of their unworthinesse they stand in their owne light Satan hereby taking advantage against them This I finde to bee a maine master-peece of Satans cunning that before a man is convinced of sinne hee maketh him so full and rich and worthy that hee cares not for the merits of Christ or the mercy of God he will not beg but buy a place in heaven Laodicea was rich and increased with goods and had need of nothing not knowing that shee was wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked Rev. 3. 17. The Corinthians did so shine in their owne opinions and were in such selfe credit that they were rich and full raigning as kings but when a mans eyes are opened to see the sinnefullnesse of his sinnes then hee makes him very poore and his unworthinesse to bee such and so great that it is not for him to thinke of heaven or mercy or Christ a great temptation under which lieth lurking a white divell To relieve the soule in this case I shall propound these few considerations 1. That if unworthinesse were a sufficient ground to keepe men of from divine favour and eternall happinesse none of all the sonnes of men could ever bee saved for all have sinned and by sinne made themselves unworthy of mercy 2. That there is no subjective worthinesse antecedently required unto justification and salvation God well knew the unworthy condition of Israel when hee made them his people entering into the Covenant of life and peace with them Ezek. 16. can you conceive that there was any inherent worthinesse in them that did lie weltring in their owne blood beggars are not worthy of almes traitors are not worthy of pardons nor sinfull men worthy of Christ or mercy Luke 15. 21. and why should we dreame of having a requisite worthinesse of our owne if man had any thing in him he were altogether unfit to come in unto the free offer of grace we see the invitation is made to the monie-lesse and merit-lesse Christian Esa 55. 1. 3. That though worthinesse be not in the streame yet it is in the fountain and though there bee no subjective worthinesse in men yet there is an objective worthinesse in Jesus Christ which is tendred to sinners by grace and accepted by faith there is enough in Christ to make our persons lovely and acceptable to God without whom if we had all selfe-worthinesse wee should remaine in Gods eyes most unworthy persons This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased saith the Father Mat. 3. 17. 4. That notwithstanding mans owne great unworthinesse Assurances for acceptance under unworthines there is enough to assure him of divine acceptance for First Mercy in God is full and free it hath enough in it selfe to incline it selfe to gratious pardons and favourable acceptances God doth blot out transgressions not for mans sake but for his owne sake Esa 43. 25. Secondly mans chiefest selfe-worthinesse is to see his owne unworthinesse and to be humbled for it certainely such Esa 64. 6. Luk. 15. 21. as have base low esteemes of themselves and can dwell upon the guilt and merit of their owne sinnefullnesse judging themselves to hell for it such Phil. 3. 7. as can with Paul disclaime from all worth in themselves and doe see in all their parts and gifts and performances an inability to engratiate them with God such as can in the best of conditions and after the best of performances bewaile their weake expressions of duty acknowledging themselves to be most unprofitable Luk 17. 10. servants needing the mercy of a God and the merit of Christ these I say are men of the greatest worthinesse with God according to the old truth hee paies best for Heaven that seeth hee hath nothing at all to pay for Heaven Thirdly an unworthy sinner may plead out the Covenant of grace with God and the freenesse of the tenders of his mercy I know no man that can or doth more admire and magnifie divine mercy then a sinner truly sensible of his owne unworthinesse I know none more desirous of mercy then such I know none will be more ready to accept of Heaven and favour out of freenesse of grace then such I know none to whom the offer of salvation purchased by Christ is made but such and what now doth hinder them from comming in unto God pleading with him after this or the like manner Gratious Lord I am here before thee for mercy and for thy Christ I see in my selfe nothing worthy thee or thy Christ for I am wholy sinnefull if thou now wilt receive mee for thine owne and pardon mee my sinnes out of thine owne free grace and for the merit of thine onely Sonne alone thou shalt shew thy selfe a gratious God indeed O Lord that which draweth mee in unto thee for grace is thine owne free grace thou gavest mee the word and hope of comfort and therefore I durst not stand out Lord loe heere I am before thee without all confidence in my selfe O let it be unto mee according to the freenesse and richnesse of thy mercy refuse mee not though I am unworthy to be called thy sonne 5. That too much standing on selfe-unworthinesse is many times an argument of secret pride and opinion of merit men would faine bee some body with God and doe something for Heaven Lord how willing is man to have a finger in his owne salvation and to be at the least a co-adjuâ—or with Christ in the office of his Redemption when as in truth it is mercy alone that must doe all and such are most in the way of comfort that referre their spirituall condition unto mercy setting up and advancing the free favour of God as the onely cause of their spirituall estate 1 Cor. 15. 10. tell mee sadly and seriously thou troubled soule if thou hadst more goodnesse in thee if thy graces were more perfect in thee and thy services had beene or could bee better performed by thee then thy hopes and assurances could and would rise within thee then thou couldest have confidence and settlement within thee yes and what is this I pray thee but the spice of pride and secret dependance on merit what wilt thou looke upon thy selfe and within thy selfe and draw out principles of salvation from thy selfe how art thou onely beholding to grace and to Christ for thy salvation when thou thus porest and priest into thy selfe if thou wilt be a cause of thine owne good thou must bee a ground of thine owne glory and if thou wilt bring thy penny thou wilt make thy selfe joynt purchaser with Christ tell mee O Christian hadst thou all thy desired qualifications would they or can they equall the favour of God and durst thou to stand upon this so as to build thy eternall welfare on it bee perswaded out of this vaine and empty conceit of thine and cease further to perplexe thy soule under the thoughts of thine unworthinesse God indeed lookes not out
of himselfe in the acts of his mercy but man must looke wholy upon God and no way upon himselfe if hee intend to bee saved and enjoy mercy CASE IIII. Of imperfection and littlenesse of faith and other graces SUch as are men of grace in truth would bee men of grace in perfection no present measures can content such a sweet and blessed temper and if it were rightly regulated it would worke to Christians much comfort and free their mindes of much trouble but thus it commeth to passe that Christans doe much trouble their mindes with the degrees Littlenes of grace apprehended and measures operations and actions of their graces received they either comparing themselves with others interessed in the same graces with themselves and observing that others doe excell them by farre so as no comparison can be made betweene them or els they looking into themselves doe finde their graces beset with many corruptions that they can discerne much more sinne in them then grace that it is in a manner all naught within them in a word they finding the pulse of grace beating slowly within their faith and patience unactive and in a manner idle within them This I say gives them occasion to question their condition now surely they are not right and sound for that they are more imperfect in their graces then others they goe not forward and increase in their graces as others doe O the eye of their faith is dimme and doth but darkely apprehend the promises of God they doe many times discerne the promises with mistakings fullnesse and setlednesse of apprehension is wanting in them they cannot come off their carnall reasonings and selfe disputations yeelding firmenesse and entirenesse of assent unto the truth of Gods promises as they ought to doe their mindes are not yet so setled that all is yea and Amen that is spoken by God in the promises unto them they often say within themselves hath God indeed said this and this and may a man rely upon the word of his promise they cannot cast anchor so as it shall fasten they see the shore but cannot reach it and they see Christ and the promises but cannot apply them there is an interruption and suspension of the acts of application as for the perswasions of faith in them they are small or none at all they cannot say that God is their God and Christ their Christ and this they make to be their death and burden under which estate wee shall shew you that Christians have not so much cause of creating Ten releevements to the soule under imperfection of grace perplexities to themselves as many times they doe consider with mee 1. That a little grace is better then no grace it is the want of grace that is damnable and may cause a man to close up against himselfe all assurance and settlement tell mee O Christian wouldst thou change thy poore condition in grace for the greatest gracelesse condition in the world wilt thou part from that grace thou hast for any or all the seeming pleasures of sinne I dare say thou wouldst not then bee quieted in thy minde and doe not foolishly argue the nullity of a gratious condition from the imperfection of thy graces 2. That a little grace requireth a great deale of thankes it comming from the God of all grace and being an argument of sound sanctification shall I say that it is not the way of thankfullnesse to make little of any divine mercie we are too little for the least measure by reason of our unworthinesse and we doe not well to undervalew the least proportion and gift of grace 3. That which one man makes little unto himselfe would bee a great deale with many other Christians wee finde in experience that the rich mans complaint would be the poore mans content many poore soules could well feast themselves with the fragments that come from their tables when as they doe foolishly and proudly complain of want just so it is with many Christians they tell us that grace is weake and small in them when other Christians reasoning with them and hearing them complaine doe blesse God for their estate in grace and would bee exceeding glad were they in their condition of grace 4. That men of no grace are never troubled and truly humbled about smallnesse and weakenesse of grace the eyes of such are not yet opened to see their spirituall wants 5. That little grace is an argument of grace in the soule a little man is a man and a little faith is faith grace in truth hath a being in weakenesse it selfe and though it bee in the lowest measures there the soule hath an interest in God in Christ in the promises and in heaven little faith can and doth lay hold of great things and prooves unto Christians a great assurance 6. Little grace is a creature of God which he will not despise or forsake Doth God despise Zach 4. 10. the day of small things will any tender mother cast off her babe because it is weake and shall we imagine that God will not accept according to that a man hath bee it never so little Christians be perswaded that grace in truth though never so small is for acceptance 7. Little grace will doe much it many times doth that in and for Christians under weakenesse that all the world cannot doe for them it is their light in darknesse their life in death and their upholdment from sinking the widdowes little oile and little meale went a great way God blessing it and thus it is with little grace it will carry a man thorough the whole world and doe mighty things for him the great advantages of a little grace is unspeakable 8. That grace in weaknesse is made for strength and grace in littlenesse is fitted for increase our graces passe from imperfection to perfection and from weakenesse unto strength Gods strength being made perfect 2 Cor. 12. 9. in mans weaknesse weaknesse doth both call in and set out the glory of divine assistance consider that he who hath most grace hath not all he should have and hee who hath least in grace hath not all that he would have both measures are rising up unto greater perfections little grace is in a state of growth and in and by the use of meanes it is enlarged as we may see in Nicodemus and all new borne Christians whose growth is much in parts and powers of their graces they have risen from small beginnings to most admirable perfections 9. That gifts of Sanctification and appertaining unto mens salvation are different and unequall grace is alike in nature but not alike in measure in all the different standings of Christians in Christianity and grace is set out unto us both in the comparisons and appellations of them in Scripture they are compared to branches starres sheepe and the members of the body we reade of men and babes fathers and children all men be not of one stature nor all
affect wee shall heare such griefelesse and disgracing narrations of Christians miscarriages even by Christians themselves that it would make a man to question whether all wisdome and mercy bee not banished out of their hearts now when God seeth this proud and envious and spitefull spirit in any of his owne children hee lets them also bee tempted and under temptations they are permitted to fall that they may learne to be more mercifull to the names of their bretheren and to make them know that the sinne that overturnes one Christian may overturne any Christian and that one Christian seeing another to fall should compassionately helpe him up and not scornefully cast him off reade Gal. 6. 1. These things with many other causing the relapsing of Christians into sinne doe make the soules of Christians under its relapsings heavie and sad they considering within themselves that the basenesse of relapsing is likened to the dog turning 2 Pet. 2. â—2 to his vomit and the sow that is washed wallowing in the mire it doth greatly trouble and disquiet them concerning the setling of Christians labouring Five settlements under relapses under this evill I shall onely propound five things of principall knowledge and use First that all Relapsings into sinne are great evills wheresoever they are found relapsing argueth corruption yea and a sinfull disposition in man There is not onely the evill of sinne in this condition but wee shall finde many bitter effects and issues befalling Christians under their relapses for they do not onely hereby object themselves to many temporall punishments Psal 78. 61 62 63. but unto these foure spirituall evills 1. Soule-disquietment the peace of conscience being broken by every relapse I say relapses are of a disquieting nature to conscience in these five respects 1. Because they bring back Relapses disquieting to conscience in five respects all former guilts and with that all the former burdens and feares and terrors 2. Because they yeeld unto conscience matter of undeniable accusation the doubling of sin doth double the accusation and vexation of conscience 3. Because they are the aggravation of sinne unto man 4. Because they make the foundations and resting places of the soule questionable relapses put a man to cleare and proove his former grants and assurances to Heaven and his owne sincerity to God and in Religion 5. Because they doe greatly advantage temptations unto despaire Christians are never more apt to despaire then upon the consideration of their often falling into sinne 2. Discouragement in all accesses unto God the Christian cannot with that confidence and boldnesse draw neare unto God in prayer having relapsed as els hee might have done how can such beleeve that God will love them and heare them when as they have dealt so falsly with him having promised him not to sinne and mocked and abused him in his mercy and pitty and patience he having formerly pardoned them their sins 3. Disablement unto renewed repentance Now Christians doe finde it more difficult to returne from sinne their soules being sunke deeper into sinne and more entangled by sinne then formerly it was take mee a Christian that is but single in sinne and hee findeth the difficulties of repenting to bee great but how doth Satan renew his power and a Christian loose his strength when that the same sinnes are repeated over and over assuredly there is strange strengthenings of sin in relapsing into sinnes one sinne living in and by another 4. Feares of death O how unwelcome is the newes of death and how unwilling are such to die who have often fallen into the same sinnes Relapses doe put a sting into death making it very terrible unto the sonnes of men 2. That the Elect of God may fall backe againe into the same sinnes there is I say a possible incidency of relapsing unto persons of all sorts it is most certaine that wicked men who are ordained to destruction may relapse Pharaoh though humbled for the present did notwithstanding harden his heart againe and againe yea and they who are good and holy and have soundly repented them of their former sins may yet relapse the example of Abraham Lot Peter and Israel doth declare it how often doth God lay this sinne unto the charge of his people Ier. 3. 12. 14. 2â— Psal 78. 57. and no marvaile for though their repentance bee sound yet their mortification is imperfect in this life there is no sinfull disposition wholy rooted up and dried in sanctified persons and corruption remaining will put forth its nature into more and more acts yea and into the same acts of sinning as long as sinne retaines its nature it doth and will retaine the inclinations and operations of that nature also if the fire be not wholy put out who will thinke it impossible that it should catch and burne againe 3. That though the act of relapsing bee incident both to good and bad yet it is in a differing manner which I shall open Relapses into sinne by the godly different from relapses into sin by the vvicked Relapses 1 Naturall unto you in the distinctions of relapsings First there are relapses 1. Naturall 2. Accidentall Naturall relapses are such as spring from a disposition and temper that is wholy sinnefull and for sinne if a man by a coard pluck up very high the Simile weightof a jack or clock yet it hath a naturall propension to fall downe againe you need not drive the sow to the mire nor the dog unto his vomit their owne naturall love and delight will returne them the truth is that though externall and intervenient occasions may pen up or restraine the violence of corruption for a time yet such is the inward disposition of a naturall man unto sinne that hee soone returnes to his old course againe skin up the soare and the ulcer will breake out againe and if the heart bee not changed but chained by the power of restraining graces alone man will returne to his old vomit and vaine course Accidentall Relapses are 2. Accidentall such which befall the godly by sudden and strong temptations a land flood may carry back pieces of timber from the banke into the remote places of the ground an unexpected gale may drive the Marriner backe into the harbour againe and it is as possible that temptations may breake in with that violence that Christians may bee over-borne and carried away to those sinnes which their soules doe most sincerely abhorre and they have solemnely covenanted against yet here the effect and the intention are contrary heart and sinne being at difference and upon tearmes of defiance Secondly Relapses may bee either into the acts of sinne or else into the exercise of sinne one sick person falls back into some fits onely another returneth under the power of his disease againe the godly man falls backe into some particular sinne but there hee staieth not for though hee fall hee riseth againe hee is as a man fallen into the water