particulars I told you when I entred first upon this use That when in the use of these means all begins to be well within the Soul begins to thrive and prosper Yet it may possibly have its fainting fits sometimes by reason of continued afflictions sometimes from a deep sense of invincible infirmities For the more of these gracious principles there are in the heart and the more they are exercised the more sad impression the least failing makes upon the heart No marvel if it be with such as it was with Jonah when the waters compassed him about and the reeds were wrapt about his head then he said his Soul fainted within him Jon. 2.5 6 7. And David had like to have done so when false witnesses were risen up against him I had fainted saith he unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Psal 27.12 13. Now as when Nature is almost spent and bodily strength fails there is need of relief by some comfortable Cordials As that poor Man 1 Sam. 30.12 being faint David's Men gave him something and then his spirits came to him which it seems were departing from him Now as the Lord Jesus was very tender over those that came from far to hear him and had been three days with him lest they should faint in their way homeward and therefore he wrought a miracle to relieve them Matth. 15.32 So without doubt he is as tender to prevent Soul-fainting Isa 57 15 16 to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones For I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the spirit should fail before me and the Souls which I have made Something therefore must be said to this Therefore though I cannot descend to particulars that would be too great a work I shall only give some general rules which may be indifferently applyed to all cases Let then every Soul that is ready to faint 1. Do as Jonah did in the place before quoted chap. 2. ver 7 My Soul fainted within and I remembred the Lord. Remembrance implies dependence Psal 20.7 But we will remember the name of the Lord our God This is prescribed for a fainting Soul Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God Now we must know that the Name of the Lord may have reference to that name Exod. 34.5 6 7 The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious c. This is very chearing For a fainting Soul may sometimes take encouragement from an Attribute of God when he doubts whether he may touch with a promise or no. Or it may have reference to that name Jer. 23 6 The Lord our Righteousness Certainly when a Soul seeth nothing in it self whereby it can challenge any interest in any ground of comfort yet because there is grace and mercy enough in the name of God and merit and righteousness enough in the Son of God such a Soul may see ground enough to resolve as Isa 8.17 I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Jacob and I will look for him Psal 34.5 They looked to him and were lightened and their faces were not ashamed Though all the clouds were not presently scattered yet they had some light And a little Candle in a dark room in a very dark night though it do not make it day as the Sun doth yet it is some reviving till the day do appear 2. Let it be well considered what God imposeth upon fainting Souls as one great part of their work in such a season Psal 55.22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved When thou art ready to faint under thy burden cast it upon me saith the Lord Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden Do then as David did he hears the command speaking in general unto all Psal 27.8 Seek ye my face and seeth himself concerned in it and therefore resolves Thy face Lord will I seek It is observable that when Christ commanded the blind Man to come unto him Mar. 10.49 Be of good comfort say those that were by-standers the Master calls thee Such commands in this case may sometimes be of greater use then promises and more effectual for the silencing of doubts and discouragements For the best are apt when in the dark to dispute their interest in the promises till they have disputed themselves out of all heart to close with them But Commands are not to be disputed but obeyed See Luk. 5.5 There was discouragement enough They had fished all night and caught nothing nevertheless say they at thy word we will let down the Net 3. Taking it for granted that a fainting Soul in obedience to the command of Christ is willing if able to come to Christ and to close with him And if the question were put to him as it was to Rebecca Gen. 24.58 Wilt thou go with this man He would answer as she did I will go And hearing the terms whereon he promiseth to be ours can and doth yield unto them as heartily as Laban did to Jacob's and desire as he did Gen. 30.34 I would it might be according to thy word Then let every fainting Soul know his right and claim it and know his duty upon this account and set about it 1. Know his right and claim it What 's that Even the promises of God as his inheritance for those that yield to Christ's terms are received into the number of his adopted Children Joh. 1.12 And if Children then Heirs Rom. 8.17 Heirs of what See Gal. 3.29 And if ye be Christs then are ye Abraham's
Seed and Heirs according to the promise We read that Naboth would not part with his inheritance neither for the good will nor ill will of King Ahab Let Souls ready to faint do so in this case with the Promises which in Christ are their undoubted inheritance 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God are in him yea and in him Amen 2. Let Souls subject to fainting know their duty upon this account and set upon the performance of it 1. They ought to acquaint themselves with the promises They are so great and precious as the Apostle saith 2 Pet. 1.4 that there is not one of those that really close with Christ though they be of the lowest form but may find that which is most suitable to their condition in some promise or other that is within their reach though some may seem to be above him Though a little Man upon low ground cannot reach the top of the Tree yet he may get hold on some of the lower branches and there may find some fruit which may somewhat relieve him As suppose he cannot find comfort in that promise Rev. 2.7 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life No he is afraid of being overcome that promise is too high for him it is above his reach yet he may reach that Rev. 22.17 And let him that is athirst come And whosoever will let him take of the Water of Life freely If not that Matth. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Yet they may reach that ver 6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled And that Joh. 6.37 All that the Father hath given unto me shall come unto me and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out And let every fainting Soul know this that so far as he hath an interest in any one promise so far he hath an interest in every promise as to that blessing in it which is absolutely necessary to salvation For as there is a chain of duties Matth. 22.37 38 39 40 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God This is the first and great Commandment and the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets Not this or that but this and that too So there is a chain of Priviledges Rom. 8.30 Whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified And a chain of Providences Rom. 8.28 All things work together for good to them that love God So there is a chain of Promises they are all bound together in one bundle in the Covenant That great and precious promise I will be thy God comprehends them all Therefore it is said Rev. 21.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my Son 2. Let them plead the Promises Psal 119.49 Remember thy word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Especially that particular promise which contains that particular blessing which if it were as sure in their hand as it is in the promise the fainting Soul thinks it would satisfie Thus did Jacob Gen. 32.9 10 11 O God which saidst unto me return into thy Country Deliver me I pray thee from the hand of my Brother Thus every fainting Soul ought to do The promise is that Bond wherein God hath made himself a Debtor if not to his Covenant-people yet to his own truth and faithfulness which requires it of him that what he hath promised be fulfilled and therefore they ought to plead them This is God's method he expects to hear from them before they can expect to hear from him Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee 3. Let them patiently wait for the fulfilling of what is promised If the thing be of absolute necessity it shall be given in kind And so it shall be though in it self it be not yet if God in his infinite wisdom sees it will be subservient thereunto and will better promote it then the want of it will it shall also certainly be made good The Scripture speaks as if God had promised us nothing but Eternal Life 1 Joh. 2.25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us even Eternal Life But it is because all things absolutely necessary unto Eternal Life are comprehended therein Therefore wait for it because it will surely come Hab. 2.3 It 's true there may be silence in Heaven and that for a great while to the prayer of faith as there may be a silence very often to the provocations of the generation that is abhorred by God But as he will arise in due time to execute his vindictive justice upon the one Psal 50.21 22. So he will arise to make good his promises of grace and mercy to the other For God never said to the Seed of Jacob that they should seek him in vain Isa 45.19 I shall conclude this with that of the Apostle 2 Thes 3.5 The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ He had laid down great grounds of comfort for them in the former Chapter vers 13 14. And assures them vers 3. of this Chapter that God was faithful and would stablish them They should not miscarry nor fail of that which God had chosen them unto but knowing the difficulty of waiting when expected supplies were delayed especially when Providences seem contrary to Promises he prays that the Lord would direct them into the love of God and patient waiting for Christ This is the third particular which it concerns fainting Souls to take special notice of 4. Fainting Souls or Souls often subject to fainting should endeavour after a distinct knowledge of the great and fundamental Doctrine of Justification 1. In the Meritorious cause of it which is the obedience of Christ as Mediatour in doing and suffering what God the Father appointed and which he accepted in the behalf of all those to whom it is imputed so as to discharge them from the curse of the Law which they had deserved to be executed upon them to the uttermost and to accept them as righteous unto Eternal Life of which they were utterly unworthy 2. That it is God which justifieth Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect It is God that justifieth 3. That the moving cause is Gods free love Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus 4. That the means of receiving it is Faith Rom. 3.22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Christ Jesus unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference These things being well digested are great Cordials For whom he justifieth he glorifieth Rom. 8.30 5. Let such also think
his Fleet in Eighty eight whether he said so or no depends upon the credit of the Historian But I am sure the Prophet Jeremiah said Lam. 3.22 It is of the Lords mercy that we are afflicted and not consumed cast down but not cast off Look to that place once again Eccles 7.14 In the day of adversity consider What should we consider Why consider this and mark it well that both these days with all their fillings up are from the Lord. That it is he who thus sets the one against the other that we may see that his account will be so balanced that our receipts when they are least will balance our sufferings when they are most And that therefore we have enough to reason our selves both into a submission and into a thankful frame Job 2.9 10 Shall we receive good at the hands of God and shall we not receive evil And would not these think ye keep our Souls in a thriving and prospering frame It would sure 4. Besides all these we meet with daily passages in what we hear and see which though they do not immediately touch us yet may be thus spiritualized Every Creature of God is a Text for our hearts to raise some Doctrines some spiritual Meditations from We have a Proverb That there is never an outside but it hath an inside Understand it thus There is nothing that comes under our observation but there may be extracted from it some inference or other to employ our thoughts about and that to good purpose even to keep our Souls in their good frame For as a Bee can suck honey out of many a flower where a flye finds no such thing as wanting a principle for it So a prospering spiritualizing Soul may and therefore ought to endeavour to extract some good out of every thing even out of its own and other Mens failings as we may read Pro. 24.30 31 32 I went by the field of the slothful I looked upon it and received instruction Upon this ground among others the principles of godliness are called a partaking of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 For as God according to his infinite power and wisdom brings light out of darkness good out of evil Even so may the principles of godliness much more out of every good thing though of a very mean concernment And would not this help to preserve it in its prosperous frame It would sure That Man is like to thrive who gains by every thing he deals in And that Soul is like to continue to prosper which raiseth Earth into Heaven and fetcheth Heaven out of Earth as every one doth so far as he is faithful in the fore-mentioned particulars And besides it is one of the best helps that I know of to make improvement of that portion of our time which runs between one solemn duty and another which otherwise would lye upon our hands and be rendered useless as to Soul-concernments 4. Another great work which prospering Souls have to do in order to the preserving of themselves in a prospering frame is this To preserve a deep sense of their spiritual poverty when it is best with them in respect of Soul-prosperity The Apostle Paul from the first day after his conversion to the day of his dissolution for ought we read or have any appearance to suspect to the contrary did thrive and prosper in his spiritual estate His inward man was renewed daily 2 Cor. 4.16 Yet what he thought of himself we find by what he speaks of himself Rom. 7.23 24 I find another law in my members warring against the law of my mind O wretched Man that I am 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient to think any thing as of our selves Eph. 3.8 Vnto me who am the least of all Saints is this grace given This is as needful a direction as any of the rest For it is a hard matter to starve this sin of pride and self-exalting thoughts because it will feed almost upon any thing Nothing so good yea nothing so mean but pride will feed upon it Absolom was proud of his long locks he wore his hair so long that when he polled it it weighed about four pound in weight 2 Sam. 14.26 But I speak not now of this kind of pride but of that kind of pride which without special care may breed out of those excellent things which are found in prospering Souls as pride of gifts There is the root of that pride in a prospering Soul which Solomon speaks of Pro. 18.2 A fool hath no delight in understanding but that his heart may discover it self Of that in the Pharisee Luk. 18.11 God I thank thee I am not as other men are Joh. 7.49 This people which knoweth not the law are accursed Pride of Grace Though corruption that is in the heart hates the grace that is in the heart yet it is apt to be proud of it when it is taken notice of Grace cannot be proud but he that hath it may be proud of it As Paul was in danger of being lifted up and exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations which were given unto him 2 Cor. 12.7 Now which way soever pride works ye will find it like the wind sometimes at one door sometimes at another Resist it for God resisteth that Man that doth not resist it Jam. 4.6 He gives more grace to those that walk humbly with him but he resists the proud by abating and lessening what he had given So far as the heart begins to be lifted up so far it is naught how good soever it was before Hab. 2.4 Behold his Soul which is lifted up is not upright in him Therefore whensoever the inward man begins to be renewed and that it begins to be better in the frame and temper of the heart then formerly Then watch and pray that ye do not fall into this temptation And consider when it is at best with us how much we come short of the holiness of that rule we ought to walk by and of the holiness of that God which is proposed for our pattern 1 Pet. 1.15 As he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation Let us compare our selves with that Rule and with that Pattern and the bright-shining beams of the Sun will not discover more motes in the Air then the holiness of God and his law would convince us of sin to be in us And when it is at best with us would make us to see reason to complain of our selves as Paul did Rom. 7.14 The law is spiritual but I am carnal sold under sin And to pray as Psal 143.2 Enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no Man living be justified And in the strength of Christ to resolve as Phil. 3.13 14 I count not my self to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things which are before I press