3.14 and there Translated Confidence Faith is a Confident and stedfast Expectation of Things promised It apprehends the Promise and adheres to it and assures the Soul of the Accomplishment of it and causeth the Soul to live in Expectation thereof It realizeth the Promises and shews the Soul how substantial they are that the things promised are no Trifles or feigned things but things of Substance weight and worth really subsisting and certainly to be enjoyed and enables the Soul confidently to expect them Thus it 's the Substance of the things Hoped for And it 's the Evidence of things not seen Things not seen either because future or because invisible Faith represents to the Mind as sure and certain The Eye of Faith beholds Christ with all his Excellencies the Immortality of the Soul and the Glory of Heaven as evidently as the Eye of the Body doth visible things Now â—et us reduce this to practice can we experimentally subscribe to this Description of Faith Do we see a reality in the unseen things it is evident to our Souls that God is the chief Good and Christ the fountain of Grace and chief of ten Thousands and that all his promises are certain and infallible and do we depend upon them and live in sure and certain Hope of the accomplishment of them then we have the faith which is called the Faith of the Elect Tit. 1.1 because it 's peculiar to them and to none but them Yet further Paul here describes faith not only by its Excellency but also by its Efficacy 2. By its Efficacy v. 2. By it the Elders obtained a good report and they are famous to this day for the Testimony that God gives of the efficacy of their faith Faith wrought in them such works as were such evidences of the Truth of their Faith It 's their works of Faith that makes their memory so Honourable Faith without works saith James is dead it is of no more worth than a dead Dog It 's our works that do shew what our faith is A working Faith is a saving Faith Let us then examine our Faith by our works are our works the works of Faith do we pray in Faith and hear in Faith and live by Faith thus much for the Trial of our saving Faith Come we to our Love let us examine 2. Our Love to Christ whether it be sincere 1 John 4.16 He that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him True Love you see is demonstrative of Gods dwelling by his Spirit in the Soul Let us then try our Love 1. By its Measure Do we love Christ most and best We love many Creatures and it 's allowed us Parents are to love their Chidren and Husbands their Wives but what is it that lies next our hearts and hath the largest measure of our Love I am sure Christ deserves most love from us for he hath done most for us but do we Love him above all is Christ a Pearl in our Eyes can we say with the Spouse in our Eyes he is altogether Lovely we have other Loves but none that lies so near our Hearts as Christ he is our Beloved and our best Beloved 2. By the Motive that moves us so to love Christ What is it that hath so endeared us to Christ is it the gain we expect from him or the good we see in him Cant. 5.10 The Church professeth much Love to Christ and tells the cause thereof it was the Beauty and Excellency of Christ that had gained her heart this was the attractive of her Love is it so with us is it Christs Love to Souls and his Loveliness that draws out your Love towards him Then there is sincerity and not selfish in your Love to Christ 3. By the Might and strength of your Love to Christ Love is of a constraining Nature 2 Cor. 5.14 Now do you find your Love to Christ constrain you doth it constrain you to vindicate the Honour of Christ against all that cast open contempt upon him doth it constrain you to value the Ordinances above worldly wealth and dignity doth it constrain you to venture all for Christ in suffering and trying times doth it constrain you to avoid every thing as far as you can that is offensive to Christ what influence hath your Love to Christ upon your Hearts and Lives doth it constrain you to carry it dutifully towards Christ and to cast off your beloved Lusts because they dishonour Christ and to conform to the Laws of Heaven because they are the Yoke of Christ are the things of Christ become precious to you Oh deal faithfully with your Souls 3 Vse Of Entreaty both to such as have not Christ in them and to such as have him in them 1. You that have not Christ as yet in you Be entreated and perswaded to live no longer without Christ in the World you have heard your danger and the dreadfulness of your danger and the desparate Madness of such as do sit down in so dangerous a Condition And now in the Name of Christ I earnestly beseech and entreat you to take the matter into serious Consideration The Lord Jesus Christ the great Mediator of the Covenant and victorious Captain of our Salvation makes as it were an Ho Yes Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man open the door I will come in and Sup with him and he with me And he is now knocking at the door of your Heart and craving admission and tendering himself and the Riches of his Grace and Mercy unto you upon condition that you will receive and entertain him and accept of him as your Lord and Saviour and consent and submit to the gracious Terms of the Gospel Oh comply with his gracious offer and open to him and let him in Put off Christ no longer expect not Salvation by Christ without giving your selves up to Christ to be Governed by him according to the Gospel What shall I now say to perswade you to be over entreated to get Christ into your Souls and not to sit down still in a Christless condition the business is of great importance and I stand here in Christs stead to beseech you to be reconciled to God and to use your utmost endeavour to make sure of Christ and would gladly prevail with you for your own good to set about this great concern to this end press these following perswasives upon your own Spirits and that with the seriousness as the weightiness of the matter requires 1. The case you are in calls for speedy Help You live without Christ in the World this is your case and it is a case that you can neither live nor die in with safety or comfort As long as you live thus you live under the guilt of all your Sins and under the wrath of God and if you die thus you die in your Sins and to Hell you must go And is this a Case to be neglected and disregarded were your Estates
suppress Grace for a time and Satan may give them a Martial fall but the end of the Encounter will be the beating of Satan out of the Field the recovery of the Soul to its pristine Liberty and renewed sweet mutual embraces betwixt Christ and the Soul Cant. 2.8 Behold he cometh leaping upon the Mountains skipping upon the Hills The greatest Mountains cannot keep Christ and his People asunder The Mountains that stand in his way cannot impede his return but drooping Souls shall with admiration behold the return of their beloved returning with speed and joy to the Beloved Habitation of their Souls Jer. 31.20 Is Ephraim my dear son is he a pleasant Child for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord. The Sons of God have such an Interest in the heart of their heavenly Father and are so dear to him that though their provocations sometimes occasion his frowns yet still he hath them in remembrance and exerciseth Bowels of Compassion towards them and for their Comfort gives them full assurance of Releif from him Surely I will have Mercy upon him saith the Lord in which words there is 1. An Assertion I will have mercy on him he thâ—â—ks that he is quite cast out of Favour and 〈…〉 to despare of my mercy but this is his mistake I will have mercy upon him his wickedness and unworthiness shall not hinder it I will take away his Sin and have mercy upon his Soul 2. An Asseveration Surely I will do it I do not only say it but will surely do it He doubts of it but he shall be sure of it as sure as if it were done already Oh the gracious Condescention of our God! He knows what unbelieving hearts we have and to encourage us in hoping and believing he backs his Promises with such Confirmations as do put them beyond all doubt and question 2. Vse Of Instruction to three sorts of Persons viz. To such as are wallowing in their Sins to such as are weak in their Faith and Hope and to such as are waiting in Hope for the Glory of Heaven 1. To such as are Wallowing in their Sins Oh all ye that live in Uncleanness Drunkenness Ungodliness and Unrighteousness and Consequently live without Christ and true Hope in the World be Instructed from this Doctrine to take notice of some great Truths that much concern you As 1. Observe the Happiness of such as do Believe and Cordially Embrace the Gospel and change your Thoughts of them You account them simple contemptible People and think that they are more precise than wise but consider is it not better to enjoy Christ in Grace and assured hopes of enjoying him in Glory than to live Vitiously without any regard to Glory I appeal to your own Consciences and desire you to take the answer that your Consciences will give you to this question Whether they are in the better Condition that live under guilt and in constant danger of eternal Death and Damnation or they that by Faith and Repentance are united to and in Communion with their Blessed Redemer and live in sure and certain Hope of Glory 2. Observe the High-way to obtain both the Hope of Glory here and the enjoymâ—nt of Glory hereafter And this you see is not the professing Christ with the Mouth but possessing him in the Heart Not the owning of Christ by the Soul but the admitting Christ into the Soul It 's this that is the appointed way to Glory and to the Hope of Glory and if you fall short of this you will certainly fall short of Glory Alas you talk of living in Hope of Glory and have hopes in your selves but they are false Hopes and pernitious Hopes that make you secure and careless in the midst of the most dreadful Danger and take heed least that Threatning be executed upon you 1 Thes 5.3 When they shall say peace and safety then suddain destruction cometh on them as travel upon a Woman with child and they shall not escape 3. Observe the Hatefulness of the Sin of Unbelief and the reason why there is so much said against it in the Gospel Here lies the vileness of this Sin where it Reigns it vitiates the Heart and keeps Christ and the Soul asunder and so frustrates the Death of Christ to the Soul And this is your Case You are oft told of your Misery and pressed to flie to the City of Refuge but you believe not our Report of your Case but by Unbelief bolt the Door of your Hearts against the Voice of the Gospel and this makes your Case so hopeless Your Unbelief is that which so much endangers your Ruin Did you beileve the account that God himself gives of your Case in his Holy Word you could not feed your selves with these false Hopes that keep you from Repentance 4. Observe the Holiness of this Glory that this Doctrine speaks of and your unmeetness for the same Col. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light This Inheritance is a heavenly Inheritance and the Inheritance of none but Saints and these Saints are made meet for it before they are received into it If then you would be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints you must be made meet for it Can you imagin that such filthy Hearts as yours are meet for Heaven what should such as you do in Heaven were it possible for such as you to get into Heaven Heaven would be a Hell to you You that are now tyred so much with an hour or two spent in the Service of your Maker how could you brook the Holiness of Heaven and the heavenly Imployments of Saints and Angels 5. Observe the Hopelesness of a Christless Condition The Hopes of Glory are inconsistent with a Christless Condition Such as live without Christ in the World must needs live without Hope of Glory also Ephes 2.12 Ye were without Christ Having no hope and without God in the world I pray you mind what the Lord says of your Condition You say you have Hope but God says that your Condition is a hopeless Condition and that you have not Hope Alas your Hope is no Hope in Gods Account for it is no well-grounded Hope no true Hope It 's presumption and not Hope it 's said Rom. 5.5 Hope maketh not ashamed That is Divine Hope is certain and infallible and doth not shame such as enjoy it by way of Frustration But what shame will your Hope expose you to what confusion will it put you to when it fails and you miss of your vain Glorious Hope how many are there now in Hell that on Earth boasted of their Hopes of Heaven Now shall I beg of you that you would commune with your selves about these things and take them into serious Consideration and press them upon your own Spirits
you and you fall into it you are utterly undone for ever Your eternal State will be wofully Wretched and miserable and will ye not make your escape from everlasting Wo Oh dreadful 3. The Dreadfulness of your danger lies in the Certainty and Senselesness of your danger 1. In the Certainty of it there are fictitious dangers feigned but your danger is certain as sure as the Sun is in the Firmament so sure is it that you are in extream danger I confess many a Child of God think they are in their dangers and in them it 's only imaginary but you that live without Christ are certainly in danger I have proved it to you out of Gods Word and it 's as certain as Death it self is or as Judgment is and you will find it so in the end 2. In the Senslesness of it This Consummates the dreadfulness of your danger you do not see nor will you be brought to believe your own danger you are told oft and it is proved to you out of the infallible Word of God and yet you will not be convinced of it The consideration of this brought Tears from the eyes of Paul Phil. 3.18 He could not speak of it with dry eyes that men should be so stupid as to continue their Emnity against Christ and Christianity when the end thereof is destruction and cannot be made apprehensive of their own dreadful danger There is no hope of Glory for such as have not Christ in them and yet thousands that have not Christ in in them hope for Glory in a Christless condition and conclude that they are safe and out of all danger and will not be perswaded otherwise This this Beloved fixeth you to your dangerous Estate ye are in great danger and like to continue so because you will not yield that you are in any danger Now consider 3ly The desperate Madness of sitting down contented under this dreadful danger You have heard your Danger and the dreadfulness of your danger and now if you concern not your selves about getting out of this danger I must say to you as Paul did to the Galathians Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you Surely ye are infatuated besotted Fools desperate Mad-men the World and the Devil have bewitched you Mat. 3.7 Many came to Johns Baptism confessing their Sins and pretending amendment and amongst other many Pharisees and Sadduces and John said unto them O Generation of Vipers who hath warned you to flie from the wrath to come q. d. It is certain that there is a dreadful wrath to come and that all that are under the guilt of their Sins are in danger of it and that it 's their great concern to flie with speed and hast from the wrath to come And you Pharisees seem to be aware of this and pretend to endeavour to flie from the wrath to come but will not part with your Sins if you would escape the danger you are under it must be by sincere Repentance and not by pretended Repentance you must bring forth Fruit meet for Repentance Oh consider what desperate madness it is for Sinners to stand in danger of the wrath to come and yet to sit down under this danger and not flie from the wrath to come and use their utmost endeavours to make their escape would you not account that Man a Mad-man that having run himself into some unseen danger and is called to by others that see and know his Danger Friend Friend stay turn back or you are a gone man yet takes no warning but runs headlong upon his own ruine This is your Case God and Man call to you Turn ye Turn ye why will ye die The way you are in leads to Hell and Destruction hasten out of it or you are undone for ever And ye will take no warning but run on in your self-destructive Courses Now you are told of your Danger of the dreadfulness of it and of the desperate Madness of such as sit down contentedly under this danger And now what will you do what do you resolve upon in this Case what will ye do as ye do and be as you are and stand to the venture God forbid that the Devil should so besot you What in danger and in so great danger and will you continue in it and take no warning Oh far be it from you I am loth to leave you unconvinced and therefore entreat you seriously to consider 1. What an Uncharitable thing it is and how unreasonable in you to stop your Ears under this present warning How far is it below Men of common understanding how unmanly a part to refuse such Counsel as so much concerns your own Interest Is it not to act like an Ideot or a Frantick Person that regard no advice for their own good What is it not your own concern your greatest concern And will you be uncharitable to your selves Will you act against your own Welfare Will you shew no Charity to your Selves Have ye no Love for your own Souls Will ye not be disswaded from destroying your selves 2. What an unaccountable thing it is How unexcusable What can you say for your selves when Christ shall charge it upon you at the greaâ— day When he shall say Were not ye warned by such and such Such a time and such a time Why did you not take warning What Plea can you make surely none And will you turn your back upon Counsel when you have nothing to say against it will you condemn your selves in the things you allow 3. What an unkind ungrateful and unsufferable a thing it is Rom. 2.4 5. Despisest thou the Riches of his Goodness It 's a Mercy and a rich Mercy in God to acquaint you with your danger and to call upon you to make your escape and to shew you the City of Refuge where you may live in Safety viz. Christ Jesus And what a sleight do you put upon his Mercy What an abuse upon his Goodness Do ye thus requite the Lord Is it fair betwixt Man and Man to take advice and have good advice given and to turn the back upon it do you not in such a Case use to say I will be no more concerned with such a Man he is uncounsellable And may not God justly deal so with you and say there is no good to be done with such and such they will not be counselled I 'll be no more concerned with them Oh my Word let them alone and thou my Spirit let them alone And if you bring the matter to this pass then there is no help for you ye are lost Creatures and will perish in your Sins 2. Vse Of Tryal Examine your selves whether you be in the Faith prove your own selves know ye not that Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 It highly concerns us all to turn our Eyes inward and to make a diligent Inspection into our selves to see how matters stand betwixt God and our Souls in this
and Lives in danger you would be concerned and bestir you to save your selves you would cry out for help and be thankful to any one that would tell you how to escape your danger Now in your case your Souls are in Danger and in present Danger and in great Danger and will you not be perswaded to seek to save your selves 2. The Cure prescribed is a proper Cure Christ within is the Cure and this is a suitable Cure Your Disease is inward to wit the Plague of the Heart and outward Applications cannot reach it it calls for an inward Remedy Nay more Christ within is not only a suitable Cure but also a Soveraign Cure that will certainly and infallibly Cure you Yea this is the only Cure all other remedies are vain and insufficient and will you reject such a remedy It 's a remedy of Gods own prescription and cures all that make use of it and will you not use it will you chuse Death before Life Damnation before Salvation Oh then what will you do in the end thereof 3. The Cost of the Cure now offered is discharged and now freely offered It is a Costly Cure the price paid down for it is beyond Value Who can reckon up the value of the Cross of Christ Heb. 2.10 He was made Perfect through sufferings There is a twofold perfection imputed to Christ 1. Perfectio Personae His Person was perfectly qualifyed for his Offices He was perfectly Sanctified and so he was a perfect High-Priest 2. Perfectio Operis the Work of Redemption was consummated by his perfect Obedience and meritorious Sufferings He became a perfect Saviour thereby and perfected the Work of Redemption that he might be a Soveraign Redemy and save to the utmost all such as came to him He made plenary satisfaction to Divine Justice for the Sins of such as he was to Save And it cost him dear to become an infallible Cure for perishing Souls it cost him his Life he parted with his precious Blood he bore the weight of Gods Wrath and underwent the shameful and painful Death of the Cross it cost him many a dreadful Pang and will you sleight so costly a Cure do ye account the Blood of Christ a vain thing hath he been at the cost of the Cure and at so great cost and will you refuse so costly a Cure freely offered can ye put a greater Indignity upon Christ than to tell him to his Face that you account him a Physician of no Value and will have nothing to do with him nor with the Cure he offereth you is this your kindness to such a Friend 4. The Course you take is fatal and deadly You refuse to let Christ into your hearts and bolt the door against him and this will be your ruin if persisted in without Repentance You reject the remedy at your own Peril and your destruction will be of your selves and you will know hereafter what it is to reject your own Salvation Can you that refuse such rich Mercy think to escape Divine Vengance Oh how dreadful are the fore-thoughts of your Condemnation and what then will the Execution be will you not be disswaded from turning your backs upon your Blessed Saviour when he is offering and tendering Salvation to you will ye bring the Blood of Christ and the Blood of your own Souls upon your heads and wilfully run on in Rebellion against Christ 'till the Wrath of the Lord go out against you and there be no remedy then I say of all men you are most miserable It had been better for you you had never been born or had been made Moles instead of Men but I would perswade my self of better things of you and such as accompany Salvation Consider 5. The Change for the better that Christ in the heart will make in you 1 Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed ye are sanctified ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God See here 1. The Agent in this change the Spirit in them 2. The Advantage of the change it was a change for the better that of bad made them good of unclean clean and brought them out of Danger into safety out of a State of Condemnation into a State of Justification out of a State of Sin into a State of Sanctity a blessed Change And Christ in the Heart will make such a Change in you He will change your Hearts and Lives and fit you to live and fit you to dy And let me tell you for your Encouragment that the change will be so Sweet to your selves that you will find such a strange unexpected content and satisfaction in it that you would not be what you now are for a World Little do you know the Comforts that accompany such a change Oh be perswaded to live and you will never repent thereof but enjoy such a Happiness in your self as the World cannot afford 2. You that have Christ in you Be you entreated to live as such as have Christ in you Col. 2.4 As ye have received Christ so walk in him See that your words and works favour of Christ Live not below your selves Is it for such as have Christ in them to mind earthly things and to make a God of the World is it for such as have Christ in them to maintain Pride in their Habiâ—s and Behaviours and to wear the Flags of Lucifer and the Dress of Flora is it for such as have Christ in them to muster up the Spirit of Contention and to cast Squibs one at another are ye not carnal herein and walk as Men as Paul doth Phrase it that is as meer Men that have nothing of the Spirit of Christ in them Is it for such as have Christ in them to manage Religious Exercises carnally and deceitfully To be Time-servers and Men-pleasers and to serve God no further than it will stand with Self-interest Oh Sirs What manner of Persons should you be in all holy Conversation and Godliness 2 Pet. 3.11 How should you strive to conform your selves to Christ and not to the World and to live according to the Laws of Heaven and not according to the vain Customs of wicked Men How should you let others see that Christ within hath changed you and made you Gospel proof that neither Profit Example nor Honour can turn you from the Principles and Precepts of the Gospel if Christ be in you be ye followers of Christ as Dear Children 1. And see that you live Circumspectly Eph. 5.15 See that you walk circumspectly not as Fools but as Wise It will be your Wisdom to keep up your spiritual Watch and to Watch carefully though Christ be in you yet there is much Corruption within you and the Flesh will be Lusting against the Spirit and if it prevail it will grieve the Spirit and occasion it's withdrawings as to Sense and Apprehension and cause Christ to hide his Face from you and to stand
but poor work of it he will be quickly weary of his work it s the Hope of a good Crop that makes the Husbandman Labour hard in Seed time he Plows and Soweth in Hope and its Hope that Spurs him on and encourageth him in his Work So it is the Hope of Glory that carries a Christian through his Work Acts 24.16 Herein do I exercise my self says Paul Wherein was it that he was so diligent in Religious Exercises why it was in Hopes of a joyful Resurrection ver 15. I have Hope towards God of the joyful Resurrection of the Just And in Hope thereof I endeavour to be of that number exercising my self in works of Holiness and Righteousness 1 Cor. 15. last Abound in the Works of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord q. d. You know your Labour shall be rewarded and live in Hope of Glory and is it for you to Loiter No no your Hopes of Glory is given you to help on your Labour that you may abound in the Works of the Lord. 2. To help us in our Warfare for it fortifies the Soul and is as needful as Arms are for Souldiers We are all Souldiers under Christ the Captain of our Salvation and fight against his Enemies And this Hope is one of our spiritual Weapons It 's our Helmet 1 Thess 5.8 Put on for a helmet the hope of Salvation It hath both the Use and Force of a Helmet As a Helmet saves the Head and Heart and stands betwixt them and danger So our Hope of Glory doth in the time of Temptation stand betwixt the Soul and the danger and put by the strokes of the Temptation When the Soul is assaulted its Answer to the Temptation is No no if I yeild I shall dash my Hope of Glory God hath promised Glory to such as hold out against Temptations and I live in Hope of Glory and prize my Hope of Glory and will not for the Pleasures of Sin that are but for a moment hazzard the loss of this Glory I am Christs Souldier and shall I fight against my own Captain and him with whom I hope to live in Glory away Satan it s not for one that lives in Hope of Glory and finds and feels the sweetness thereof in his own Soul to have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness 3. To help us in our Wants for it fits us for supplies We are needy Creatures alway in want and God hath made plentiful provision for the supply of our wants if we hope in him and promised such to supply all their need according to his Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus Psa 31. last Be of good Courage and he shall strengthen your hearts all ye that hope in the Lord Though ye be weak and need strengthening and lie under heavey Burthens and want strength to bear them yet be of good Courage God will strengthen your hearts Psal 147 12. The Lord takes pleasure in those that hope in his mercy And are they the Objects of his Delight then surely he will look after them and take notice of their needs and give them seasonable supplies and hear and answer the Prayers that they put up for these supplies Such as pray in hope are sure to speed for hope redownds much to the Glory of God It implies an acknowledment of his faithfulness and alsufficiency and it puts the Soul in a waiting Frame and meets mercy with a thankful Heart and therefore God doth take Pleasure in such and in shewing mercy to such Now lay these things together and you will see both what hope God expects from you and why you are to exercise Hope and of what use this precious Grace is God expects that your hope be of the right kind a still and stedfast Hope a lively and lasting Hope grounded upon the indwelling of Christ in the Soul and his faithfulness in his Promises made to such Souls and such a hope as this is a mighty great help to the Soul both in its Work in its Warfare and in all its Wants And now I proceed to the Proof of the Doctrine 3 Quest How doth it appear that Christ in us is our Hope of Glory Answ Though few mind it yet all shall know at the great Day that this Doctrine is a great Truth and if we will submit our judgments to the Standard of Truth the infallible Word of God it will convince us and clearly inform us that it 's Christ in us that is our Hope of Glory 1. The Provisoes we find in the Acts of Oblivion recorded in the Word exempt all such from mercy as receive not Christ by Faith into their Souls and so excludes them from all Hope of Glory There are Acts of Grace in the Gospel that grant pardon and promise Glory to all penitent Believers that receive Christ by Faith into their Souls and consent and submit to his Scepter And upon these Acts of Grace our Hope of Glory is built as upon a Foundation But these Acts of Grace have Provisoes that exempt out of mercy and favour such as continue in impenitence and unbelief and in disobedience to the Gospel and tell such that it is in vain for them whilst such to Hope for Glory But in that Estate they can expect no mercy for God hath exempted them in the Acts of Grace 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Be not deceived nither fornicators nor Idolaters c. shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Glory is promised to some but gross Sinners are exempted The Apostle thus Treats the Corinthians If any amongst you lead wicked Lives and hope to go to Heaven in their Sins be it known to them that they are deceived they do but deceive themselves by thus hoping such shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven if they live and dye in their Sins they live and die without an Interest in Christ and shall be shut out of Heaven but if any have been such and are changed and converted from Sin to Christ let such live in Hope of Glory Such as do continue in a State of Sin and are neither Justified nor Sanctified do vainly expect to be Glorified 2. The Promises that we find in the said Acts of Grace and the persons to whom these Promises are made do prove the truth of this Doctrine We find a grant of mercy in the Acts of Grace and Christ promising to Save some from the Wrath to come and to receive them into Glory But who are the Persons concerned in this Grant that are the subjects of this Grace and to whom the Promise is made it is not to all Sinners nor to Sinners as Sinners but to Penitent Sinners to such Sinners and to all such and to none but such as come to Christ in the path of the Promise with penitent Hearts and accept of him upon his own Terms and receive him by Faith into their Souls to dwell with them by his Grace and Spirit and reign
Souls should fallely apply this to themselves and so aggrivate their discouragements I shall first describe the Hypocrite and then lay open the falsness of his Hope That Professor is an Hypocrite that for self-interest conforms to the outward exercises of Christianity and walks in the tract of the duties thereof but is a stranger to the inwards of duty viz. the enjoyment of Christ and the exercise of Grace therein hath no regard to the inward man hath nothing of the Image of Christ in the Soul is wholly carnal and sensual not having the Spirit is altogether destitute of saving Grace And as for his gifts he useth them for by ends to quiet his Conscience to keep up his Name and Credit amongst Christians or to curry favour with some that he hath a dependance upon As for such as labour under a trembling fear of hypocrisie and bewail that partial hypocrisie they find in themselves and fight and pray against it they hereby give such an evidence of their sincerity as declares that they are of the number of true Christians and cannot be ranked amongst Hypocrites and their Fault lies not in hoping but in the weakness of their Hope and oft in rejecting the Hope of Glory But the Hypocrite tho' he be not in a hopeful condition yet he is commonly full of confidence and cherisheth false hope in himself but this Doctrine overthrows his hope Si tollitur causa tollitur effectus Take away the Cause and the Effect ceaseth Now in these the experience of the saving work of Grace in the heart is wanting Christ was never formed in them and therefore there can be no such thing in them as any true Hope of Glory And hence it is the Spirit of God in the Word cries down the hope of the Hypocrite and tells him that it is not to be trusted to but that in vain they hope for Glory Job 8.13 14. The Hypocrites Hope shall perish His trust shall be a Spiders Web Spun out of a false conceit of their own brains and when the besom of destruction comes it fails and proves a Spiders Web for weakness and worth and durance it proves of no value Job 27.8 What is the Hope of the Hypocrite when God taketh away his Soul Then where is his hope Alas he then finds his hope turned into despair and he that hoped for Heaven is cast down into Hell Oh these false Hopes how do they vanish under the greatest needs of the Soul such come before God like men to a Market with Money enough in their Pocket that they took for good but proves counterfeit and will not pass and so they cannot supply any of their need with it So these hopes fails them when they most need them and will not pass for currant their hopes of Glory have not 〈◊〉 grain of good in them they are counterâ—eit Coin away with them 2. To prophane Wretches that live scanâ—alous Lives wallow in wickedness that â—ne would think that they could not pretend 〈◊〉 any hopes of Glory and yet I have met with many of these that feed themselves with hopes of Glory Though these hopes are the Childrens bread yet these Dogs snatch at them and they that are Posting towards Hell will not be brought to see their Danger but think they are going to Heaven Oh you that live prophane Lives and yet hope for Glory hear what is said of your hope Job 11.20 The Hope of the wicked shall be as the giving up of the Ghost that is He that is seized with Death and his Soul ready to expire may as well hope to Live as such hope for Heaven in the State they are in Or their Hope is as the giving up of the Ghost that is as a puff of breath like the last puff of breath that a dying man puffeth when he leaves the World that vanisheth in a moment It 's no more to be regarded no more to be relied upon then such a puff And when the Wicked puff out their last breath their breath and hope will vanish together Then adieu to Breath and adieu to Hope Oh ye that live in notorious Wickedness and yet hope for Mercy from God in this State of Sin at your Death give me leave to expostulate with you a little about your hopes 1. What reason can you give for this hope that is in you what Word of God have you met with to ground your hope on Alas alas that you should take up a hope that hath not one Word of God for its support but much against it in the Scripture Nay let me tell you your hope is false or God himself false in his Word reconcile your hope if you can to these Scriptures Psa 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell Job 19.7 He shall perish for ever like his own Dung Isa 3.11 Wo to the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him Isa 27.11 He that made them shall not have mercy on them and he that formed them shall shew them no favour Rom. 2.9 Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul that doth evil 2 Thes 1.7.8.9 The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven ta-Vengance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction 2. What Right can you claim to Christ and to Salvation by him he is a Saviour of the believer and of none but believers if you say you believe and therefore he is your Saviour then hear what James says to you James 2.18 19 20. Thy Faith is a dead Faith and profits nothing and this he proves thus Faith without works is dead thy Faith is such a Faith and therefore but a dead Faith Obj. This Doctrine tends to despair and leaves a Sinner without Hope and therefore a dangerous Doctrine Answ It 's the Doctrine of the Gospel and tells you that there is no hope for you in a State of Sin and yet there is Hope no Hope and yet Hope No Hope whilst you cleave to your Sins and prefer your Sins before your Salvation And yet Hope if you turn true penitent Believers Ezra 10.2 There is hope in Israel viz. For Sinners in case of Repentance Ezek. 18.30 Turn you from all your Iniquity so Iniquity shall not be your ruin otherwise it will certainly ruin you so that Life and Death are set before you Salvation and Damnation Salvation in case of Repentance but Damnation in case you live and die without true Repentance Now what will ye do in this Case will you be as you are and do as you do then you remain hopeless but if you will turn from all your Sins to God and accept of Salvation by Christ in Gods appointed way then you may live in Hope of Glory Heb. 6.18 Who have fled for Refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us You see there is a Refuge for you to flie to a Present Patent
Potent and permanent Refuge and God is this Refuge to him you must flie and that with speed by Faith and Repentance and in this way you may lay hold of this Hope whilst you neglect or refuse flying to this Refuge you have nothing to do to lay hold of this Hope of Glory I have now done with the first great truth that this Doctrine informs us of and enter upon the Second 2. All hearts in whom Christ dwells ought to live in Hope of Glory It 's their Sin and shame that their Hope of Glory is so low and little and their fears and doubts so many and great and therefore I shall expostulate the case with these to convince them of their Sin in cherishing Unbelief and to encourage them to sure and certain Hopes of Glory 1. Are not you under the Commands of God and his Sworn Subjects how dare you then live in the daily breach of his express Precepts you dare not Swear nor Lie nor commit Adultery because these are Acts of disobedience to the Lord your God how then comes it to pass that you dare refuse to hope in God and to Act Faith in Christ are not these commanded Duties Psal 121. last Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever 1 John 3.23 This is his Commandment that we should believe Now judge in your selves ought you not to give an universal Obedience to the Commands of God and is not a Command from God a sufficient Warrant against Presumption why then do you exempt your selves from yielding Obedience to the Commands of Faith and Hope 2. Are you not under the Covenant of Grace and was it not made and Sealed on purpose to strengthen your Hope and doth it not Answer all Objections against Hope 1 Pet. 1.21 Christ was raised and Glorified that your Hope might be in God The Resurrection and Glorification of Christ proves the Consummation of the work of Redemption and that our Reconciliation with God was accomplished and the Covenant of Grace ratified and this calls upon Believers to hope in God and declares that their doubts and fears are groundless 3. Are you not under the Custody of Christ and your Salvation secured by him and your Life hid with him in God Col. 3.3 and can you doubt of his Love that loved you to Death can ye question his Power that commanded all things out of nothing can ye be Jealous over his Truth that hath alway been true to his word and is truth it self What can you say for your selves did Christ die for you and doth he now dwell in you and will ye account your Condition hopeless surely this is a piece of great weakness and very blame-worthy in such as you Obj. It is blame-worthy in such as have Christ within them but that is not our Case we had him in us and had Communion with him and lived in high Hopes of Glory but are now left without any Hope or ground of Hope we have Sinned him and all our Hope of Glory away and are justly cast off by him Answ This Objection answers its selfs The Concession in the former Part contradicts the Conclusion in the latter Part Such as have enjoyed Christ cannot be cast off by Christ and therefore I shall endeavour to make out these things for the satisfaction of such 1. That they are stated in a State of safety 2. That they stand under the Obligation of this Duty of hoping in God 3. That they are stockt and stor'd with vital Principles that assure us of their recovery 1. They are stated in a state of safety The safety of the Soul doth not depend upon their hopes of Glory but upon its Union with Christ Its Hope of Glory may be interrupted but its Union with Christ can never be dissolved once in Christ and alway in Christ Under the want of assurance the safety of the Soul continues The immutability of the Covenant of Grace the Eternity of Gods Electing Love and the Efficacy of Christs continual Intercession and the Excellency of the State of Grace do assure the true Believer that his Salvation cannot miscarry and that though he may by the violence of a Temptation fall yet he cannot fall away It 's one of the great Priviledges of the Sons of God that they are Heirs of Heaven and that their heavenly Inheritance is so firmly intailed upon them that they cannot fall short of it Grace enters the Soul into an Everlasting State of Happiness and if an Everlasting State could be lost then it were not Everlasting And that Grace is an Everlasting Estate we are assured from 1 Joh. 5.11 12 13. This is the record that God hath given us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son He that hath the Son hath Life These things have I wrote to you that believe That ye may know that you have eternal Life John 3. last He that beliveth on the Son hath everlasting Life 2. They stand under the Obligation of this Duty of living in Hope of Glory Under their present Circumstances the Cloud that covers their Hope doth not discharge them from the Duty of Hope They are to Hope against Hope and to keep up Hope when the ground of Hope doth disappear for the ground of Hope remains though it be as a spark under the Ashes or as the Sun in an Eclipse out of present fight the Soul in this Case is to call to mind the days of Old and the Love that heretofore it received from Christ and to conclude thus my beloved hath withdrawn himself and now stands behind the Curtains to try my Faith Patience and Sincerity and to see whether I will serve him without a Pawn I hope he will return and will in hope wait for his return It 's but an Eclipse the interposition will be removed and the Sun of Righteousness will shine again upon my Soul Oh my Soul Satan is now aware that there is a distance betwixt Christ and thee and Tempts thee to Despair but harken to the Voice of my Beloved Isa 50.10 Who is amongst you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the Voice of his Servant that walketh in darkness and hath no Light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay himself upon his God See then that under Darkness thou expect Light for this is thy Duty and wilt thou suffer Satan to baffle the out of thy Duty is not the Voice of Christ to be regarded before the Voice of Satan and doth not not he say Isa 54.8 In a little wrath I hid my self for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saâ—th the Lord thy Redeemer 3. They are Stockt and Stored with vital-Principles that will prevail at last against the present Temptation The Root of the Matter the Seed of Grace remains in the Soul that they cannot Sin unto Death nor with a full and free consent of Will 1 John 3.2 The force of the present Temptation may
that they may awaken you and convince you of your need of Christ and provoke you to submit to the Gospel and to the way that God therein hath appointed for your Salvation and so by degrees brings you to live in sure and certain Hope of Glory 2. To such as are weak in Faith and Hope There are many precious Souls that have Christ in them and yet are weak in Faith and full of doubting and enjoy little Hope in themselves of Glory and I would willingly contribute something towards the encrease of their Hope of Glory And in order thereunto shall propound to such some means and helps that tend to the strengthening of the Hope of Glory and beseech them diligently to employ themselves in the use of them 1. See that you praise God heartily for the mercies you have already received Col. 3.15 Be ye thankful You are full of Complaints of your wants you want Peace and Joy and Assurance But are ye thankful for what you have thankfulness for what you enjoy is the way to obtain a speedy supply of what you want The thankful Soul is a Soul fitted for mercy And God will be the more ready to give when he knows that what he gives will be thankfully received Were we more thankfull he would open his hand the sooner and wider when we come to him for new supplies but when enjoyed mercies are undervalued and God wants his praise for them then it 's no wonder that he delays to give more mercies he will make you wait the longer to teach you more thankfulness A mite of Grace is of more worth than a Mountain of Gold And you have Grace and much Grace but because you want Comfort you overlook your Graces and do not own them with thankfulness and God is offended hereat and takes an effectual course to make you more thankful 2. See that you proceed in the exercise of what grace you have A Babe in time may become a strong Man and weak beginnings may have large endings A small Tallent may be doubled by good usage Mat. 13.12 He that hath to him shall be given and he shall have abundance alway provided that he husband well what he hath Therefore what Faith and Hope you have though it be weak yet exercise with Dilligence Repetition of Acts beget habits and diligent endeavors are attended with a Blessing and so you may come to have abundance Prov. 11.25 The diligent Soul shall be made fat You complain of leanness of Soul take heed that your leanness be not the effect of your own negligence exercise more diligence in the use of what Grace you have and your diligence will be blessed with fatness 3. See that you plead the Promises at the Throne of Grace This was good David his frequent Practise Psal 119.25 Quicken thou me according thy Word v. 28. Strengthen thou me according to thy Word v. 41. Let thy mercy come unto me O Lord even thy Salvation according to thy Word In this one Psalm he useth this Plea very oft no less then eleven times It s no presumptious but a profitable Plea to urge God with his Word of Promise and it is our Wisdom to reduce it to Practise It s much in use betwixt Man and Man You promised me to do so and so when will you perform it let us use the same Plea betwixt God and us It is thy promise be it according thy word It 's the Plea of Faith it is as if the Soul should say Lord thy promises are faithful Promises and here I spread one of thy Promises before thee and trust to thee for the accomplishment of it be it according to thy Word 4. See that you press the Commands of Faith and Hope upon your own Spirits This Course David took Psal 43. last Why art thou cast down Oh my Soul hope in God It 's ill done O my Soul to cast aside thy Hope and to give way to dispondency it 's thy Duty to trust in God and see that thou hope in God Hoping in God is an indispensible Duty that God requires from thee 1 Pet. 1.13 Be sober and hope to the end And it 's a very acceptable Duty Psal 157.11 The Lord takes pleasure in those that fear him in those that hope for his mercy And wilt thou O my Soul cast of thy Duty a Duty that God takes Pleasure in O far be it from thee Oh my Soul hope thou in God! thus press it upon your Souls 5. See that you Parley not with Satan about the great concerns of your own Souls have nothing to do with him He is an open Enemy to Christ and Christianity and you have renounced him in your Baptism therefore reject his Temptations for Sin as well as his Temptation to Sin Enter not into dispute with him he is too crafty a Sophister to be disputed with by weak Christians it will be your wisdom therefore to take the course that Paul took 2 Cor. 12.7 8. There was given me a thorn in the flesh the Messenger of Satan to buffet me For this thing I besought the Lord thrice Note 1. The Case that Paul was now in There was given him a Thorn in the flesh viz. Satan was permitted to buffet him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evil Angel Satan not a Menssenger of Satan but Satan himself And this is added exegetically to explain what his Thorn in the flesh was viz. The buffets of Satan his immediate Suggestions darted into his Soul which commonly are unnatural in kind suddain in motion and violent in prosecution 2. The Course he took in this case he betook himself to God by Prayer Paul had much Grace and much of the Spirit yet declines disputing with the Devil and flies to God for refuge against him and herein is an example for us to follow We must decline Disputes with the Devil and Pray him down and were this course well followed Satan could not get such advantage against Christians as oft he doth I 'le conclude this matter with the Prayer of Paul Rom 15.13 The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost It s not the words of Man that perswade the heart to live in hope but the Power of the Holy Ghost and his Power can make you abound in hope and raise your feeble hope to a full assurance of hope Now I pass to the third sort 3. To such as are waiting in hope for the Glory of Heaven There are some yea many that through Free-Grace are brought to wait in hope for the glory of Heaven my Instructions to these follow 1. Confine your Hopes to the limits of the Gospel The Gospel allows you to wait upon God in hopes of Glory in the World to come this I am sure is your Duty but as for such as extend their hopes according to their fancies and wait Night and Day and that in a Triumphant
that ever were conferred upon the Churches of Christ and have that Scripture much in my mind Ezek. 20.37 38. I will cause you to pass under the Rod and will bring you into the bond of the Covenant And I will purge out from amongst you the Rebels and them that transgress against me These Rebels must be purged out that oppose the work of the Lord and hinder what he is about to do for his people And we must be brought again into the Bond of the Covenant and pass under the Rod in order to this great Mercy and this Rod therefore is not to be feared nor to weaken but to heighten our hope And I am not wholly without hope that I my self tho' aged may yet live to see the storm over Now 67. and the Rebels thereby purged out and the Bond of the Covenant renewed and the People of God united and the Kingdom of Christ advanced and his faithful Ambassadors promoted in such a method of Providence as shall add such Lustre to the Mercy and such clear Evidence that it is the Lords work that the very Enemies thereof shall be put to perpetual Silence And I entreat my Brethren and all that fear the Lord to hope in the Lord not only for glory but for great and glorious things from God as the return of many Prayers of Faith and the issue of all the great things that our good God hath already wrought for us The sins of the Nation cannot hinder the accomplishment of absolute promises The promise of the Messiah was an absolute promise and though its accomplishment was long delayed yet in the fulness of the appointed time he came and the degenerated state of the Church could not hinder it The Promise of the Deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt was an absolute Promise and fulfilled exactly notwithstanding the great sins that then abounded Provoking sins cannot nullifie nor frustrate absolute Promises Now the Promises of the Downfall of Antichrist and of the Calling of the Jews and of the fullness of the Gentiles are absolute promises yet unfulfilled and the time though concealed from us yet cannot be afar off Isa 10.25 Yet a very little time and the indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction Gods anger towards his People ends in the destroying of their Enemies Hag. 2.3 Though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry The accomplishment of absolute Promises tarry till the appointed time of their accomplishment and then it surely comes and will not tarry Satan sinners nor sin abounding can cause it to tarry any longer Isa 46. last It shall not be far off and my salvation shall not taâ—ry and I will place salvation in Sion for Israel my Glory Salvation is provided for and placed near to the Church of Christ ready to come forth at the appointed time till then it must tarry in its appointed place and then it shall not tarry then sin may abound but though sin abound then yet it shall not tarry The Interest of Christ in the world I confess is very low and many of the Reformed Churches near to ruin Ps 12.5 But for the oppression of the poor and the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him Mans extremity is Gods opportunity to shew mercy in And to me the low estate of the Churches is an Encouragment as it is demonstrative that the appointed time draws nigh which is usually such a time as will add a great Lustre to the Deliverance Now I expect that storm to arise that will fall upon the Enemies of Christ lead forth the workers of iniquity that peace may be upon Sion by the removal of the Disturbers of her peace And because it will be terrible it concerns us all to strengthen our Souls against the Fears and Terrors that must needs accompany it with high hopes of Glory and also of a good Issue Let us make God our Refuge and in him let us hope Though it darken the sky that no light appear yet let us trust in the Name of the Lord and stay our selves upon our God Isa 50.10 Let us mind our then present duty and stick close to the Lord our God in hope that he will bring Light out of Darkness and turn all to the furtherance of the Gospel Let us humble our selves for our sins and the sins of the Land but let us not despair because of sin but live in Expectation of the Accomplishment of the Promises both for this Life and the Life to come Let us wait for a good Issue and let us wait in Hope Let us quit our selves like men like men of Courage like men that live in hopes of Glory Let us be strong in the Lord relying on him for Support and Comfort and Supplies of all our need in that needful time of Trouble Let us not hang down the Head as men without hope nor give any cause by our Fears and Despondencies to the Enemies of Christ to triumph over us But let us fly to the Promises and set Faith and Hope on work that by our Faith we may further the work of the Lord Let us pray in Faith then and not give way to the evil heart of Unbelief And as a help herein let us make use of that Catalogue of Promises and Experiences that is annexed to this small Treatise It hath been by me this many years and I have met with many great Troubles and have used it all along with advantage and now send it abroad for the good of others The Prayer of Paul for the Romans shall be my Conclusion Rom. 15.13 Now the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost Amen Amen THE APPENDIX THE Promises of GOD Verified in the Experiences of the Godly Collected by A. B. for his private Use and now Published for the Benefit of others God is not Man that he should tell a Lye Experience doth his Promise verifie When of Experience I did take a View I found his Promises faithful and true Thy faithfulness O Lord I do adore And pray that I may doubt of it no more LONDON Printed in the Year 1694. THE PREFACE to the Catalogue WHen I drew up this Catalogue of Promises and Experiences for my own private Use I prefixt this Preface to stir up my self to the Exercise of Faith in the Promises and not then intending to make them publick I made use of a Treatise wrote against Fear by that Pious and Excellent Divine Mr Flavel Methodizing and adding Meditations of my own and thereby modelling it into a suitable form for my own Use and have continued it and Published it for the good of others and hereby give the World notice thereof to do Justice to that Famous Man and to free my self from the Censure of such as may
shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways Psa 91.11 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil the Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in Psa 121.7 8. Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues Psa 31.20 Experiences of Protection verifying the Promises Thou hast been a strength to the Poor a refuge from the storm when the blast of the terrible ones was as a storm against the wall Isa 25.4 My help cometh from the Lord he that keepeth thee will not slumber Psal 121.2 3. The Lord is my Shield my heart trusted in him and I am helped Psal 28.7 He it is that brought our Fathers out of the land of Egypt and preserved us in all the way wherein we went and amongst all the People through whom we passed Joshu 24.17 Thus the Lord preserved David whither soever he went 1 Cron. 18.13 Two Angels came to Sodom and when morning arose they hastned Lot and when he lingred they laid hold upon his hand and brought him forth Gen. 19.15 My God hath sent his Angels and hath shut the Lyons mouths that they have not hurt me Daniel was taken out of the Den and no manner of hurt was found on him Dan. 6.22 23. Thirdly Promises of Profiting by Afflictions All things work together for good to them that love God Troubles may come upon such by troops many together but are as Ingredients in a Soveraign Medicine that all work together for the good of the Patient Rom. 8.28 By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin Isa 27.9 I will bring the third part through the fire and will refine them as Silver is refined Zac. 13.9 He chastiseth us for our profit that we might be partakers of holiness Heb. 12.10 Like these good fruits will I acknowledge them that are carried away Captive of Judah into the land of the Caldeans for their good Jer. 24.5 I will cause you to pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the Covenant Ezekiel 20.37 38. Thou shalt confider in thy heart that as a man chasteneth his son so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee viz. For thy good and out of love to reform and reclaim thee Deut. 8.5 Experiences of the Profit of Afflictions Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy law It 's good for me that I have been afflicted I have got good by it Psa 119.67 71. The Prodigal was in want and fed upon husks with Swine and he said My Fathers Servants have bread enough I will arise and go to my Father Luke 15.14 15. We glory in tribulations knowing viz. experientially that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope Rom. 5.3 4. The things which happened to me have fallen out to the furtherance of the Gospel God turned his imprisment to good Phil. 1.12 13 14. Be not greived nor angry with your selves that you sold me hither for God sent me before you to preserve life Gen. 45.5 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his Youth It 's found to be so by Experience and appears to be so by the Promise and the performance of the Promise to thousands Lam. 3.27 Fourthly Promises of Preservation in and Deliverances out of Afflictions The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him the Lord shall cover him all the day long Deut. 33.12 Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me Psal 50.15 He will cover thee with his feathers I will be with him in trouble and I will deliver him and honour him Psal 91.4 15. Alas for that day is great so that none is like it it 's the time of Jacobs trouble but ye shall be saved out of it I am with thee to save thee Jer. 3.7 11. Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be delivered Joel 2. last He will hear the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and save them Psal 145.19 They shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors and he shall send them a Saviour and a great one and he shall deliver them Isa 19.20 Experiences of Preservation in and Deliverances out of Afflictions This I recall to mind therefore have I hope it 's of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed Lam. 3.21 23. Then they cryed unto the Lord and he delivered them out of their distresses This is oft repeated in this Psalm Psal 107.6 Thou hast known my persecutions and afflictions that came to me at Antioch Iconium and Lystra but out of them all the Lord devered me 2 Tim. 3.11 Thou hast saved us from out enemies and hast put them to shame that hated us Psal 44.7 Nevertheless he saved them for his Name sake that he might make his mighty power to be known Psa 106.8 The Lord delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 2 Cor. 1.9 10. The deliverance of the Jews out of Egypt out of Babilon and out of the Hand of Haman and the personal deliverance of David Daniel Jonah c. are instance of the verity of the Promise Fifthly Promises of present Support and Help to bear Afflictions A man viz. the man Christ shall be as a hiding place from the wind as a Covert from the Tempest as rivers of water in a dry place Isa 32.2 Then will I visit their transgressions with a rod Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my Faithfulness to fail Psa 89.33 34. The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting Arms Deut. 33.27 But the Lord is Faithful who will stablish you and keep you from evil viz. in evil times and when in the hands of ill men 2 Thes 3.3 My Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness 2 Cor. 12.9 Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand Psa 37.24 Experiences of present Support and Help to bear Afflictions At my first answer all men forsook me Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthned me 2 Tim. 16.17 The Lord is my refuge and my strength a very present help in trouble Ps 46.1 Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing as to a faithful Creator viz. to God who hath alway been faithful to such as commit themselves to him 1 Pet. 4.19 For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day 2 Cor. 4.16 Troubled on every side yet not distressed persecuted but not in despair 2 Cor. 4.9 Having obtained
who shall deliver me from the body of this Death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 7.24 In all these things we are more then Conquerours through him that loved us Rom. 8.37 Joseph refused to ly with his Mistress saying how can I do this great sin and sin against God Gen. 39.8 We are bound to give thanks to God alway for you Because your faith groweth exceedingly 2 Thes 1.3 The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more to the perfect day Prov. 4.18 Which Gospel is come unto you as it is in all the world and bringeth forth fruit as it doth also in you Col. 1.6 Tenthly Promises of the Presence of God and of his Spirit Fear not for I am with thee I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee Isa 41.10 Fear not O Israel thou art mine when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thro' the fire thou shalt not be burnt Isa 43. beg Be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 If a man love me he will keep my words and my father will love him and we will come to him and make our abode with him John 14.23 Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit into you Prov. 1.23 It is convenient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him to you John 16.7 If ye being evil know how to give good Gifts to to your Children how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11.13 I will pray to the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you John 14.16 18. Experiences of the Presence of the Spirit of God Though I walk through the valley of the shaddow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me Psa 23.4 Joseph was sold into Egypt but the Lord was with Joseph and he shewed him mercy Gen. 39.21 Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the son God Dan. 3.25 Solomon was strengthened in his Kingdom and the Lord his God was with him and magnified him exceedingly 2 Chron. 1.1 Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit 1 John 4.3 God which knoweth the hearts bear them witness viz. the Gentiles giving them his spirit even as he did to us Acts 15.8 The Holy Ghost fell on them which heard the word Acts 10.44 Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith Acts 11.24 The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost Acts 13. last Eleventhly Promises of Perseverance I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.40 I will give them everlasting Life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand John 10.28 One thing is needful Mary hath chosen the better part which shall never be taken from her Luke 10. last Who will confirm you to the end that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1.8 I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ faithful is he that hath called you who will also do it 1 Thess 5.23 24. The Gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11.29 Being confident of this thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 Experiences of Perseverance The high places were not removed nevertheless Asa his heart was perfect with the Lord all his days 1 King 15.14 I have fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4.7 8. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for I have seen thy salvation Luke 2.29 The house built upon the rock though the rain descended and the flood came and the winds blew yet kept his standing Mat. 7. lat These all dyed in the faith Heb. 11.13 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 I have been young and now am old yet have not seen the righteous forsaken Psal 37.25 My flesh and my heart faileth me but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal 73.26 Twelfthly Promises of the Possession of Heaven Fear not little flock it is your Fathers good will to give a Kingdom Luke 12.32 Eye hath not seen ear hath not heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him James 1.12 When the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that faideth not way 1 Pet. 5.4 Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer ye shall have tribulation 10 days be faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 You have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting Life Rom. 6.22 Of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ Col. 3.24 Experiences of the Possession of Heaven Be ye followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises Heb. 6.12 Lazarus dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's bosom Luke 16.2 Then talked with him two men which were Moses and Elias who appeared in glory Luke 9.30.21 The Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12.23 Heaven is called the inheritance of the Saints because they do inherit it Col. 1.12 A Song of Praise THe World 's a toy let me imploy My Soul in higher things Than upon those that create woes And carry cruel Stings My Fears are great Sorrow my Meat And humane Faith is gone On Pilgrimage for in this Age Amongst us there is none Thy faithfulness O God I bless And cannot but admire That Love is cold and yet behold None warm it at this Fire But O my Soul do not condole But Triumph thou in Praise Greatly rejoice with Hearts and Voice Let Joy thy Spirits raise Mind not the Rod rejoice in God That never failed thee Thou knowest this faithful he is And so will ever be Thou hast been Low and
now art so And God hath alway been A Sun and Shield that succour yield As thou hast often seen His Word is sure and doth endure For ever and for aye Witness thou can to every Man All 's true that he doth say If this be so come let us go To God and on him stay It 's not absur'd to plead his Word To it he ne'er says nay His Word applaud his Name with Laud And Praises celebrate Let not thy Love to God above In any thing abate And now O Lord for thy sure Word Of Promise I thee bless And whilst I live will Glory give To thee not to the Flesh Praise is thy due thy Word is true Thy Promises our store And full though wide from side to side Praised be God therefore A full supply in Misery I see it doth afford O let it be now unto me According to thy Word Let Faith be fed and by it led To live on Thee alone Help me to trust in the most Just Faithful and Righteous One. My Doubts expel let Hope excell Let Praises be my Trade Let me rejoice with Heart and Voice In all that thou hast said Let none despair the news is rare The Promises revealed Are high and great without deceit Records most firmly Sealed Oh praised be thy Majesty For Promises of Grace All the Elect may hear expect Supplies in every Case Another Song of Praise MY Soul give Praise unto the Lord With Joy his Praises Sing To Praise the Name of God thy Lord Is a most pleasant thing His Promises rich Jewels are These Jewels are thy own Though thou art Poor yet very rich In Promises alone Thy Faithful God will certainly His Promises perform Fear not O Soul the frowns of Men Fear not the greatest Storm Rejoice in God and in his Word Of Promise made to thee His Promises most precious Certain and faithful be Though thou art Poor God will provide Supplies he will afford Yea such supplies as shall suffice According to his Word Though thou art weak his Arms support What need is there to fear Above beneath and round about His mighty Arms appear When Troubles like a Hurrican Do compass thee about It s for thy good this Physick thou Canst not be well without Yea safety in and sure support And all that needful be For aid and help in this sad Case Are promised to thee Thy Sins though great are pardoned Thy Enemies are strong But cannot hurt because to thee The Promises belong Such guards and aids the Promises In readiness still have And will be granted unto thee When thou for them dost crave Oh Blessed be the Lords of Hosts My dear and faithful Friend According to his Promises He help and aid doth send His Promises never do fail They are most firm and sure His faithfulness is vastly great And ever shall endure My Soul exalt the living Lord For Gracious is he His Mercy now and evermore He will extend to thee Awake my Glory glorifie And Praise the Lord of Host And of his precious Promises Make thou thy daily boast The World is full of Wickedness Envy debate and strife But these are the great Cordials That do support my Life Thy Presence and thy Promises Are rare and precious things And all along unto my Soul The greatest Comfort brings FINIS Books Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers-Chappel A Body of Practical Divinity consisting of above One Hundred Sermons on the Lesser Catechism of the Reverend Assembly of Divines at Westminster with a Supplement of some Sermons on several Texts of Scripture By Tho. Watson formerly Minister of St. Stephens Walbrook A Discourse of Spiritual mindedness Person of Christ On the 130th Psalm The Doctrine of the Trinity Of Mortification of Sin in Believers An humble Testimony concerning the Goodness and Severity of God in Dealing with sinful Churches and Nations A Treatise of Temptation Eshcol or Rules of Fellowship These Eight last by John Owen D. D. Heywood's Baptismal Bonds renewed Grotius of Christ's Satisfaction in English Hursts Revival of Grace i.e. on the Sacrament The good of Early Obedience A Sermon of Unity The Vision of the Wheels in three Sermons Spiritual Wisdom improved against Temptation The Almost Christian discovered All Five by Mat. Mead. Consolation for the afflicted at the Funeral of Mr. Edward Rede By Tim. Rogers M. A. Calamy's Godly Mans Ark in five Sermons his Art of Divine Meditation Redemption of Time the Wisdom and Duty of Christians in Evil Days By John Wade Minister at Hamersmith Intercourses of Divine Love betwixt Christ and his Church being Sermons on the 1st and 2d Chapters of the Canticles or the Song of Songs Several Discourse of actual Providence in three Parts These two last by John Collings D. D. Spiritual Songs or Songs of praise to Almighty God on several Occasions with thirty penitential Crys with a Poem also of Dives and Lazarus The Midnight Cry a Sermon These two by John Mason Mr. Corberts Self-Employment in Secret A Treatise of the Day of Judgment By Mr. Sam. Lee Minister Husbandry Spiritualized A Saint indeed A Token for Mourners All these three by Mr. John Flavel Minister of the Gospel Satan sifting or the Oyl of Joy for the Spirit of Sadness Whites Little Book for Little Children The rare Jewel of Chistian Contentment with four useful Discouses by Mr. Jer. Burroughs An Earnest Call to Family Duties being the substance of Eighteen Sermons by Sam. Slater Hymns for the Sacrament composed mostly out of the New Testament Theological Discourses and Sermons on several Occasions By John Wallis D. D. The Truest and Largest account of the late Earthquake in Jamaica June 7. 1692. from a Reverend Divine there to his Friend in London The best way to mend the world by perswading the Rising Generation to an early and Serious Practice of Piety Both by Samuel Peck Lecturer of Ipswich A Sermon preach'd at the Funeral of the Reverend Mr. Tho shewell M. A. and Minister of the Gospel in Coventry These two last by William Tongue Minister c. A Discourse concerning Old Age tending to the Instruction Caution and Comfort of Aged Persons By Richard Steel M. A. A Sermon at the Funeral of the Worshipful John Symonds late of Great Yeldham in Essex Esq by John Brooke M. A. and Rector there A Vindication of the Church of Scotland being an Answer to five Pamphlets by Dr. Rule A Sermon of the absolute Necessity of Family Duties Preached to the United Parishes of St. Mary-Woolnoth and St. Mary Wool-Church-Haw in Lombard-Street His Farewel-Sermon These Two by David Jones Student of Christ-Church Oxon. A brief on the 7th Commandment wherein is discovered the Cause of all our Controversies about the Sabbath-Day and the means of Reconciling them Recommended by the Reverend Dr. Bates and Mr. John How Convivium Caeleste A plain and familiar Discourse concerning the Lords Supper shewing at once the Nature of that Sacrament as also the right way of preparing our selves for the receiving of it In which are also considered those Exceptions which men usually bring to excuse their not partaking of it A Sermon preached before the King and Queen at White-Hall Nov. 5.1692 These Two by Richard Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells The Confirming Work of Religion and its great things made plain by their primary Evidences and Demonstrations whereby the meanest in the Church may soon be made able to render a Rational Account of their Faith