and Earth and the dangerous hazzards that it did run every moment upon that account but the Soul thought very well of its own state it slattered it self in its own in-iniquity the man thinks he is rich and increased in goods and hath need of nothing but when he comes to look into his Purse to open his Treasury and to tell over all his Gold and Silver in the light why then he perceives a sad mistake all his Silver is drossie and the best Riches that he hath is but dung When the light comes in he sees the darkness of his Understanding the perverseness of his will the disorderliness of his Affections the distemper of the whole soul He before took himself for a beautiful creature but by his light this glass he sees his beauty is great deformity he beholds heaps of lusts crawling up and down which before lay undiscerned and then that man that reckoned himself so happy cries out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me what shall I do to be saved I am undone undone how shall I live where shall I dwell for ever Time was that the man admired what the Ministers ailed to Keep such a stir about sin but now he wonders that they are no more earnest in their preaching of it down It was a little while ago that he thought himself whole but now he feels himself sick to the very heart wounded sainting and ready to dye he made full account that he was pure but now he cries out unclean unclean it was not long since he said with indignation am I blind also but now he cries out and will not be silenced have mercy upon me Jesus thou Son of David and grant that I may receive my sight His language is much altered he can now say was ever such a sinner as I pardoned Will such a prodigal ever be received shall such foul offences as mine be forgiven if God should look upon me and give me a Christ and pitty me and cast his skirts over me while I lye in my blood if the Lord should look upon me it would be such a wonder that all that ever heard of it may justly admire Now the man which thought himself the best of Saints believes himself as bad as the worst of sinners When a man begins to be acquainted with God he begins also to know himself He that saw no need of washing by Christ would now have hands feet head and heart all washt He that thought himself sometimes far enough from Hell now begins to admire that he did not fall into it and although there be a sweet alteration in him for the better and Saints begin to delight very much in him yet he wonders that any one should see any thing in him that should cause any affection in them towards him much more to inflame their hearts in such vehement love to him if he hear of any reproaches that are cast upon him he is ready to say with that wise stoick Epist If he had known me better he would have spoke much worse of me If any praise him he judgeâ—h that it proceeds from their ignorance of his weakness rather then from any knowledge of his worth and if he hear any such language he is ready to tremble for fear of his own heart and cries out not unto me not unto me but unto his name be the praise yet not I but Christ which dwelleth in me Thus it is with one that begins to have some saving knowledge of God the nearer he comes to God the further he goes from himself the more he sees of him and his righteousness the less he sees of his own the more he is exalted the more he debateth himself like those four and twenty Elders he lays his Crown at the feet of God Thus it was with Job when God as I may so say stood at a greater distance from him he is ready to speak a little too highly he stands much upon his own righteousness he stifly justifieth himself but when the holy God comes a little nearer to him when he throws off that dark cloud with which he had mantled himself and when he caused that glorious brightness to break forth upon Job and made him to see a glance of his Holiness Wisdom and Justice then how is he even ashamed and confounded within himself that he should ever stand so much upon his ovvn justification Job 42.5 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee Wherefore I abbor my self and repent in dust and ashes When he comes to be better acquainted with God how strangely is his note changed and I might say when he was thus abased how speedily doth God raise him to a wonder A man may hear of God twenty years together and yet never abhor himself with dust and ashes never see any vileness that is in his nature never be brought off from his own righteousness never admire that he is kept out of hell O but when he comes to see God and to be acquainted with him how doth he cry out of himself as unworthy to breath in the air as deserving nothing but wrath then he hath not a word to say for the goodness of his own heart now he can say with astonishement O infinite patience O unmeasureable goodness O the dephts of Gods love He must be merciful indeed that can pardon such sins That must be goodness indeed that can be so to me That is love with a witness that can imbrace such a loathsome monster What was it that made Abraham call himself dust and ashes What made David to say he was a worm and no man What made Isaiah speak so debasingly of himself why these were the Friends of God they had visions of that holy One When is it that the people of God are most ingenuous in their confesions when do they most freely pour our their souls before God When is it that they most readily open their soars and desire that they should be searched but when this great Chyrurgion comes to their chamber those which before where whole are now sick full of plague soars head and heart sick dangerously sick and no whole part in them they can say more against themselves now then ever the Minister could they can aggravate their sins and lay loads upon themselves and they see themselves vile and even are ready to wonder that the earth did not open and swallow them up before this they admire that God should indure them so long and think it no small miracle that they were not crushed in the Egge that they were not cast from the darkness of the Womb to the darkness of Hell Now they can cry out of Original Sin and the indisposition of their souls to any thing that is good and inclination to that which is bad They say as well as David That they were born in sin and in iniquity did their mother conceive them they
case hadst thou been in had God but done by thee as thou hast by him Acquaintance with God! methinks sinful man should stand and wonder at such a word methinks he should be even surprized with an extasie of admiration and say and will God indeed be acquainted with such a Worm such a dead Dog such a Rebel as I Lord what is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou shouldest make such an offer to him One would think thou shouldest no more dispute the matter then Esther did when that great Monarch made her his Queen Were it but in sensible things that nothing near such an offer were made which is impossible man would think the very questioning in such a case a strange folly One would think that every one of Gods enemies that have been in open Rebellion against him and are utterly unable to make their part good against him when they hear of such tearms of mercy from their Prince who hath all their lives in their hand should rejoyce at this news and say How beautiful are the feet of them which bring such tidings How did Benhadad look when instead of a Halter he had a Coach When instead of Rebel he heard Brother Whatever we may think of these things David thought it high time for him to bid such a Messenger welcome and to open his heart for the receiving his God Hear what he saith to his own heart and others Psal 24. Lift up your heads O ye gates and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors that tht king of glory may come in And because the door of mens hearts is lock'd and barr'd and bolted and men are in a deep sleep will not hear the knocking that is at the gate though it be loud though it be a King therefore David knocks again Lift up your heads O ye gates and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors Why what haste saith the sinner What haste Why here 's the King at your Gates and that not an ordinary King neither he is a glorious King that will honour you so far if you open quickly as to lodge within to take up his abode in your house to dwell with you but the soul for all this doth not yet open but stands still questioning as if it were an enemy rather then a friend that stood there and ask who is this King of glory Who he answers again It is the Lord of hosts he that if you will not open quickly and thankfully can easily pull your house down about your ears He is the Lord of Hosts that King who hath a mighty Army always at his command who stand ready for their Commission and then you should soon know who it is you might have had for your friend Lift up therefore your heads O ye gates open quickly ye that had rather have God for your friend then for your enemy O why should not the soul of every sinner cry out Lord the Door is locked and thou hast the key I have been trying what I can do but the Wards are so rusty that I cannot possibly turn the Key but Lord throw the Door off the Hinges any thing in the world so thou wilt but come in and dwell here Come O mighty God break through Doors of Iron and Bars of Brass and make way for thy self by thy love and power Come Lord and make thy self welcome all that I have is at thy service O fit my soul to entertain thee But where is the sinner that is in this note How seldom do poor Creatures desire Gods company or bewail his absence Where almost are the men and women to be found that do in good earnest long to be acquainted with God Men are naturally strangers to God and it is a wonderful difficult thing to perswade men to enter into so much as a serious deliberate consideration of these things Though it be so infinitly for their interest though the God that made them out of pity to their souls desires it though he send his Embassadors in his name to beseech them to be reconciled unto God against whom they have been in open arms though in infinite mercy he perswade them to lay down their weapons and promise them Free and General Pardon and to receive them into Favour and to forget and forgive yet where is the sinner almost to be found that with any thankfulness doth close with these tenders Now it being a business of such infinite concernment and it being the very work and business of a Minister of Christ to bring God and man into union to get man acquainted with God I shall in the next place labour to inforce this Exhortation upon the hearts of sinners and do what I can possible to prevail with them that are as yet strangers to get acquainted with God that they may have peace and that thereby good might come unto them EXHORTATION Once more poor sinners That God which can in a moment stop thy breath and send thee into Hell doth offer to be friends with thee If thou wilt come upon his invitation well and good thou art a happy man for ever if not thou wilt rue the day that ever thou wert born yet through mercy the matter is not gone so far but that thou mayest if you will now at last in good earnest humble thy self to him be received into favour Behold a Pardon Mercy and Grace stand astonished O ye Heavens at this infinite condescention wonder O ye Angels and pry into this kindness Was there ever such condescention love and goodness heard of If thou didst but understand O stupid sinner what an offer is made to thee thou couldest not but adore that goodness that can pardon and forget such offences and receive such a Creature into favour thou wouldest also cry out with as great admiration as he did what manner of love you would think it a mercy not to be paralell'd a kindness never to be forgotten a proposal by no means to be refused Now that I may if possible prevail with some that are yet afar off to come near I shall enforce this Exhortation with many powerful Motives the least of which were men but well in their wits as to Spiritual matters were the world not to a wonder fools in the great affairs of their souls and eternity might easily prevail O that I might prevail O that some might be perswaded O that God would put life and power into these words that they might prove effectual to the intended ends O that some poor rebellious sinners might be made to close with the most advantagious offers that ever were or could be made to Creatures in our condition MOTIVES The first Head of Motives that I shall insist upon to inforce this Exhortation shall be taken from the nature of the Person that I would have you acquainted with Consider well what kind of friend you are like to have of him and if after you have well weighed what I
henceforth good for nothing The mind of man is his eye by which he is to behold God now if this eye be blind if the light be darkness how great is that darkness The Jews in Ezek. 15.1 are likened to a Vine which if it be barren is good for no use Shall wood be taken thereof for any work It is fit for nothing but to burn So it is in man his great use and excellency is his acquaintance with God now if he fails in this he is good for nothing Verily man is a base vile worthless thing without acquaintance with God None are less esteemed among men than they that want wisdome to converse among men None are less esteemed before God than they that know him not that have not acquaintance with him to converse with him Ye see wherein the excellency and worth of man consisteth and that if there be a deformity where ought to be our chiefest beauty the whole is accounted as a deformed piece It concerns us then to look that we keep our glory unspotted our excellency in its due value that we do not degrade our selves below what God hath placed us in If we are not acquainted with God our souls serve us to little purpose it is a causing the Prince the Soul to go on foot and to serve the body which should be as a servant it is to let the candle of the Lord burn out in waste Thirdly Another enforcement of this duty of Acquaintance with God is this If we refuse acqaintance with God it is a slighting the greatest of all the mercies that God bestowes Favors are to be valued either by their proper excellencies or according to the good will of him that bestowes them both these ways this is to be accounted the greatest of mercies In Gods giving us leave to be acquainted with him he gives out himself to be known to be loved to be conversed with to be enjoyed What greater gift can God give then himself God is the portion of his people he is the greatest portion the surest the most suitable and the only durable portion Thus they that know him esteem of him Psal 73.26 My flesh my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart portion for ever Psal 16.5 6. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance the lines are fallen to me in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly heritage Blessed are the people that are in such a case yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. No greater mercy can be bestowed upon any people family or person than this for God to dwell among them If we value this mercy according to the excellency and worth of that which is bestowed it is the greatest if we value it acording to the good will of him that gives it it will appear likewise to be the greatest favour The greatness of the good will of God in giving himself to be our acquaintance is evident in the nature of the gift A man may give his estate to them to whom his love is not very large but he never gives himself but upon strong affection God gives abundantly to all the works of his hands he causeth the Sun to shine upon the evil and upon the good and the rain to descend upon the just and the unjust But it cannot be conceived that he should give himself to be a Portion a friend Father Husband but in abundance of Love Whosoever therefore shall refuse acquaintance with God slighted the greatest favour that ever God did bestow upon man Now consider what a high charge this is to abuse such a kindness from God is an act of the greatest vileness David was never so provoked as when the King of Ammon abused his kindness in his Ambassadors after his fathers death And God is highly provoked when his greatest mercies bestowed in the greatest love are rejected and cast away What could God give more and better than himself And how heavy will this imputation be These are those that look upon God as not worth being acquainted with Let us therefore consider how we shall be able to stand to these Accusations Shall we not be speechless when these things shall be charged upon us Shall we not be confounded when we stand to the trial of him to whom we had offered these great indignities How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation so great a mercy Fourthly It concerns us to acquaint our selves with God for without it we are in a necessity of sin and misery 1. The soul unacquainted with God is in a necessity of sinning Ephes 4.14 Having their understanding darkened alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts For want of acquaintance with God every thought and imagination of their heart is evil continually Rom. 30.10 11. There is none righteous no not one There is none that understands there is none that seeketh after God Not understanding nor seeking after God is the necessary cause that there is none doth good The soul of man is an Active being which is continually in motion if it be not in motion to God and in God it will be in motion from God Hence it is that the prayer of the wicked is an abomination that which goes for prayer God abhors because they are not acquainted with him Isa 1.3 The ox knows his owner and the ass his masters crib but Israel doth not know me vers 13 14. To this saith he your incense is abomination unto me their new moons and sabbaths the calling of assemblies I cannot away with it is iniquity even your solemn meetings Now the reason why there is a necessity of sin without acquaintance with God is because whatsoever is not done with a good heart is not good Luk. 6.45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good fruit and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evil fruit for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh As an evil tree cannot bring froth good fruit so an evil heart cannot bring forth a good action Now without knowledg the heart is not good Prov. 19.2 That the soul be without knowledg is not good And there is no knowledg like the knowledg of God And acquaintance with him to make the heart good Hos 4.2 Because there is not truth nor mercy nor knowledg of God in the land therefore by swearing and lying and killing and stealing and committing adultery they break out c. Thus want of knowledg of God and acquaintance with God we may plainly see is the necessary cause of sin Now there is no greater evil on this side Hell then that of a necessity of sinning 2 Pet. 2.14 Those of which it is said they cannot cease from sinning are called cursed children He that chooseth any sin rather than affliction doth it through the blindness of his mind
live Wherefore else is it that we are so straightly commanded as we will answer the neglect upon our peril before God at that terrible day that we preach the World in season and out of season To what purpose should Paul expose himself to so many hazards both by Sea and Land Why should he teach this Doctrine of Reconciliation night and day with tears Doth he not tell you that he did all this by Divine Dispensation and that it was as much as his Soul was worth to wave this work And doth not all this speak his willingness to be friends again with man Could not God have sent Legions of Angels with flaming swords in their hands when he sent his Son and thousands of Prophets Apostles Ministers and Teachers might he not have proclaimed war against them for ever when he followed them with the Embassadors of peace If he had had no thoughts of Agreement with them could he not have spoken to them in thunder and lightning with fire and brimstone as well as in the still voyce of the Gospel He could if he had pleased have made them to have known the breach of his Covenant by giving them up to the will of their cruel enemies God could as easily have cut off a whole world of us as we can crush a moth and easier too But he is willing to shew forth the riches of his patience and goodness that thereby sinners might be brought to Repentance How doth God further express his willingness to receive returning sinners by engaging them by many temporal favours Who preserved that tender creature in the Womb and brought it out of those dark Chambers into light Who kept that helpless infant after it was in the world Whose flax and wool do we wear upon our backs To whom is it that we are beholding for every crumb we eat and every drop we drink Who spreads our table for us and makes our cups to overflow Who brought us from the brink of the grave when we had received the sentence from our Doctor and our Disease And what is the Language of all these mercies but return O back-sliding Sinner for in me is thy help found Love delight in and be acquainted with him from whom thou hast received so many kindnesses If thou wouldest accept of him for thy Lord Husband and Friend who hath sent thee these tokens thou shalt have other favours then these be Is not this the meaning of all the common mercies that we daily receive from him Why was not thy breath stopt with an Oath in thy mouth Why is it that so many thousands that were born since thy self are gone to their eternal state when thou art still standing What hast thou done to engage God more then others that Worms should not be feeding on thee when thou art feeding upon the fat and sweet What is the English of all this what are all these droves of mercies which God sends to thee but to cool thy enmity against him and to make thee who art marching out in thy warlike furniture to meet him with tears of joy and friendly embraces Is not Love the Giver written upon all his tokens What means his frequent visiting of thee but desire of acquaintance with thee Had he had no desire at all to know you and to be known of you do you think he would have call'd so oft and so kindly at your door would he have stood knocking with so much patience and have spoke to you so lovingly if he desired still to be a stranger to you Is this like one that desires your ruine Did God never plead with thee by his Ministers and urge the same Argument that I do now Did you never hear such kind of expostulations as these Why wilt thou go on to despise thy God and to refuse his love what reason hast thou to harbour such hard thoughts of him doth he deserve such unkindness at your hands How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity why will ye make light of that you can't possibly overvalue the favour of God and acquaintance with thy maker How oft have you grieved his Spirit by your unworthy contempts how many times have you given him cause to complain of your unhandsome usage when he in very pity and compassion came to visit you He hath reason to say now as well as of old Hear O Heavens and give ear O Earth for I have nourished and brought up Children and they have Rebelled against me Isa 1.2 Do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise is not he thy Father that bought thee hath he not made thee and established thee Deut. 32.6 O that they were wise And be instructed O Jerusalem least my Soul depart from thee Jer. 6.8 Is not this the voyce of mercy have not these been Expostulations of the mighty God with his Rebellious Creatures and yet how do they stand it out all this while as if God were like to get so much by their acquaintance Return O foolish Sinner if thou makest any thing of Salvation and Damnation if thou valuest everlasting glory if thou thinkest the commands threatnings and promises of the Almighty to be minded come away and make no delay O why wilt thou go on thus madly to undo thy self come away poor Soul for all this it is not yet quite too late thy glass is not yet quite run thy Soul is not yet fully fixed in its unchangeable state Once more I make such an offer to thee as I am sure none but a mad man will refuse such an offer as none of the Kings and Lords of the world can make The great and mighty Monarch of Heaven tenders thee an Alliance with himself he sees how far thou art spent how poor and low thou hast brought thy self by a dangerous and long war against thy maker he foresees what a condition thou wilt be in after a few more merry hours except thou repent and turn Wherefore in compassion to thy precious soul he hath commanded us to follow thee and not to let thee be at quiet till thou hast given us a promise that thou wilt return and humble thy self to thy God and what shall we still lose our labour shall all this come to nothing O prodigy of unkindness O wonder of patience thou hast slighted the friendship of thy God thou hast set light by Christ and undervalued Heaven and Eternity for ten twenty thirty years already and yet the Lord send us once more in his name to ask you whether you are willing to have God for your Friend God hath not yet said Cut him down bind him hand and soot and cast him into that lake that burns for ever Bring those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them and slay them before my face God hath not yet spake that dreadful word Depart O what is it thou stayest for What is it that makes this business to hang so long What Lover is it
and ask her what is her beloved more then another beloved what there is in God and Christ more then in the world and she will almost wonder that any one that is rational should ask so foolish a question she thinks you might with as much judgment and reason have ask'd what there is in Heaven more desireable then in Hell What is there is in ease more then in torments in Gold and Jewels more then in dross in a living healthful beautiful Creature more then in a stinking rotten carcase Did you but see his face you would soon think there were something in him more then in another could you but see his eye your heart would be in a flame did you but understand what it is to be brought into his banquetting-house you would say that they are neither fools nor mad-men that can find in their hearts to scorn the beauties and glories of this world in comparison of one look or smile from God and believe that his love was better then wine to be preferred infinitely before the greatest worldly pleasures and think that the Virgins had reason enough to love him Cant. 1.4 How high doth the Church run in his commendations How doth she endeavour to set him out to the life that every one may admire his excellencies and be taken with his beauties as well as her self neither doth she fear to lose him by this nor indeed is unwilling that others should fall in love with him as well as she Cant. 5.9 10. c. She begins first with his face it is white and ruddy the most exact beauty so that she must be blind that is not taken with him and so she goes on as well as she can to set him out but he is so infinitely above her commendations that she wants words to express her self therefore she speaks one great one He is altogether lovely and if you will not believe come and see Do but look upon him by Faith and meditation contemplate his beauties and then if you have any thing yet to object if after you have had a true sight of him and have well weighed all you do not find that there is in him infinitely more then I can tell you why then let me bear the blame for ever Well now let us gather up all these things together and if a multitude of arguments and if weight and reason if vehemency and earnestness may prevail I should have some good hopes that I should not want success in this work nor you of the acquaintance with God and everlasting glory Therefore I say again if kindness and love be taking who so sweet and obliging as he If comfort joy and pleasure be desireable who is there when the Soul is surrounded with a multitude of perplexities that can so much delight refresh and raise it If Power Glory and Majesty if ability to defend from injuries and revenge wrongs might signifie any thing with poor shiftless Creatures who is there that ever yet prevailed against him Who ever contended with God and prospered If vigour activity and care in all the affairs of his friends can intice the dull helpless sinner to receive him who will take more care for and do more for them then he If his humility may engage us if freedom of access notwithstanding that infinite distance that is between us and him signifie any thing as to the commending of him to our acquaintance where can a poor beggar be more welcome then at the house of this mighty Prince Can Faithfulness in the greatest streight raise the esteem of a friend who ever yet trusted him that was deceived Are riches and wealth taking Who is there that can give a Kingdome for a portion a love-token and give everlasting glory and Heaven for a joynture but God Doth pitty in misery simpathy in suffering compassion in distress indear and commend a friend who is more tender-hearted then he Are Honours and preferments such great things Who is that which will make all his favourites Kings and Priests and set them upon Thrones and reward and commend them before the whole World is suitableness a considerable qualification to make up this match who so suitable for the Soul a Spirit as God a Spirit Who can satisfie it's vast and infinite desires but infinity it self Have poor simple Creatures that have quite undone themselves by their folly and indiscretion need of a wise Counsellor to wind them out of their sad intricacies who is there among the profound Polititians and grave Sages of the world to be compared unto him Doth a dying man that hath a never-dying Soul that is to pass speedily into an eternal state lack an ever-dying immortal friend that may stand him in some stead when immortal Are not friends sometimes furthest off from one when one hath most need of them Is not he then a friend highly to be prized who can who will never be absent Doth not God fill heaven and earth What think you of a Soul-friend Is not such a one worth the looking after who takes care that your Soul to be sure shall not miscarry Who ever did more for Souls then Christ Will it not be true prudence to make sure of such a friend as we must have for our friend or we are miserable for ever and where is such a one to be found but he that hath the keys of heaven an hell which is most considerable Time or Eternity and whom shall I most value him that promiseth present pleasures that are lost as soon as felt or him that will bestow everlasting favours and are there not at Gods right hand pleasures for evermore If the trial and experience of so many millions may speak his commendation will not all that ever knew God say truly God is good to Israel Will Gods willingness desire and earnestness prevail with you to come to him What is the substance of the whole Bible doth not almost every Chapter speak the desire that God hath to be reconciled to man if the perfection of all excellencies meeting in one can render him amiable how can he be slighted who is altogether lovely And what say you now are you resolved or are you not Shall the infinite Majesty of Heaven condescend to offer himself to be loved and imbraced by sinful dust shall God say I will be thy Father and shall not the sinner say I would be thy Child Why should not the heart of every Apostate rebellious Traytor that hath forfeited Estate Life and Soul leap at such good news and say will God for all this lay aside the controversy and conclude a peace Will he receive the rebell to mercy will he open his doors to his prodigal and is there yet any hope Is it possible that such sins as mine should be forgiven Can it be conceived that such a Creature as I should be imbraced what look upon me will God indeed take me into favour Yes thee behold he calls thee he offers thee
think every thing too good for them all mercy on this side everlasting misery They count every bit they eat and every drop they drink more then they deserve They think themselves unworthy of the least of Gods mercies Gen. 32.10 Others say thanksgivings but he feels them others say confessions but he feels them It is one thing for a man to speak of his own unworthiness and another thing to lie under the sense of it The heart and tongue are to distinct members The heart may speak that which the tongue can't utter and the tongue may utter that which the heart never felt But a man that is brought into acquaintance with God speaks what he experiences or that he doth not dissemble with God when he confesseth his sin before him They lay themselves as low as Hell this is humility and this an effect of acquaintance with God Hence it is that Paul saith of himself Eph. 3.8 Vnto me who am less then the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the fellowship c. He wants words to express Gods greatness and his own smallness Now what was it that made Paul speak and think thus of himself There was a time when Paul would have spit in any ones face that should have spoke as much against him as he did against himself What is it that hath wrought such a strange alteration in this great Rabbi and made him so little Why this acquaintance with God the sight of Christ was the thing that laid this proud Pharisee in the dust and made him blind also Mark this always the more heavenly any man is the more humble See Exod. 3.11 2 Sam. 7.18 If I should appeal to the experiences of Saints and ask them when they had the lowest thoughts of themselves would they not say when they were nearest God Now would you walk humbly you must walk with your God would you see more of your own deformity why then you must labour to see more of his holiness more of his beauty Contraries set neer one another appear more visibly 2. Another excellent effect of Acquaintance with God is that it will make a man fall upon sin in good earnest When the soul sees how infinitely good God is it can't but see an unspeakable evil in sin when is so directly contrary to him When the soul hath really entred into a League with God it presently bids defiance to all his enemies when he begins to be at peace with God he presently commenceth a war against his adversaries Friendship with God makes enmity against Satan That which formerly the man rolled under his tongue as a sweet morsel is now like gall and wormwood to him He that sometimes did commit iniquity with greediness can now say that it is the greatest folly and madness in the world he knows that it is an evil and a bitter thing as sweet as it tasted when his pallate was distempered he that gloried in his wickedness now accounts it the greatest shame in the world and hates the garments which are bespotted with the flesh which sometimes he took for beautiful raiments The burnt child dreads the fire sin hath cost his friend dear and him dear too The child can't love that knife which stabb'd his Father He knows how sweet God is and how much he hates sin and that if he would have Gods company he must bid an everlasting farewel to his deerest beloved sin and therefore rather then he will offend so deare a friend he will hew Agag in pieces before the Lord. He will as soon cut off one hand with the other and be pull'd limb from limb as again draw his sword against his covenanted friend and again venture into the field in the cause that sometimes he did so deeply engage body and soul in He that thought before that it was no great matter to Damn Curse and Tear but a trick of youth to Whore and no harm to do what one had a mind to to Eat and Drink and Talk and sleep as one lists to give ones Lust whatsoever it call'd for he that could once make a mock of sin and Sleep securely upon the top of a mast and thought it a piece of Gallantry to dare the Almighty and was ready to laugh at them which durst not be so Prodigal of their Souls as himself the case is now wonderfull altered with him he now sees the Harlot stript naked he beholds how loathsome the whore is now her paint is washed of sin and hell are a like to him tempt him to folly and he will soon answer in Josephs language How shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God He that sometimes thought sin the only pleasure and looked upon the Devil and the world as the only Friends now sees his dangerous mistake and blesseth God that his eyes are opened before he comes into another world he knows now that holiness is the only pleasure and God is the only Friend and sin and the world are as mortal enemies as the Devil himself he believes that if he venture upon sin he must venture upon the displeasure of his Friend whose favour he set more store by than all the delights under Heaven and whose loving kindness he judgeth to be better then life it self When the Soul is once acquainted with God how strangely are its apprehensions of thing altered Now he calls Things and Persons by their right Name good he calls good and evil evil where as before he called evil good and good evil and put light for darkness and darkness for light he now believes that the zealous compassionate Ministers that spoke so much against sin had reason enough to have said ten times as much as they did he sees that it was not for nothing that they were so earnest with him he hath tasted the Gall Wormwood and poison that is in sin he plainly sees what is the great Make-bate between God and Man he hath now the wit to understand what it is that hath kept good things so long from him Tell him now of a Revel a Whore he had as live thou shouldst perswade him to part with his strength and liberty and grind in a mill he reckons you might as rationally desire him to leap into a bottomless pit to take up his everlasting lodging in a Bed of flames and to make light of Damnation Let Men and Devils use what Arguments they will to prevail with him now to close with temptations he is sure he hath a stronger against them he hath a sensible Argument within which will answer all if they had ten thousand times as many more then they can produce The love of Christ makes him abhor the motion God is my Friend dashes all Shall such a one as I take up Arms against God shall I that have found him so infinitely good shall I that have experienced
the Faithfulness of this friend to me be so infinitely ungrateful as to be thus abominably unfaithful to him Shall I that have forfeited my Life and Soul and instead of Hell have received Heaven instead of Damnation Salvation shall I instead of thankfulness again rebell because the Grace of God abounds shall sin abound God forbid To argue from mercy to sin is the Devils logick To argue from mercy to duty is true Christianity One that is acquainted with God can expostulate the case with his own Soul and say What meanest thou O my Soul to stand parlying with Satan hast thou known what that hath cost thee already look back to Eden Who was it that dispossessed thy Grand Father of that brave seat What did Eve get by discoursing with such a Cheater have you not lost enough already but you must be venturing still was it nothing for God of a friend to become a stranger and enemy was it a slight matter to be divested of all that glory that once thou didst shine in but that now again after thou art brought into some favour thou must be tampering with that gamester who had like to have robbed thee of all art thou talking of returning again to Egypt what hast thou so soon forgotten the Iron and the Clay Is this all the thanks that you give the Lord for his unspeakable mercy Doth he that hath done such things for you deserve no better at your hands Is this your kindness to your friend What was it O my soul that that undone Creature said unto thee Did he say it is a little one and thy Soul shall live what did he ask a few merry hours that I should spare my self that I should not be righteous overmuch Did he so a special Friend I Thank you for nothing and why didst thou not answer the Tempter as Solomon did Bathsheba when she ask'd a small thing as she thought for A donijah and why dost thou not ask the Kingdom also and why did not Satan ask thee to part with heaven and thy interest in Christ and those favours as the Lord liveth as small a request as thou thinkst his was that word was spoken against thy life thy Soul A vertuous man or as the Stoick calls him Auton One that hath God for his friend when temptations are presented he remembers who he is and how he stands related to God and how little grateful such an action would be to his Friend And thus he doth resist the Temptation with a great deal of gallantry when he remembers himself Nay sometimes Temptations to sin do make Grace more to abound the water which was intended to cool divine love proves oyl and makes that noble flame to burn more vehemently Cant. 8.6 7. He desires to exercise that Grace which is contrary to the vice which he is tempted to with more then ordinary vigour He stands like a rock in the midst of the Sea unshaken he is steadfast and unmovable like a pillar in the Temple of his God He is much of the same mind in that point with that brave Heathen who spake thus to himself when Temptation was strong Ar. Epist 1.2 c. 18. Deliberate man yield not rashly t is a great work that lies upon thy hands t is a divine work 't is for a Kingdom the Kingdom of God Now remember thy God let 's see what thy love to thy God is remember his presence he beholds how thou standest deliberating whether thou shouldest fight for him or against him for shame shew not thy self so basely disingenious Remember what thy God thy Friend did for thee at such and such a time Remember how kindly you were entertained by him the last time you were at his house Whose Sword is that you wear by your side who gave you it did not God give it you to fight against his enemies and will you draw it against himself Remember from whence you had all that you do enjoy and can you find in your heart to take Gods mercies Gold Silver and Food and bestow them all upon that which he hates will you quarter keep in pay with Gods coyn his greatest enemy And if you feel your heart still staggering and scarce able to keep it's ground then remember God stands by Christ looks on and sees how gallantly any Champion of his will demean themselves on his quarrel that there is not a more lovely sight upon the Earth then to behold one of his Friends rather venturing their lives then they will bare that the least indignity or affront should be put upon their God! O happy are they that can always act as in the sight of God! and if the Soul can have but a constant fresh sence of it's relation to God and his eye it is impossible but that it should hate sin which is so directly opposite to him happy are those who by the thoughts of God are inraged against sin Is it not enough saith that heavenly Soul that is acquainted with God that I have done such and such things against God when I knew him not but that I should again ingage against him after I have been obliged by a thousand mercies after I have tasted and seen how good the Lord is is it a light matter that I did so long fight against him then and shall I now renew my rebellions when I have had so much experience of the folly madness of such a war where I shall be as surely conquered as I draw my sword and hath God kept me by a miracle of mercy out of Hell and after I had run out so wretchedly and undon my self set me up again after I had plaid the prodigal received me again into favour and shall I after all deal thus basely by him No I 'le die a thousand deaths before I will willingly yield to any thing that may be in the least offensive to him whom my Soul hath such an infinite reason to love above the whole world The knowledg of Gods service and Satans too makes a Soul to distinguish he that knows what it is to be made free by Christ abhors his old Master he remembers full well the great hardship that he then underwent when he had nothing to live upon but Husks he calls to mind the Clay and Morter he can't forget the cruel vassalage that he served under Garlick and Onions were his dainties and truly he can't desire to leave his Manna for such kind of Food he is not in love with the Whip and Scourge he doth not dote upon the fetters the Iron which went into his Soul but he is glad with all his heart to be free from those Task-masters which made him to serve with rigour he hath no mind to return to his old Work My meaning in all this is he that was a servant and a drudg of Satans and a slave to his lust when he once comes to taste the sweetness of Spiritual liberty to â—â—â—â—de free by Christ he
that we could maintain a constant intercourse with him here till we come to a perfect enjoyment of him in glory hereafter O that we may see thy face thy blessed face by faith O that thou wouldest cause thy glory to pass before us O that thy marvellous loving kindness might be made known to a company of poor Creatures of us whose desire is to fear thee who would fain love thee with the strength of our souls O blessed are they that love thee that are beloved by thee 5. I might also insist upon another Head of Motives which is named in the Text which is this Acquaint now thy self with him and thou shalt be at peace Though there be nothing but War on every side you shall have peace This peace of God whatsoever you may think of it is unspeakably advantagious the benefits that would accrue to a soul upon this peace are infinite It is a peace that passeth all under standing When we have this peace concluded we may drive a brave Trade without desturbance for the richest Commodities If we were thus acquainted with God we shall have such a peace as that we may laugh at the shaking of the spear and not be much disturbed when we hear of dreadfull things abroad in the World He that is acquainted with God may safely venture up and down he hath Gods pass a strong man of war for his convoy he hath such powerful allies that he need not fear as long as he is at peace with God he is sure not to be quite overcome by man He is at peace with himself when the Aire ecchoes with Drums and Trumpets and the roaring of Guns a musick that pleaseth the Devils Ear He may still rejoyce because he hath a bird within which sings sweetly there is a harmony between his will and Gods a harmony between his heart and his mouth This is no such contemptable thing and if you knew what a wounded Spirit a fire in the bosom is you would say so This peace that such a one hath is a wel-grounded peace not such a one as is built upon ignorance and hardness of heart but such a peace as results from the sence of the pardon of sin and reconciliation with God through the blood of Christ That blood of Christ hath washed his conscience from dead works Sins he had and hath but some of them he sees lying dead like the Egyptians upon the shore others striving for life with a deaths wound upon them and though he have enemies still living yet they are such as shall never have the absolute dominion over him as long as the great quarrel between him and God is at an end all is well enough the Law hath nothing against him all his accusers are silenced Christ hath fulfilled and satisfied the Law for him The great Creator hath given a full and general acquittance all debts are discharged for him and therefore the man hath little reason to trouble his head much with cares and fears now he may go up and down any where and not fear the Senjeant his noble surery hath paid that vast debt he hath laid down the ten thousand Talents upon the Nail so that the man is at peace with God he is also at peace with all the Creatures in the world from the glorious Angels that are in Heaven to the meanest insect or plant they are so far from doing him any real harm that they all are servants to the Friends of God they all stand ready to oppose their Enemies and those of them that are mortal are ready to lay down their lives for one that stands thus related to God For when any enters into Covenant with God God also makes a Covenant for them with the beasts of the field Great peace have they that love Gods law and nothing shall offend them such a one is at peace with death and the grave We read of some profane Monsters that made a Covenant with death and were at an agreement with Hell but this Covenant will soon be broken because he that hath the keys of death and Hell the power of life and death never subscribed to the Articles of their agreement But now the godly man hath a Friend that hath made a Covenant for him a firm Covenant with death and Hell so that none of them shall ever do him the least wrong As for death Christ hath took out it's sting as for the grave Christ hath spiced and season'd it it 's Power is master'd it 's Terribleness is taken away it's now no prison Christ hath opened the doors of it and now it is but a Chamber of repose a bed to rest in and he that hath already opened this door when it was bolted barr'd and double-locked can and will ere long open it again and awaken his from their sleep and is this inconsiderable Is not such a peace as this is desireable Who that is well in his wits would not be glad to be in so secure a condition as this peace will put him in And who are like to have the benefit of this peace but the Friends of God! O therefore if you value your own peace if you would be undisturbed from storms without Heart-quakes within If you would have all the Creatures it Heaven and Earth at peace with you If you would have Death unstung and the Grave a Chamber and not a Prison why then get acquainted with God and you shall be at peace 6. The next head of Motives I might take from these words Thereby good shall come unto you Acquaint your self with him and be at peace and thereby good shall come unto you But I shall here be but brief Think of what you will that is good for you and if you are acquainted with God you shall have it for asking for or that which is far better than that which you desire For the Lord God is a Sun a Shield he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them which walk uprightly that is from those that are acquainted with him All his ways are mercy and truth to such as be in covenant with him and all shall work together for good to them that love him Inlarge thy desires as wide as the Heavens request what you will ask never so much and you shall have it And what would you have more If it be the good of prosit that you desire What greater gain than Godliness Who can give such rewards to his servants as God Who will give greater portions to his children than this Father Who is like to thrive better than he who hath such a vast stock such a great Trade such quick and great returns and above all such a Partner O that those that are all for profit and gain that cry out what advantage shall it be to me if I serve God and what profit to me if I am acquainted with him O that such would but do that which will be most
for their profit I would desire no more of them than this O that they would but try what a gainful Trade Religion in it's power is 〈◊〉 The greatest Merchants that ever walked the Exchange if they be not acquainted with God and have not Christ for their Factor are but Pedlars to the Saint One that is acquainted with God gets more in one Hour in one Prayer at one Sermon in one Meditation then all the rich men of the world are worth put all their estates together One receives his peace the other his pounds the one hath by way of return a great deal of troublesome Lumber the other his Box of precious Pearls and a Jewel of an infinite value O little doth the laborious worldling think what poor and small gains his are when he gets most to what this Spiritual Merchant gets he would not fell what he gets sometimes in one morning for all the riches of both the Indies He trades in such Commodities which will not suffer dammage upon the Sea his Vessel is light and strong the Master of it never made a loosing voyage All his wares are unvaluable and though his ship be in many a dreadful storm though sometimes she be becalm'd though it be long before she return yet as long as she hath such Provisions within such a Pilot such Anchors she can't miscarry she will come into the Harbour Richly Laden The world will not believe this but I am sure there is never a man breathing but will sooner say that no gain is like the gain of Christ and Glory One return from Heaven one answer of Prayer one smile from God one look of love the head of one Goliah the death of one Sin one Soul brought home to Christ one drooping soul comforted is a greater mercy for all the ignorant world make nothing of such things as these than to be invested with the greatest Honours than to be possessed of all the Riches than to enjoy all the Pleasures that the whole world can afford But O were mens eyes opened were men within sight of those devouring Flames then they would believe that a Christ were worth the having Grace a Pearl that cannot be overvalued and that no Trade was comparable to a Spiritual Merchant no Art like that by which one may turn every thing into Gold But if it be the good of pleasure you look more after can there be greater pleasures than those which are in the presence of God Can there be any greater pleasures than to rejoyce in God and to be made welcome by him than to drink Flagons of that excellent Liquour which is better than wine Can there be better Musick than to hear so many Millions of sweet Voyces singing Halelujahs O there 's a Confort There 's Melody indeed If you desire that other good the good of Honesty a rare accomplishment perfection of Grace purity of Soul wherewithal shall a young man choose his ways but by taking heed thereto according to his word Well then lay all these Motives together and let 's see whether they will any whit prevail If the nature of the person with whom I would fain have you acquainted if all these admirable qualities that are in him if I may so call them may signifie any thing if all those glorious effects of acquaintance with God weigh any thing with you one would think by this time you should be well resolved If the danger of not being acquainted with God may make you afraid of standing it out if good or evil if peace or war if life or death If all this be as much as nothing what then is something If the frequent pleading of mercy if the blood of Christ have any voice if the expostulations of his Embassadors may be heard Why should you not then be perswaded If all this will not move you what can we say more If we could shew you Heaven and the glories of another world could we let you see the Face of Christ could we any way in the world reach you hearts and perswade you by any means to mind the things of Eternal peace we would do it with all our hearts If we were sure to get you with us and to bring you acquainted with God we could willingly come begging on our bare knees to you and beseech you to be reconciled to God We see that dismal day a coming and are grieved to think what a sad taking you will be in then we know the case will then be altered with them which will not be perswaded to be reconciled to God O what a woful condition will they be in which have heard or read these Sermons and yet for all that would not mind the looking after acquaintance with God! How will such wish that they had never been born or that they had their being in some of the dark savage corners of the world where they might never have heard of the Doctrine of Reconciliation being acquainted with God and union with Christ peace with their offended Maker rather than having heard of these things to make light of them O to hear of such a friend and to have him for an enemy to hear of Peace and to choose War to hear of Heaven and go to Hell this is sad indeed It would have been far better for such that they had never known the ways of God than after they have known them to go in the ways of Folly O that men and women had but such serious thoughts of these things as they will have ere long O that they would but believe Heaven and Hell and Eternity to be such Realities as shortly they will O that mens hearts were but affected with things as they will be when their souls are just a going or a little after they are in another world But O the miserable condition of the world O the lamentable state of Professors that make no more of the favour of displeasure of God! Nay may I not say O the folly of the Children of God themselves that are no more in Gods Company when they know they may be so welcome when they have rasted so oft of his kindness when they were made so much of the last time that they gave him a visit Are not men in a deep sleep that they do not hear Are they not blind that they do not see Are they not ignorant foolish and mad that they do not understand their interest any better It is not without good reason that the Spirit of God doth so oft cry out upon sinners for their folly the Scripture saith not in vain That there is none that hath understanding no not one No wonder that they which have but half a cure see men like trees that those which never hall a through work do not prize Christ O but that those which have been brought nigh by Grace who were sometimes afar off that such should be so much strangers for those that have met with such kind entertainment at his
before God and to complement him much and to sit oft at his Table and yet not to be any of his peculiar Friends and special Acquaintance now it ever you would make any thing of Religion and be made highly to praise Gods favour to be really acquainted with him you must labour to understand your distance from him and the unconceivable hazard that you run while you are in a state of Separation from God that there is but one step between you and the state of the Damned for what would become of you if God should say to you this night thy Soul shall be required of you How easily can God in a moment stop your breath and send your Soul and Body into that lake that burns for ever ever is it not then time for you to look about you O this ignorance of our selves how doth it expose us Ar. Epict. l. i. c. 26. He was not a whit mistaken who said That the not knowing of our selves was one of the chiefest causes of our sin and misery and that the consideration of the state of the Soul and the through understanding it's depravedness was the beginning of Wisdom for it's weakness being well known a man will not afterwards trust it in the determination of the greatest things but man will be desirous to consult that great Oracle the will of his Maker and finding his old guide is blind and hath oft misled him thereupon he is the readier to be acquainted with such a one who may direct him in the way to true happiness If you would therefore be acquainted with God you must get well acquainted with your selves you will upon the knowledg of your self be afraid of your self He was none of the weakest men who said That a true sense of folly is no small sign of some proficiency in wisdom Look into thy self O man search every corner behold what abundance of Armour there is in such and such a dark Celler but is this Armour strong enough to encounter a God withal Can'st thou with these Fig-leaves defend thy self against the arrowes of the Almighty behold what a condition thou art in if thou stirrest a step further Yield speedily and throw down thine Arms or you are a dead man Do you know this do you really believe this Is it possible what believe that your Treason is found out and that you are within a little of Execution and yet not tremble yet not seek nor desire pardon When a man throughly understands how things stand between him God and how unable he is to carry on a War against him he will speedily cast a bout how he may conclude a Peace upon any terms As soon as Benhadad knew what a condition his Army was in when he saw the Crowns of his thirty Kings shaken and his warlike Captains cut in pieces or to tremble be like women when instead of a mighty Army of gallant Warriors in martial order behaving themselves bravely in the field he saw their karkases upon heaps their garments rouled in blood the Shields of his mighty Ones cast away and himself wosully deserted how speedily doth he send away his Servants with Ropes about their Necks to beg Peace upon any Terms When the Gibeonites heard what dangerous fighting it was against Joshuah they were not long before they made means to make a Covenant with him So the Soul when it doth seriously consider what a sad Condition it is in while it continues in Rebellion against God it 's impossibility to stand it out long and utter inability to conquer him When it perceives the designs of Satan who first caused this difference between the Soul and God and hath still instigated and stirred it up to persecute with all the violence that might be I say when the Soul sees this before it is quite too late O how doth it bewail it's condition how doth it cry out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me O what will become of me if I make War still against God And as for flying whether shall I fly from his presence and where shall I Hide my self out of his sight And how shall I look him in the face whom I have thus desperately and ungratefully opposed Can such a Traytor as I possibly expect any mercy if the Lord should look upon me and not immediately cast me into Hell it would be a miracle of Patience And thus the man that begins a little to understand himself speaks to himself and after that he with Ephraim sinites upon his thigh and bemoans his condition exceedingly O that he should ever take up Arms against his gracious Prince O what shall become of him Well I have heard that the God of Heaven is a merciful King I will go and cast my self at his feet if I perish I perish If I continue in this rebellion there is no hopes if I fly there is no escaping and if I yield I can but perish O sad sad is my condition Woe and alas what shall I do in these dreadful perplexities But why do I stay here The avenger of blood followes after me apace well I will go to my God through Christ and I have heard that this is the only way and that there is not the least hope in the world any other way to get a pardon to escape the Wrath to come O that the precious and merciful Jesus would pitty me and stand my Frind now if ever O that he would speak a good word for me Have mercy upon me Jesus thou Son of David have mercy me O make peace for me by thy blood if thou wilt thou canst do more with a word speaking then all the Saints and Angels in the world if ever any poor Creature in the world had need of mercy then have I. O mercy mercy mercy for thy bloods sake But because I shall speak to this under another Direction I shall be the briefer Now when a man is at this pass he is in a fair way for peace but now as long as a man is ignorant of all this he is quite in another note he will never buckle and therefore he shall be broken Therefore consider well your condition observe the actings of your own Soul if you be one of the Friends and Acquaintance of God what means your breaking and hating of his Spiritual Laws What 's the reason if you love God that you can take no delight at all in his company no pleasure in his Sabbaths If you are a Friend of God how hap you come no oftner to his house when he dwells so near you Why do you knock no oftner at his door Why are you so rare in your visits Is this your kindness Is this like a Friend How comes it to pass that there are so many Arms found hid in your house What are they all for What is the meaning of all those Meetings that you give to Gods Enemies What do all those whisperings plots and
themselves and by themselves which they can never do alone They go to God all alone and no Wonder then they meet with a frown for there is no Name under Heaven by which a man can be saved but by the Name of Christ and out of Christ God is a consuming fire there is but one Mediator the man Christ Jesus And there is but one Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous That which Joseph said of Benjamin God saith of Christ except you bring Benjamin along with you you shall not see my Face except you bring Christ along with you you shall not see my Face There is a notable story which is commonly by Divines applied to our present purpose and that not without good reason it is concerning a Law among the Molossians where whosoever came to the King with his Son in his Arms should be accepted into favour let his fault be what it will So let a man be what he will before yet if ye come to God in Christ he can't be thrust away O therefore if thou wouldest have any countenance from God beg for a Christ to bear thee company into the presence of God I will tell you this for your comfort Christ hath a loving design in his heart to do such offices of kindness for poor Malefactors that understand something of their danger If you see your self lost for want of reconciliation with God Christ he stands ready to lead you into his Fathers house O did you but know how willing he is to bring undone lost Penitents to God it would make your heart leap within you for joy Behold how oft he asks after you what doth that sinner mean to ruine himself I would with all my heart bring him out of all those perplexities and undertake to make God and him Friends if he would be but ruled by me and upon this account he sends up and down many hundreds of his Ministers to tell sinners as much that they may not be undone everlastingly Doth not Wisdom call doth not Christ plead the Case and expostulate with sinners and who would not that hath any understanding at all of his state out of Christ with all possible thankfulness be encouraged to accept of his kindness Christ hath done as much as this comes to already for many Millions and his Father never said to him Son why do you trouble your self and me with so many of these wretched Creatures let them alone to take their course Where did God ever express himself in this manner did he ever take it unkindly that his Son should every day bring such Guests to his house and be continually begging one Boon or other for them or putting up some Petitions upon their account or pleading with his Father for them when they do offend Is God displeased at such work as this is he not as willing to receive such as his Son is to bring them and both Father and Son more willing to save the sinner than he is to be saved O kindness Christ loves the sinner better than he loves himself and as I said before so I say again the Father doth not grutch any thing that Christ gives or doth for poor sinners The Righteousness of Christ it is that Wedding Garment in which we may sit at the Kings Table and are welcome these are the Robes of our elder Brother in which we can't miss of our Fathers Blessing O how many poor Creatures have walked in the dark many years because they have not been brought off from themselves but have sought that by themselves which is to be sought only by Christ because they have looked for that in the Law which is to be found only in the Gospel and no wonder their business went on so slowly when they went the quite contrary way to work When any comes to God without Christ they come like Simon Magus with their own money in their hand to buy a great Commodity which is not to be purchased with such kind of Coyn. If you come to God through Christ you may come with boldness to the Throne of Grace but if you come without him you do but come with Madness upon the point of the flaming Sword V. DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God come much where he is wont to be frequent his house lye always at the Doors of Wisdom engage much in his Ordinances This was that course that David took when he wanted Gods company away he goes to the house of God and O what earnestness doth he use when the doors of the Lords Tabernacle were shut to get them open again what moan doth he make when he was for some time sequestred by his enemies from the enjoyment of God in his publick Ordinances As the Hart pants after the water-brooks so did his soul pant after God the living God O when should he appear before him when should he again behold the out-goings of God in his Sanctury as sometimes he had How amiable are thy tabernacles saith he O Lord God of Hosts And one thing have I desired and that will I seek after that I may dwell in thy house and see thee and enquire in thy tabernacle Psal 42. Psal 48. Psal 27.4 He thought God was like to be found no where so soon as at his own house he was sure he was never from home David can never forget what usage and entertainment he was wont to have there and that this great Friend was used to have a standing Table an open House and that when his Guests were set he would come and bid them welcome eat O friends drink yea drink abundantly O beloved See therefore that you get into that part of Gods house where he doth most frequently come get under the most powerful Ministery O hear the Word with all the Reverence Attention and affection that you can for your soul miss not any opportunities that God puts into your hand least that should be the time in which you might have met with God Lye at the pool of Bethesda and wait for the moving of the Waters set your selves as in the house of God and remember though you see not God that he is always present in all places but he is there more especially present where his people meet together to attend upon him in his own Ordinances Wherefore when you come to hear the Word set your self as in the presence of God and hear as for your life and soul Deut. 32.46 Set your hearts to all the words that you shall hear for it is not a vain thing it is your life Isa 55 2 3. Hearken diligently unto me and cat ye that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David He that hath ears to hear let him hear what the mighty Jehovah is speaking to his soul Wherefore I
excellently handled already by so many of our brave Worthies See Mr. Baxters Saints Rest and R. A. his Vindicia Pietatis XII DIRECTION If you would be acquainted with God resolvedly and freely given up your self to him and enter into a most solemn Covenant with him And here I shall make bold with that Reverend Author which R. A. doth mention in his Vindicia Pietatis and present you again with that excellent Form with the preparatories to it which I have lately met with in the forementioned Author After your most serious addresses to God and after a deliberate consideration of the terms of this Covenant and after a thorow search of your own heart whether you either have already or can now freely make such a closure with God in Christ as you have been exhorted to And when you have composed your spirits into the most serious frame possible suitable to a transaction of so high a nature Lay hold upon the Covenant and reply upon his promise of giving grace and strength whereby you may be enabled to perform your promise Resolve in the next place to be faithful having engaged your hearts and opened your mouths and subscribed with your hands to the Lord resolve in his strength never to go back And being thus prepared and some convenient time being set apart for the purpose set upon the work in the most solemn manner possible as if the Lord were visibly present before your eyes fall down on your knees and spreading forth your hands towards Heaven open your hearts to the Lord in these or the like words O most dreadful God for the Passion of thy Son I beseech thee accept of thy poor Prodigal now prostrating himself at thy door I have fallen from thee by mine Iniquity and am by Nature a Son of Death and a thousand fold more the Child of Hell by my Wicked Practise but of thine infinite Grace thou hast promised Mercy to me in Christ if I will but turn to thee with all my Heart Therefore upon the Call of the Gospel I am now come in and throwing down my Weapons submit my self to thy mercy And because thou requirest as the Condition of my Peace with thee that I should put away mine Idols and be at defiance with all thine Enemies which I acknowledge I have wickedly sided with against thee I here from the bottome of mine Heart renounce them all freely covenanting with thee not to allow my self in any known Sin but conscientiously to use all the means that I know thou hast prescribed for the Death and utter Destruction of all my Corruptions And whereas I have formerly inordinately and Idolatriously let out my Affections upon the World I do here resign my heart to thee that madest it Humbly protesting before thy glorious Majesty that it is the firm Resolution of my Heart and that I do unfeignedly desire grace from thee that when thou shalt call me hereunto I may practice this my Resolution through thy Assistance to forsake all that is dear unto me in this World rather than to turn from thee to the ways of sin And that I will watch against all its Temptations whether of Prosperity or Adversity lest they should withdraw my Heart from thee beseeching thee also to help me against the Temptations of Satan to whose suggestions I resolve by thy Grace never to yield my self a Servant And because mine own Righteousness is but menstruous Rags I renounce all Confidence therein and acknowledge that I am of my self a hopeless helpless undone Creature without righteousness or strength And for as much as thou hast of thy bottomless Mercy offered most graciously to me wretched sinner to be again my God through Christ if I would accept of thee I call Heaven and Earth to record this day that I do here solemnly avouch thee for the Lord my God and with all possible Veneration bowing the Neck of my Soul under the Feet of thy most Sacred Majesty I do here take thee the Lord Jehovah Father Son and Holy Ghost for my Portion and chief good and do give up my self Body and Soul for thy Servant promising and vowing to serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the dayes of my life And since thou hast appointed the Lord Jesus Christ the only means of coming unto thee I do here upon the bended Knees of my Soul accept of him as the only new and living way by which sinners may have access to thee and do here solemnly joyn my self in a Marriage Covenant to him O blessed Jesus I come to thee hungry and hardly bestead poor and wretched and miserable and blind and naked a most loathsome polluted wretch a guilty condemned Malefactor unworthy for ever to wash the feet of the Servants of my Lord much more to be solemnly Married to the King of Glory But since such is thine unparall'd Love I do here with all my power accept thee for my Head and Husband for better for worse for richer for poor for all times and conditions to Love and Honour and Obey thee before all others and this to the Death I embrace thee in all thy Offices I renounce mine own worthiness and do here avow thee to be the Lord my righteousness I renounce mine own wisdom and do here take thee for mine only Guide I renounce mine own will and take the will for my Law And since thou hast told me that I must suffer if I will reign I do here covenant with thee to take my Lot as it falls with thee and by thy Grace assisting to run all hazards with thee verily supposing that neither life nor death shall part between thee and me And because thou hast been pleased to give me thy Holy Law as the rule of my life and the way in which I should walk to thy Kingdom I do here willingly put my Neck under thy Yoke and set my shoulders to thy Burden and subscribing to all thy Laws as Holy Just and Good I solemnly take them as the rule of my Words Thoughts and Actions Promising that though my flesh contradict and rebel yet I will endeavour to order and govern my whole life according to thy direction and will not allow my self in the neglect of any thing that I know to be my duty Only because through the frailty of my flesh I am subject to many failings I am bold humbly to protest that unhallowed miscarriages contrary to the setled bent and resolution of my heart shall not make void this Covenant for so thou hast said Now Almighty God searcher of hearts thou knowest that I make this Covenant with thee this day without any known guile or reservation beseeching thee that if thou espiest any flaw or falshood herein thou wouldest discover it to me and help me to do it a right And now glory be to thee O God the Father whom I shall be bold from this day forward to look upon thee as my God and Father That ever thou shouldest