into Hell before that Hereafter came Well but some at last have seem'd very penitent and How shall the truth of Repentance be discerned Unto this I answer 1. Such who repent truely at last are very ready to accuse and very severe in judging of themselves they give glory to God and take shame to themselves they justifie the Lord in putting a period to their days and acknowledge that he might justly laugh at their calamity and mock at their fear and distress and anguish and refuse to pitty and pardon and kill the Body and damn the Soul together This judging of themselves is a very good sign and there is a promise of escaping judgment that is condemnation annexed thereunto 1 Cor. 11. 31. For if we should judge our selves we should not be judged 2. Such who repent truely at last are very jealous over their own Spirits lest the distress they are in and the nearness unto death be the only motive unto Repentance therefore their cries are the more earnest to be sincere Converts They prize new hearts and beg that God would deliver them from their natural guile and wickedness and make them indeed new creatures Oh how do they long not only for a pardon but that they may feel the power of the renewing and sanctifying Spirit of Christ Heal me and I shall be healed turn me and I shall be turned save me and I shall be saved Jer. 17. 14. are their strong cryes and oh with what vehement desires are they accompanied 3. Such who repent at last truely are filled with an holy indignation that all their time and strength has been wasted in serving Sin and Satan and dishonouring that God that made them to whom they owe themselves How angry are they and displeased at themselves that when they should have been labouring in the Lords Vineyard they either were standing idle in the Market or wrought iniquity with both hands earnestly Now this holy indignation is by the Apostle made an argument of sorrowing after a godly manner of repentance unto salvation 2 Cor. 7. 11. 4. Such who repent truely at last do look unto Jesus Thus did the Thief upon the Cross Lord remember me Luk. 23. 42. Christ is their hope and the grace of God in him which does superabound though Sin has never so much abounded They look upon his Blood as the Blood of God and able to do away the greatest guilt the foulest spot and stain the most monstrous defilements They perceive that the Blood of Jesus speaks better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12. 24. Cryes louder for Mercy and Salvation than Abels did for Vengeance Hereupon they are encouraged and enabled to act the faith of reliance and believing on Jesus they shall not be confounded 1 Pet. 2. 6. Oh how is this Saviour now prized How are they grieved at their former and so long continued neglect of him And though the Lord forgets their Sins they cannot but remember them though he justifies them they cannot cease condemning themselves the truth is they are ashamed and confounded and open not their mouths because of their shame though the Lord is pacified towards them for all that they have done Ezek. 16. 3. 5. They who repent truely at last have a care of Gods honour and are willing to prevent others delaying their repentance Their mouths therefore are full of cautions they blame their own folly and exhort others to grow wiser and while 't is called to day to harden their hearts no longer The Earl of Rochesters dying care was to have his prophane and lewd Writings burnt as being only fit to promote Vice and immorality by which he had so highly offended God and shamed and blasphemed that holy Religion into which he was baptized and all his obscene and filthy pictures which were so notoriously scandalous He wisht his Son might never be one of those wretched creatures who pride themselves in abusing God and Religion adding That no Fortunes or Honours were comparable to the love and favour of God To a Friend of some Note that came to see him he thus expressed himself Oh remember that you contemn God no more We have been all mistaken in our conceits and opinions our persuasions have been false and groundless therefore God grant you repentance And in his dying Remonstrance signed before Witness having bewailed his pernicious opinions and vile practices he thus speaks to all whom he had drawn into Sin I warn them in the name of God and as they regard the welfare of their immortal Souls no more to deny his Being or his Providence or despise his goodness no more to make a mock of Sin or contemn the pure and excellent Religion of my ever blessed Redeemer though whose merits alone I one of the greatest of Sinners do yet hope for mercy and forgiveness Case 11. The eleventh Case follows which is this How may Grace be discovered in Saints that are fallen When I speak of the falls of Saints I mean not their Sins quotidianae incursionis of daily incursion for there is not a day nor a duty wherein the best do not in some respect offend but faults that are more gross and offensive that approach nearer unto the nature of presumptuous transgressions That Saints do sometimes thus fall is evident from Scripture and Experience therefore all of them should be the more watchful humble and cry to be upheld living by faith on that God who is of power to establish them Rom. 16. 25. Rom. 11. 20. Well because of unbelief they were broken off and thou standest by faith be not highminded but fear But when they do fall there is a difference between the manner of theirs and others transgressing 't is said of such as are born of God that they cannot sin because they are born of God 1 Joh. 3. 9. i. e. they cannot sin in such a manner as the unregenerate do I am to present to you a Child of Light under an Eclipse and yet even now there is a great difference between him and them that are under the power of darkness 1. A Saint when he falls sins not with the full consent of his will not only his Conscience does declare against Sin but even his Will so far as sanctified and renewed is also against it His purpose is to take heed to his ways that he may not offend Psal 39. 1. therefore when he falls he is surprized and in the hurry of a temptation and though in this hurry Conscience is not heard and corruption like a torrent carries him away yet there is a secret dislike of Sin which arises from the Spirits lusting against the Flesh Hence it is that Saints cannot take that delight in Sin which others do because their wills do not fully close with the temptation Though in Davids transgression there was too much of deliberation and contrivance especially in his carriage towards Vriah yet if you consider the matter you may find he was
reason they should despair of mercy Ans 1. Despair is one of the greatest sins that can be committed dishonouring the grace of God making light of the blood of Christ and very opposite to the Spitit of Grace It is good says the Prophet that a man should hope Lam. 3. 26. Surely then 't is bad that a man should despair This sin thwarts the very design of the Gospel And Satan being hopeless himself would fain hinder sensible Sinners from hoping though he cherishes vain hopes in such as are presumptuous 2. There is a despair that is a Duty that is a despair of help from self and a despair of help from God if there be a resolution to continue in Sin Thou mayest as well hope to get no harm by the fall in throwing thy self off from the top of Londons Monument Thou may'st as well cast thy self into the Fire and hope not to be burnt as go on still in thy Sins and hope to escape everlasting Flames 3. But yet the door of hope is really open to the greatest Sinners that are willing to return to God and become Saints Blasphemous persecuting Saul was let in at this door And 1 Cor. 6. 9 10 11. you read of a sad Crew that if Hell were to be raked worse could hardly be found Fornicators Idolaters Adulterers effeminate abusers of themselves with Mankind Thieves Covetous Drunkards Revilers Extortioners and yet these were washt and sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Such instances of the rich and free grace of God should hinder the worst from despairing when they come to themselves and are minded to come home to the Lord. 4. That conviction of sin and misery which sensible Souls have is the common road to Christ and grace and comfort He gives rest to the weary and heavy laden he gives liberty to the captives and binds up the broken hearted Mat. 11. 28. Luk. 4. 18. When Sinners are brought to the brink of Hell in their own apprehension this is an hopeful sign they shall be delivered from that place of woe and sorrow and that they shall not feel what they fear Case 5. The fifth Case is this What course must Sinners take after they have prov'd themselves and found how bad they are to be brought into a better and safe Estate Ans 1. They must not oppose conviction but be willing nay earnestly desirous that it may be thorow that their humiliation may be the deeper they must not only be sensible that their actions have been bad but that their hearts are a great deal worse that their very nature is corrupted and their state most miserable Slight convictions soon wear off and a little sense of Sin is followed only with such goodness that is as the morning cloud and as the early dew it goeth away Hos 6. 4. The deeper the humiliation commonly the stricter the holiness afterwards Piscator ictus sapit the burnt Child dreads the Fire And he that hath tasted the Wormwood and the Gall that is in Sin will be the more alienated from it and afraid of contracting new guilt and defilement Let not the pangs of contrition go off too soon for fear there be an abortive instead of the new birth the more you are burthen'd with Sin the more sincere Conversion will be and Christ is the readier to give you rest 2. They must consent to cast away every transgression and cease to be the companions of Transgressors Let not any Sin be kept and rolled as a swee morsel under the Tongue for 't will prove as bitter and deadly as the very gall of Asps at last That promise Iniquity shall not be your ruine is annexed to a command Cast away from you all your transgressions Ezek. 18. 30 31. The wicked man is required to forsake his way which intimates the reformation of his life and also to forsake his thoughts which shews his very heart must be renewed else there cannot be a returning unto God indeed nor mercy and pardon obtained Esa 55. 7. It is reported concerning Agrippina the Mother of Nero Caesar that it was foretold her That her Son should be Emperor of Rome but afterwards kill his own Mother She said Occidat modo imperet Let him kill me so he may but Reign Oh let not any Sinner say so concerning any gainful delightful darling Sin Let it damn me so it may but Reign Let me die by it so I may but live in it And as sinful courses must be abandoned so also sinful company Save your selves from an untoward generation Act. 2. 40. was the advice of Peter to those awakned Souls that askt him what they should do If you would turn to God and go to Heaven you must leave that company that are resolved to go on in Sin and unto Hell 3. They must attend upon prophecy and beg that the Spirit would accompany it The Word of God is the incorruptible seed of which Sinners are born again 1 Pet. 1. 23. and the Word is made effectual by the Spirit 'T is a very encouraging asseveration of Christ Joh. 5. 25. Verily verily I say unto you The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and live A meer man might have cried long enough and to no purpose at Lazarus his grave But when our Lord says Lazarus come forth there went out a power along with his word that raised him Let Sinners attend upon the Word of Christ Christ himself may speak to them as well as man and then the Spirit of Life will enter into them and the dead in sin shall live 4. They must look unto Jesus for righteousness and strength Esa 45. 24. The righteousness of Christ is necessary unto Sinners reconciliation therefore God does not impute their own sins to them upon their believing in Christ because he does impute the righteousness of his Son That 's a notable place Rom. 4. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousness without works Here is an imputed righteousness and lest any should think it a putative or imaginary righteousness 't is called a righteousness of the Lords own imputing Further 't is a righteousness that does not consist in any works or obedience of ours Finally this Doctrine of the imputed righteousness of Christ is asserted by David under the Old Testament as by Paul under the New In Sinners Approach unto God this righteousness is to be relied on for pardon and justification And as his Righteousness is necessary unto Reconciliation so is his strength and the power of his Spirit unto Conversion None will be made free from the power of Sin and Satan none will be delivered from the power of darkness till the Son of God does make them free indeed and translate them into his own Kingdom 5. They must cry unto God to be throughly turned So did Ephraim Jer. 31.
sorrow when the heart is grieved it is so hard and can sorrow no more for Sin Such an heart will carefully shun whatever has an hardning effect and oh how is that promise prized and the accomplishment of it longed for Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh And when once Sinners are sensible so as to inquire and seek unto the God of Israel to do this for them here is a good work begun in them I grant such may fear sometimes they are judicially hardned but that very fear plainly shews the contrary if they were under such a judgment they would cease to be afraid of it 2. It argues a beginning of a work of Grace when a Sinner is troubled to see such an opposition in his corrupted nature against God and desires to be turned indeed Thus Ephraim bemoans himself that he was as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoke and he cryes to be instructed and that God would shew his power and grace in the turning of him Jer. 31. 18. and vers 20. we find the Lord owns Ephraim as his dear Son as a pleasant Child and says he does earnestly remember him and will surely have mercy upon him It argues a new nature when we are weary of the old and that the bent and inclination of the heart is really changed when backwardness unto what is good begins to be burthensom 3. There is a work of Grace where there is a resolution to go unto God and confess all Sin unto him without hiding any through a desire to keep it When David thus without guile does resolve upon Confession God resolves upon Remission and forgives him presently Psal 32. 5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee and my iniquity have I not hid I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Selah Hark what Solomon says He that covereth his Sins shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy And the Apostle speaks a great word 1 Joh. 1. 9. If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness O thou sensible and drooping and trembling Soul who comest unto God with black Bills of Indictment against thy self Is all thy wickedness down there that thou knowest Hast thou not left out one or other that is a darling Oh no here are all down and the darling sins in a special manner acknowledged and aggravated and I am willing to forsake all as well as to have the pardon of all If it be so chear up for Confess and be saved is the Gospel language When David said I have sinned against the Lord Nathan answers The Lord hath put away thy Sin thou shalt not die 2 Sam. 12. 13. 4. There is a work of grace where there is a desire to believe He that searcheth the heart takes notice of the desires which are there and as a desire to kill is Murther as a lusting after a Woman is Adultery so a desire after that which is good is accepted A desire to repent is repenting and a desire to believe is believing Abraham is said again and again to have offered up Isaac because he had a will to do it at Gods Command though actually he never did it Heb. 11. 17. which shews the truth of that passage of Augustine Coronat Deus intus bonam voluntatem ubi non invenit facultatem Where there is a defect of ability God does own and crown a real willingness Such desires must needs be very pleasing unto God who willeth that his grace should be earnestly desired and therefore says the same Father Desiderare auxilium gratiae est initium gratiae Grace is begun when Grace is desired When once a Sinner desires with his heart to believe and cries out with the man in the Gospel Lord help my unbelief Mar. 9. 24. When he desires that his heart may be set wide open that Christ who knocks there may enter in when he desires to receive Christ just so as Christ is willing to be received and to rely upon him as the onely Mediatour and Saviour renouncing all other Confidences Here is saving faith most certainly 5. There is a work of Grace where there is a weariness of other Lords and a willingness to submit unto Christ the Lord of Glory 'T is a good sign when there is a consent to cast off the yoke of Sin and to take on us the easie yoke of Christ for none but they that are truely gracious are willing to be delivered from the power of darkness and to be translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God Col. 1. 13. If we dislike the bondage of corruption and are unwilling to be led captive by Satan at his will if we look upon our selves as foolish and deceived while we were disobedient and served diverse lusts and pleasures Tit. 3. 3. If we count the Service of our Lord Jesus freedom and freedom indeed and lust against the Flesh which counts his Commands grievous certainly the Spirit of the Lord has begun to set us at liberty our eyes have been opened our hearts changed Voluntas non esset libera nisi liberata The will would not be thus free to be subject unto Christ unless it had been made free by Him 6. There is a work of Grace where there is a desire to fear the name of God Neh. 1. 11. Let thine ear be attentive and so it was unto the prayer of thy Servants who desire to fear thy Name That Soul is renewed that would fain stand in awe of God and of his Word and has a will to do good though evil is present and the Flesh is weak The weakness of the Flesh Christ excuses as long as he saw the Spirit of the Disciples was willing to have done their duty Mat. 26. 41. That which was Gods wish concerning Israel of old is it thy wish concerning thy self Oh that there were an heart in me to fear the Lord and to keep all his Commandments always that it may be well with me for ever Deut. 5. 29. This is certainly the breathing of the new creature In such there is a consent to be the Lords and to serve him and a trouble when they are overpowr'd by sin and temptation and a jealousie lest they should be deceived which shews that their desire to fear and obey the Lord is the more honest and sincere 7. There is a work of Grace where there is an uncontentedness without God before the Sinner was without Christ and liv'd without God in the World as he thought well enough Eph. 2. 12. but the heart being savingly changed cannot be put off with the World or any thing therein for its portion as the Needle being toucht by the Loadstone
in the weighty concerns of another World Any thing satisfies him and makes him securely to say all is well If Satan tell him as he did our first Parents that he shall not surely dye Satan is believed the God of Truth and the Word of Truth being disregarded How many when they hear the Words Curse do bless themselves in their hearts and say they shall have peace though they walk on after the imagination of their evil heart therefore the Lord threatens that his anger and jealousie shall smoke against such and he will blot out their names from under Heaven Deut. 29. 19 20. Are they reproved for Sin They say All are Sinners whereas Penitents forsake presumptuous Sins and are willing to forsake all but these Self-deluders are hardly willing to forsake any They bear up upon this that God is merciful and yet they slight and abuse his mercy preferring their vanities and lusts before it and go on to injure his Justice and provoke him to Jealousie They are full of hope because Christ died and yet they thwart one great end of his Death and will not be the better for it for they refuse to dye to Sin and live to Righteousness 3. If it highly concerns all to prove themselves hence we may infer what an advantage it is to enjoy the light of the Word of God This is a Glass that flatters none It discovers what Sin is and where it is It calls Grace Grace and will speak peace to them that are the Sons of peace but on the contrary it will tell the Sinner though he be never so high in the World never so high in his vain hopes Thou art the man that lovest and livest in thy iniquity therefore thou art under wrath a Son of Death and in danger of eternal damnation This word convinces of Sin shews the necessity of turning unto God and is a great means of Conversion and afterwards by discovering of Grace it proves the joy and rejoycing of the heart The Unbelievers and Ungodly need this Word and ought to prize it for it shews them their guilt and a Mediatour their sore and also a Physician and faith is wrought by the hearing of it Rom. 10. 17. The Saints have loved this Word exceedingly Hark how the Psalmist cries out Psal 89. 15. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound they shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance 4. Hence we may also infer the benefit of a searching Ministery Seers that will see vain visions are not worth hearing and Prophets that prophesy only smooth things had better prophesy nothing at all for they prophesy nothing but deceit Such Prophets are guilty of the blood of Souls and utterly ruine them while they heal them slightly crying peace peace when there is no peace Jer. 6. 14. Such Pastors destroy the Lords Vineyard such Dawbers are not Builders of the House of God How sad is it when the blind lead the blind both they that are led and they that are the leaders fall into the bottomless pit of perdition But a plain dealing Minister that rebukes Sin sharply that gives warning in time to flee from eternal wrath that commends himself to every mans conscience in the sight of God that speaks as if he knew mens hearts and discovers their secret thoughts to them that is a Son of thunder to the wicked and a Son of consolation to the broken hearted and has the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season to the weary and heavy laden Such a Shepherd is a great blessing to the Flock ought highly to be esteemed in love for his work sake and may be an happy instrument to save himself and them that hear him 5. Hence we may further infer the great necessity of the Spirits aid Unless he enlighten the eyes of our understandings we shall pass a wrong judgment upon our selves and every thing else also A subtle Serpent and a deceitful heart will be too hard for the most powerful Preacher breathing if the Spirit of the Lord does not second and set home the word preached The Spirit as I said before takes the Glass of the Law and holds it before the Sinner that he may see therein both his heart and life and then and truely not till then he will cry out Alass alass What have I been What have I done Where am I And whither will my Sins at last bring me The Spirit can charge Sin so home that there is no denial no excuse made The Sinner trembles confesses laments begs pardon consents to forsake his wickedness Thus Ephraim after he was instructed is ashamed and confounded because of his abominations The Publican being made sensible he was a Sinner cries out God be merciful And as the Spirit convinces the Sinner so he discovers to the Saint what God has given him not only the things themselves which are great and glorious but also the Saints interest in those things 1 Cor. 2. 12. Now we have received not the Spirit of this World but the Spirit which is of God that we might know those things which are freely given to us of God 6. If it highly concerns all to prove themselves learn hence the hatred and subtlety of Satan in Staving men off from this duty All his subjects are a company of inconsiderate fools if they would but bethink themselves they would become wiser than to serve such a Master This Enemy cannot endure that wicked men should look downward to Hell for fear they should be awakened and affrighted nor that they should look inward into themselves for fear they should see themselves lost and look out for a Saviour nor that they should look upwards unto God for fear they should be converted and healed The Devil hates Souls therefore is unwilling that any care should be taken about them he cannot abide that any should inquire into their Spiritual state therefore he endeavours to divert them he allures some with wealth bewitches others with pleasures intoxicates others with applause and honour he represents Self-examination to be Self-tormenting and holiness a meer Hell upon Earth But in all this he shews his falshood as well as enmity What madness is it to listen to him as a Leader and Counseller who is both a Liar and a Murtherer 7. Hence we may learn the great Error of the Church of Rome in crying down Assurance and consequently discouraging Self-examination The Council of Trent Sess 6. has impiously determin'd and declared Certitudo remissionis peccatorum est vana omni pietate remota fiducia The Saints assurance of the pardon of Sin is a vain and ungodly confidence How have they here blasphemed against the Comforter in making all his joys and consolations which suppose Sin to be pardon'd altogether vain The Scripture speaks after another manner Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father 1 Joh. 4. 16.
to serve me too much mine to do me any real harm Christ by dying has taken out the sting of Death so that I need not any longer be under bondage through the Fear of Death O Death Thou hast left thy sting in the side of Christ and there hast lost it O Grave My Lord has broke thy gates open and because he is risen I may joyfully conclude my own Resurrection My body must lye in darkness for a while but it shall not always be Death's Prisoner This corruptible shall put on incorruption this mortal shall put on immortality and as the Corn cast into the ground does rise with advantage every single grain yeilding sometimes an hundred fold so my flesh shall come up out of the Earth with an hundred fold better qualities then now it has 'T is sown in weakness 't is raised in power 't is sown in dishonour 't is raised in glory But O my Soul Death will not be able at all to seize on thee Thou wilt be delivered out of a dungeon when thou leavest thine Earthly Tabernacle and go unto a glorious Palace assoon as ever thou art absent from the Body thou wilt be present with the Lord assoon as thou art departed thou will be with Christ and how much better that is thou wilt find to thy full and Everlasting joy MEDITATION XLVIII If my Beloved is mine and all things mine is there not reason I should be His His I am and His I will be to eternity Lord I am Thine for thou hast made me and not I my self I am thine by the right of purchase as well as Creation for thou hast bought me with a price Nay thou hast new made me on purpose for thine own use and that I should shew forth thy praises And I do willingly resign and yeild my self to thee if I am thy Servant make use of me if I am thy Treasure keep me if I am a child let me be imployed in my Fathers business if I am Betrothed to thee let thy love and jealousie secure me from other Lovers Oh let me be wholly only always Thine Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity Let my tongue be like an Angels continually sounding forth thy Name Let my hands be holy the path of my feet pondered let all my members be yeilded as instruments of Righteousness and let my soul with all its powers love and serve thee Lord sanctifie and satisfie and save me and honour me by employing me for I lift up my soul and give my very heart to thee MEDITATION XLIX Ten thousand times ten thousand praises to the God of love and peace Who would not worship thee and give thee glory O thou King of Saints Let thy Church on Earth as well as Heaven ring aloud with Hallelujah's Who is God save the Lord who is a Rock save our God! Who in Heaven above or in Earth beneath is to be compared to Thee a God glorious in holiness terrible in Majesty rich in mercy abounding in Grace wonderful in working and keeping truth for ever Who can by searching find out God! who can find out the Almighty to perfection It is high as Heaven what can we do Deeper then Hell what can we know Who is a God like unto thee abundant in loving kindness goodness and truth Delighting in mercy Forgiving iniquity Transgression and sin and reconciling the world to himself in Christ Glory be to God in the highest for such good will towards men Let the Heavens rejoyce and let the Earth be glad let the Sea roar and the fulness thereof Let the floods clap their hands and the hills be joyful together Let all the creatures joyn in magnifying that God which made them And let all Saints shout aloud for joy unto Him who has visited and redeemed them MEDITATION L. Lord How much art thou above thy Creatures reach Who besides thy self can conceive thy excellency Who can shew forth all thy praise Thou art exalted above the blessing and the thoughts of Angels above the songs of Seraphims Everlasting thanksgivings are thy due Oh let me live with thee to Eternity that I may ever be paying this debt of praises Bless the Lord ye innumerable company of Angels which excell in strength who see the Glory of your Maker and Lord Praise him O ye Thrones Dominions Principallities and Powers Exalt that mighty and gracious God who elected and confirmed you when so many other Angels sinn'd and are eternally left and miserable in their Apostacy O all ye Triumphant Saints that are with the Lamb upon the heavenly Mount Sion Strike up with your Harps and if it be possible let your strains be still higher and higher Ascribe blessing and honour and glory and power unto Him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever O thou Militant Church Begin this heavenly work of praising here on Earth Thy Redemption and deliverance is begun and will most certainly be compleated The Captain of thy Salvation will stand by thee in thy spiritual warfare and having made thee more then victorious over all thy Enemies will bestow upon thee the promised Crown of life and glory MEDITATION LI. Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name What hast thou breath for but that it should be spent in his praises Wherefore hast thou a tongue at command but that it should be employed in glorifying thy Lord and hereby become thy glory Should not a slave that has been in very hard and cruel bondage be thankful to him that redeemed him Should not a Malefactor condemned to dye be thankful unto Him that pardoned him Should not the patient that has laboured under a Death threatning distemper be thankful to the Physician that has cured him And how much greater reason is there O my Soul that thou shouldst abound in thanksgivings unto thy God and Saviour Thou wast in the worst sense enslaved and he has made thee free indeed Thou wast condemned to the second Death to be separated for ever from the Lord and to be thrown into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone and he by dying himself has purchased a pardon for thee Thou wast sick of spiritual which are the worst kind of plagues and He is the Lord that heals thee Awake Awake Oh my soul Awake Awake And utter a song of praise Rejoyce in Christ Jesus Glory in the Father of mercies Who forgiveth all thy iniquities who healeth all thy Diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies MEDITATION LII Shall I not magnifie and advance my Lord who am so highly advanced my self I was once in darkness and securely went on towards the blackness of darkness forever but I am called out of darkness into marvellous light â— I was once a stranger and a forreiner but now I am a fellow Citizen with the Saints and of the houshold of God I am become a child of God who
but increase upon them 3. In proving our selves we must take heed of making an ill use of the falls of Saints which are recorded in Scripture Davids uncleanness Lots drunkenness are no arguments to prove that any may allow themselves in filthiness and intemperance and yet go to Heaven Nay the Scripture expresly says the contrary Eph. 5. 5. For this ye know that no Whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ of God and all words that would persuade otherwise are but deceitful and vain v. 6. The falls of Saints are mentioned not to encourage unto sin but to prevent despair and to encourage to repentance and returning unto God when there has been a departing from him And truely they are in a state quite different from the Saints who are only like them in their falls but not like them in their rising again Righteousness and Repentance 4. We must beware of thinking it sufficient to have escaped the more gross pollutions of the World When we compare our selves with the vilest of men and find our selves unlike them this is not enough to prove our selves or our state truely good It was not enough to justifie the Pharisee before God that others were extortioners unjust and adulterers but he was free from such gross and scandalous crimes as these Luk. 18. 11. There are degrees of Sin as well as Grace 'T is but a small commendation Pessimis esse meliorem to be better than the very worst of all we may be bad enough to ruine us for all that The Pharisees were righteous and blameless in the eyes of men but Christ saw how proud and how unsanctified their hearts were therefore he says Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 20. 5. The providences of God must not be our Rule of Trial We must not judge of our spiritual condition by present external dispensations You find a wicked man in purple and fine linnen faring sumptuously every day and a godly man a beggar laid at his gate full of Sores desirous to be fed with the Crumbs that fell from the rich mans Table Luk. 16. The righteous are plagued all the day long and chastened every morning when the wicked prosper in the World and increase in riches and have more than heart could wish Psal 73. 12 14. If thriving in this World be all thou hast to shew as an evidence of the love of God thou hast indeed nothing at all to shew as an argument he loves thee with a special love for Solomon says No man knows either love or hatred by all that is before them but all things fall alike to all and there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked Eccles 9. 1 2. 6. We must take heed of a wrong notion of the Grace of God in Christ which may encourage licentiousness and presumption We must not look upon him as all Justice Jealousie Fury neither must we imagine him all Grace and Mercy We must not look upon our Lord Jesus as the Minister of sin Gal. 2. 17. for he was manifested to destroy the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 8. 't is unreasonable therefore to continue in sin that grace may abound Rom. 6. 1. We must be fully persuaded that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Heb. 12. 14. for if the necessity of holiness be not apprehended we shall entertain a presumptuous confidence in the grace of God and indulge our lusts at the same time 7. We must take heed of putting our selves upon the Tryal farther than the Scripture ever does As whether we can be contented to be damned that God may be glorified Whether we would be so strict and circumspect as the word requires if there were no future reward or punishment 'T is not good to make suppositions which God in his word never makes As whether if we might live here in this world for ever we could be very well contented Whether if God were to be enjoyed but for a time we should prefer that enjoyment before an everlasting fruition of the creature Such suppositions as they have no Scripture warrant so they but perplex them that make them We must take things as they are and not suppose them to be what they are not And if things visible which are but temporal are despised in comparison of invisible things which are eternal it argues the heart is wise to make a right choice Having laid down these cautionary Rules I come now to speak of the Right Touchstone by which this Tryal of our selves is to be made and that is the Written word of God Saints cannot ascend into heaven at present and immediately search the Book of life to know whether their names are there registred Neither must they expect that an Angel should come to them as to Daniel of old to inform them that they are greatly beloved Neither shall the wicked and the hypocritical ones have an hand appearing as once to Belshazzer signifying how bad their state is and how sad their is like to be But to the written word all must repair that they may know what to conclude concerning themselves Now the word of God gives us a description and characters both of a state of nature and of a state of Grace The Prisoner at the bar which is tryed for his life with what trembling does he expect the verdict of the Jury When we are trying our selves in reference to Eternity Oh with what fear and trembling should we attend what sentence the word of God will pass upon us 1. I begin with a description of a State of Nature Now the Scripture pronounces those in a state of nature 1. Who have a vail of grosse and black ignorance upon their hearts As 't is life eternal to know so it must needs be granted to be no less than eternal death to be grosly ignorant of the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent How can we obey that great Command of the Law to love the Lord with all our hearts or that great Command of the Gospel to believe in Jesus Christ if concerning both God and Christ there be a very gross ignorance Ignorance is commonly rejoyced in as an excuse for sin but it proves destructive where 't is thus liked Hos 4. 6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge 2 Cor. 4. 3. If our Gospel be hid 't is hid to them that are lost And Isa 27. 11. It is a people that have no understanding therefore he that made them will not save them and he that formed them will shew them no favor 2. They are in a state of Nature who believe not the report of the Gospel The word speaks terribly against such as esteem the Gospel no more than if it were a cunningly devised Fable who stand no more in awe of
dead to sin and live to Righteousness MEDITATION XXXVI Is the Cup of blessing at the Table the Communion of the Blood of Christ indeed How should my Soul and all that is within me bless the Lords Name when I take it into my hand My Lord does in effect say to me Here is the New Testament sealed and confirmed there is remission of all thy sins Here is sanctifying Grace here is an assurance of mine and my Fathers love here is a pledge and earnest of Glory and Immortality This Blood of Jesus is deservedly styled precious 't is the Blood of the Lamb without spot nay 't is the Blood of the Lord Jehovah To make light of this Blood as if it were an unholy or common thing is to deny the Lord that bought us and to bring upon our selves certain and swift destruction But whosoever by Faith applyes this Blood of Jesus shall find it sufficient to cleanse them from all unrighteousness MEDITATION XXXVII Dearest Lord How great is the vertue of that blood of thine which was shed upon the Cross without the gates of Jerusalem It can appease thy Fathers anger though provoked unto great fierceness it can remove the greatest guilt it can cure and cleanse the most leprous and defiled Soul it can heal the most wounded and enraged Conscience Oh blessed Laver where I may wash and be clean where I may bath and be eased Effectual medicine which heals every spiritual malady How wonderful was thy love which made thee shed thy blood how happy is thy Church for whom thy blood is shed Lord I love thee I rest upon thee I rejoyce in thee who hast loved thy People and washed them from their sins in thy own Blood and hast made them Kings and Priests unto God and thy Father who gavest thy self for thy Church that thou mightest sanctifie and cleanse it and present it to thy self a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish MEDITATION XXXVIII Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed This is my Answer unto the Accuser of the Brethren when he tells me of my manifold Transgressions All that he can truly lay to my charge I am ready to lay to my own nay I subscribe guilty to all that is down in the book of the Omniscient Gods remembrance but then I add Christ dyed Christ shed his Blood that sin might be pardoned and purged and I am willing to be cleansed as well as pardoned And if the Blood of Christ be enough to satisfie divine justice surely 't is sufficient to satisfie and quiet the most awakened Conscience I have indeed like a Sheep gon astray and turned to my own way but the Lord has laid on Christ all my iniquities he endured the chastisement of my peace he felt the stripes that I might be healed Hereby Satan is silenced my own desponding Spirit revived and encouraged and in the Name and Mediation of Jesus I can go unto God himself though he is so glorious in Righteousness and Holiness as a Child unto a Father MEDITATION XXXIX The Blood of Christ does speak and speaks better things then the Blood of Abel No voice more loud then that of Blood no blood does cry like that of God This blood does speak both to God and Me it speaks to God and what ever I pray for which I really need this blood cryes that I may obtain Blessings of all sorts were purchased by the shedding of it and it is continually pleading that what it purchased may be bestowed Hence is the efficacy of Prayer because what the belieuer prays for the blood of Christ speaks for How loud does it cry in Gods ears Lord pity and pardon the humbled and Believing Soul Heal and Comfort the Contrite and Broken hearted Oh give converting and Renewing Grace to all that do desire it Those that fear thy Wrath let them escape it Those that prize thy love love them freely and for ever Receive all returning sinners and take away all their iniquities Give Grace give Glory and no good thing withhold from them that seek thee in sincerity Thus the blood of Christ does intercede with God And the Lord having contrived the shedding of it on purpose that without any derogation from his Righteousness he might shew mercy to the Children of men certainly its intercession for mercy shall not be in vain MEDITATIONS XL. The blood of Christ does speak also to Me. And how good and comfortable are the words of it Soul be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help and Salvation found God was angry with thee but I have appeased his Wrath. He whom thou wast ready to find a consuming Fire is become a God in Covenant nay a Father to thee That blood which was shed upon the Cross has made thy Peace though heretofore never so much a stranger never so great an Enemy Behold Hell lockt up thou shalt never fall into that place of Wo behold the way into the Holiest of all is open Thou hast liberty to come with boldness to the Throne of Grace and within a little while thou shalt have an abundant entrance into Glory Dear Lord What am I that blood and such blood as thine should be shed for me Why wast thou at such expence and cost for the Redemption and Salvation of such a Wretch such a Rebel Thou hast mercy because thou wilt have mercy thy exceeding rich and glorious Grace must be matter of a delightful transport and sweet astonishment to Eternity MEDITATION XLI My Lords love and kindness should thaw and melt my heart That God whom for so long a time I neither lov'd nor fear'd nor cared to be acquainted with but dishonoured and sinn'd against with so high an hand had he indeed purposes of Grace towards me from Eternity That Jesus whom I shut and barr'd the door of my Heart so fast against whose word I was deaf unto and whose Spirit I resisted for so long a time has He indeed born my sins and carried my sorrows Oh that my head were Waters and my eyes Fountains of Tears Oh stony Heart for shame now become like wax and be melted in the midst of my Bowels I am a prodigy of unkindness wo is me that I have sinned Wo is me that I who have sinn'd so much do grieve no more Surely all my days I will walk softly in the bitterness of my Soul I will be vile in my own eyes and wonder that the Lord should have respect to such an one as I My own sin and my Lords Love shall be my Study I will compare them together that sin may be lamented and loathed according to the desert of it and that my Repentance may be indeed Evangelical and after a godly manner MEDITATION XLII O my Soul if thy
nothing sad shall be seen nothing evil shall be feared because the cheifest good shall be possessed MEDITATION LVIII Lord I am thine save me save me or I shall surely perish bring me safe to the Haven preserve me to thy heavenly Kingdom that neither Faith nor Conscience nor my soul may suffer shipwrack Thou hast made an Everlasting Covenant with me and at thy Table this Covenant has been sealed Oh never turn away from me to do me good and let thy power and love and the fear of thy name secure me from Apostacy I am not sufficient to be my own keeper but who shall be able to pluck me out of the hand of Christ and of the Father who is greater then all Thou art of power to establish me and canst easily keep me from falling and present me faultless before the presence of thy glory with exceeding great joy Oh let not my faith fail nor my love cool nor my watchfulness abate let Satans wiles and devices be unsuccessful help me to slight the worlds frowns and to be deaf and dead to the flatteries and smiles of it Let me obtain mercy to be faithful in thy Covenant let my spirit be cured of its natural fickleness and treachery let resolutions to be the Lords and to serve the Lord be peremptory being made and kept with a strength beyond my own And let me at last be able to say O God my Heart is fixed my Heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Herbert pag. 140. KIng of Glory King of Peace I will love thee And that love may never cease I will move thee Thou hast granted my request Thou hast heard me Thou didst note my working breast Thou hast spar'd me Wherefore with my utmost art I will sing thee And the cream of all my heart I will bring thee Though my sins against me cry'd Thou didst clear me And alone when they reply'd Thou didst hear me Seven whole days not one in seven I will praise thee In my Heart though not in Heaven I can raise thee Thou grew'st soft and moist with Tears Thou relentedst And when Justice call'd for fears Thou dissentedst Small it is in this poor sort To enroll thee Even Eternity is too short To extoll thee FINIS Books to be Sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Hundred select Sermons on several Texts by Tho Horton D. D. Sermons on 4 select Psalms viz. 4th 42 51 63. by Tho. Horton D. D. Mr. Baxters Christian Directory Sermons on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Collossians by Mr. J. Daille translated into English by F. S. with Dr. Tho. Goodwins and Dr. John Owens Epistles Recommendatory An Exposition of Christs Temptation on Matth. 4. and Peters Sermon to Cornelius and circumspect walking By Dr. Tho Taylor A Practical Exposition on the 3d. Chapter of the first Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians with the Godly mans choice on Psalm 4. v. 6 7 8. by Anthony Burgess Dr. Donns 40 Sermons being his 3 Volumes Pareus Exposition on the Revelations General Martyrlogia with the Lives of 32 English Divines by Sam. Clark A Narrative of the Horrid Popish Plot. A Narrative of Knox and Lane The Witch of Endor Popes Ware-house All four Published by Dr. Titus Oates Robert Jenneson Esq His narrative Dugdales Narrative Mr. Tho. Dangerfields of the Sham Presbyterian Plot. Smiths Account of the 14 Popish Malefactors in Newgate Animadversions on the 5 Jesuits Speeches The Excommunicated Price a Tragedy as it was acted by his Holinesses Servants By Captain William Bedlow Protestant Conformist plea for moderation A Conference between a Bensalian Bishop and an English Doctor concerning Church Government A Caution to all English Protestants A Lenetive for the Clergie Broughtons Works published by Dr. Light-foot Books 4to The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration By George Swinnock M. A. An Antidote against Quakerism by Stephen Scandret An Exposition of the five first Chapters of Ezekiel with usefull observations thereupon by William Greenhil The Gospel Covenant opened by Pet. Bulkley Gods holy Mind touching matters Moral which he uttered in ten Commandments Also an Exposition on the Lords Prayer by Edward Eston B. D. The fiery Jesuit or an Historical Collection of the rise encrease doctrines and deeds of the Jesuits exposed to view for the sake of London Horologiographia optica Dyaling universal and particular speculative and practical together with a Description of the Court of Arts by a new Method by Sylvanus Morgan Regimen sanitatis-salemi or the Regiment of Health containing Directions and instructions for the guide and government of mans life A seasonable Apology for Religion by Matthew Pool Seperation no Schism in answer to a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor by J. S. The Practical Divinity of the Papist discovered to be destructive to true Religion and mens Souls by J. Clark son A Case of Conscience viz. whether it be lawful for any person to act contrary to the opinion of his own Conscience formed from arguments that to him appear very probable though not necessary or demonstrative by Dr. Collings The Creatures goodness as they came out of Gods hand and the good-mans mercy to the bruit-Creatures in two Sermons by Tho. Hodges B. D. Certain Considerations tending to promote Peace and Unity among Protestants Mediocria or the most plain and natural apprehensions which the Scripture offers concerning the great Doctrines of the Christian Religiion of Election Redemption the Covenant the Law and Gospel and Perfection Sermons at the Funeral of Mr. James Janeway by Nath. Vincent The Vanity of man in his best estate in a discourse on Psal 39. 5. at the Funeral of the Lady Susanna Keate by Richard Kidder M. A. Mr. Cautons by Mr. Henry Hurst and Mr. Nath. Vincent Mr. Sorrels by Mr. Benj. Smith Mr. Wadsworth by Mr. R. Bragg Mr. Newcomens by Mr. Fairson Mr. Thomas Vincents by Mr. Slater Mr. Corbets by Mr. Richard Baxter Mr. Bakers by Mr. Nath. Vincent Mr. Marshalls by Mr. Tomlins Mr. Johnsons by Mr. Loid Mrs. Fishers by Mr. Scot. Dr. Whittakers by Dr. Annesly Mr. Wells by Mr. Thomas Watson Mr. Stubs by Mr. Watson Mr. Stubs by Mr. Richard Baxter Hodges Vanity of man as mortal Mrs. Lyes by Mr. Lamb. Vertuous Daughter by Brion Sir Thomas Viners by Dr. Spurslow Mr. Perns by Ainsworth Work and Reward of a Christian by R. Raworth Mr. Wests Funeral Sermon by Mr. Cole Mr. Webbs by Mr. David Burges Baeuters which is the true Church Hodges Creatures goodness Naked Truth Doolitles Protestants Answer Mr. Kidders Charity directed Scholars address Dr. Crossmans Sermon Humphrys peaceable disquisitions Hodges considerations to promote peace An Endeavour for Peace A conference between a Papist and a Jew and a Protestant and a Jew An Essay for the Education of Gentlewomen A warning for Servants or the Case of Margaret Clark An Answer to Dr. Stilling fleets Sermon by the peaceable design A Discourse of Pluralities A
are but for a season Job 20. 5 8. Knowest thou not this of old since man was placed upon Earth that the triumphing of the Wicked is short and the joy of the Hypocrite but for a moment Though his excellency mount up to the Heavens and his head reacheth to the Clouds yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung they which have seen him shall say Where is he He shall fly away as a dream and shall not be found yea he shall be chased away as a night vision 3. Better their false peace which must quickly end should be disturbed by Self-trial than that it should cease by their Trial at Gods Bar. The ungodly cannot carry a false peace along with them into another World The rich man in the Gospel that fared sumptuously every day carried none of his good things with him when he died his pleasure then came to a full stop and we read of nothing he met with but evil things torments flames endless and unquenchable Luk. 16. and then the rich man saw it had been better before to have broken off his sinful pleasure by Self-reflection and Repentance 4. Though a false peace upon Self-examination be banished yet there may a true peace be obtained in the room of it Be not unwilling to look into your selves though you find matter of sorrow for godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation They that sow in tears shall reap in joy Psal 126. 5. And Christ pronounces the mourners blessed for they shall be comforted Mat. 5. 4. Case 2. The second Case is this Is it not time enough hereafter for Sinners to search and look into themselves Then when prosperity and youth are gone and affliction and old age are come What necessity is there to put themselves upon the rack presently Ans 1. The longer they defer the more afraid they will be to begin and so it may never be done in this World especially considering that delay will make the work more difficult and grievous The larger the scores are the more loath they will be to look them over and the more peccant and wicked the heart has been the more unwilling it will be to be called to account therefore 't is best to begin this very instant and 't would have been better to have begun before 2. Sin is so great an evil that none can be too soon convinced of it nor too soon converted from it as on the other hand Grace is so excellent that we can never be too early enriched with it and assurance of the love of God so desirable and delightful that it can never be too soon obtained Why should there be a delay in the search after Sin This Enemy should speedily be inquired after since if let alone it may ruine us suddenly before we are aware 3. If Sinners refuse to mind the Lord and themselves in the time of youth and prosperity God may refuse to have any regard to them in the time of their distress Now is the accepted time now they may seek the Lord and search themselves to good purpose but whether the time of affliction may be an accepted time or no is questionable The Lord threatens to laugh at the calamity of some and to mack when their fear comes and that he will not be found of them Prov. 1. 26 28. They that refused to hearken and stopt their Ears and made their hearts like an Adamant Stone see what came to pass at last great wrath came upon them they were scattered with a whirlwind and as he cried and they would not hear so they cried and I would not hear saith the Lord of Hosts Zach. 7. 13. 4. Why should such a short lived creature as Man delay to examine himself What is his life 'T is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanisheth away Jam. 4. 14. How quickly may Death arrest him and summon him before the Lords Tribunal Some are well in one hour sick the next and dead the third nay some are well and sick and dead the same hour if not the same minute Defer not then to look into thy state and heart speedily since upon the sudden it may be said to thee Render an account of thy Stewardship for thou shalt be no longer Steward Luk. 16. 2. Case 3. The third Case follows which is this How shall Sinners that all their days have been careless of and utter Strangers to themselves manage this business of Self-examination Ans 1. Let them get alone not to be speculatively wanton or project for the World or to please themselves with vain and proud and towring imaginations but that they may seriously bethink themselves what is likely to become of them for ever Let them get out of the croud and hurry of worldly business and shake off carnal company and be at leisure to understand their Souls condition Certainly a Soul that is of greater value than all the World is worth minding is worth saving 2. Let the thoughts of God and of Eternity make them serious especially considering how much God has been provoked and how near they may be unto Eternity Time is posting away from them and Death is making great haste towards them and immediately after Death they enter upon Eternal state and how sad will it be if it be a state of eternal woe 3. Let them cry unto God for his Convincing Spirit When the Spirit is given and truely the Lord is ready to give his Spirit unto all that ask him he does discover that in Sin that before was not perceived he makes Hell to become naked and takes off that covering that was upon destruction He holds before Sinners the Glass of Gods holy Law that in that Glass they may behold their hearts and lives shews unto them that the characters of Gods Enemies agree to them and that their spot is not the spot of his Children Deut. 32. 5. Then Sin will revive and Sinners die that is become sensible they are the sons of death and wrath and in great danger of Eternal ruine Now they are to hold up their hands and cry Guilty Guilty and to lament and bemoan themselves as Ephraim did to see themselves in such a lost condition 4. Let them be very inquisitive what they shall do that they might be saved Thus were those Jews that were prickt at the heart Act. 2. and thus was the trembling Jaylour Act. 16. A lost estate being perceived is not to be rested in none ought to be contented to be damned but they must inquire what they must do to escape the wrath to come and they must give themselves to prayer in good earnest and use the other means of grace and the sense of their sin and misery should make them the more servent in crying for that mercy and grace which they so highly stand in need of Case 4. The fourth Case this When Sinners upon Self-trial have found out the badness of their State is there any