But I have sinned against Gods intreaties to returne So did they I said after shee had done all these things Turn thou unto me but shee returned not Jer. 3. 7. But I have sinned against Gods Reproofes So did they Thou hast a whores forehead that refusest to be ashamed Jer. 3. 3. 8. But I have sinned against Gods corrections in not being reformed by them So did they In vaine have I smitten your children they have received no correction Jer. 2. 30. But I have committed one sin often So did they Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers Jer. 3. 1. 6. But I have continued sinning for a long continuance of time So did they We have not obeyed the voyce of the Lord from our youth unto this day Jer. 3. 25. 2. 22. But my sinnes are against knowledge and Conscience So was Davids sin concerning Bathshebah and putting to death Vriah And so did Peter sin when he said and swore he knew not Christ and that he was not with him Mat. 26. 69. to 75. But I am fallen back from what I have been So did they Returne thou backsliding Israel Jer. 3. 6. 12. But I have willingly and resolvedly forsaken God So did they saying We are Lords wee will come no more at him Jer. 3. 31 32. But I have willingly chosen sin So did they saying I have loved strangers and after them will I goe Jer. 2. 25. But I have seduced others and caused them to sin So did they Thou hast also taught the wicked ones thy wayes Jer. 2. 33. And Manasseh seduced them to doe more evill then did the Nations whom the Lord destroyed and made Judah also to sin 2 King 21. 9. 11. 16. And Paul compeld men to blaspheme Act. 26. 11. 16. Manasseh a great sinner obtained mercy 2 Chron. 33. 18 19. And a lesser sinner perisheth in his sin that men may know the Lord will have mercy on whom he will Rom. 9. 15. But I have committed as much sin as I could So did they Behold thou hast spoken and done as evill things as thou couldst Jer. 3. 5. But my sins are after vowes and Covenants So were theirs Thou saidst I will not transgresse when upon every high hill and under every greene tree thou wanderest playing the harlot Jer. 2. 25. But I have justified my selfe in all my sinnes So did they Because thou saidst I have not sinned I will plead with thee Jer. 2. 35. But I despaire and have no hope of mercy This is worst of all yet so did they Thou saidst there is no hope Jer. 2. 25. And when I cry he shutteth out my prayer and I said My strength and my hope is perished with the Lord said Jeremiah Lam. 3. 8. 18. And Job said My hope hath he removed like a tree Job 19. 10. My dayes are spent without hope Job 7. 6. 13 14 15 16. David in his hast said I am out off before thine eyes Psal 31. 22. Abraham beleeved against hope Rom. 4. 18. Yee were sometimes afar off without God and without hope Ephes 2. 12. yet at last they were made nigh by the bloud of Christ Eph. 2. 13. Behold all these were once like unto thee and the Lord hath had mercy upon them and so he may have mercy upon thee also therefore poore soule be not out of hope mind what David said I was brought low and he helped me Psal 116. 6. God is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. Consider what the name of the Lord is Exod. 34. 5 6 7. Oh the unsearchable riches of his grace all that know his Name will trust in him Psal 9. 10. And because the greatnesse of sin is one of the greatest discouragements to a soule under the sense of sin Consider these things which are incouragements of hope unto thee 1. Incouragement to hope The multitude or greatnesse of sinne ought not to be a discouragement unto thee because the fewnesse or smalnesse of thy sinnes are not to be any ground or cause of thy confidence in God for pardon but in the promise of God of pardon in which promise the truth and faithfulnesse is 2. Incouragement to hope Because the word of God doth no where say that great sinners shall not be saved therefore to conceive so is folly and no lesse then a delusion of Satan 3. Incouragement to hope Because the word of God saith the contrary that Jesus Christ came to save sinners yea and the chiefe sinners and this is a saying worthy of all acceptation 1 Tim. 1. 15 16. Come now let us reason together saith the Lord though your sinnes were as crimson they shall be made white as snow though they were red like scarlet they shall be made as wooll Isaiah 1. 18. The word of God declares many great and sweet promises to great sinners as Jer. 3. Isa. 55. 7 8 9. 43. 24 25. There be many examples of great sinners received to mercy as Manasseh 2 Chron. 33. 18 19. Paul and one who was a sinner with a witnes Luk. 7. 37. 47. And many others yea the rebellious also Psal 68. 18. 4. Incouragement to hope Because there is a fountaine set open for sin and for uncleannesse Zach. 13. 1. And Christ is mightie to save Isa 62. 1. He will abundantly pardon Isa 55. 7. And his compassions faile not Lam. 3. 22. 5. Incouragement to hope Because great sinners that are heavie laden with sinne are called to come to Christ Mat. 11. 28. If any man thirst let him came to me and drinke Joh. 7. 37. Every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters Isa 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. 6. Incouragement to hope The Saints have made their greatnesse of sinne an incouragement to beleeve Lord pardon my sinnes for they are great Psal 25. 11. How great is his goodnesse much greater then thy sinnes Zach. 9. 17. Isa 43. The greater our sinnes are the greater our faith should be Loe here is great consolation 7. Incouragement to hope Because God doth not sell Christ or grace but he gives Christ and all that is his freely Yee that have no silver come buy and eate come buy without money Isa 55. 1. And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst come and let whosoever will take of the water of life freely Rev. 22. 17. Jesus stood crying saying If any man thirst let him come to me and drinke Joh. 7. 37. 8. Incouragement Because such as Jesus Christ saves are unworthy ungodly and without works Rom. 4. 5 6. The most perfect Saint that ever hath been did stand in need of mercy and was unworthy Behold he found no stedfastnesse in his servants and chargeth his Angels of folly how much more in them that dwell in
3. 28. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 1 Joh. 2. 1. The bloud of Jesus Christ makes us cleane from all sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. To despaire of the mercy of God because our sinnes are great were to limit God in his mercy which is a greater sin and an adding sin to sin therefore for the greatest sinne a beleever can commit he ought not to moane without hope for no sin he can commit can never put him into a state of condemnation or under the curse Rom. 8. 1 2 3. And whilst we live in this world God healeth not our sinfull natures wholly nor takes it away quite the flesh lusteth Rom. 7. yet God ever esteemes his as they are in Christ and not simply as they are in themselves Eph. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Paul saith I my selfe keep the law of God but with my flesh the law of sin Sin doth the evill that beleevers doe see Rom. 7. 15. 17. 20. 1 Joh. 3. 9. Consider Nehe. 9. 16 17 c. He knoweth our frame and remembreth that wee are but dust Psal 103. 14. God is never an enemy to his though they greatly sinne against him Psal 51. We are not beloved for our own sakes nor any thing in our selves but for Christ in whom God is well pleased Mat. 3. 17. Therefore nothing in us or that we doe can make us to be loved more or lesse God may well say of himselfe I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. His love is as himselfe ever the same and Christ in whom we are beloved ever the same Heb. 13. 8. therefore a beleevers hope joy and coÌ„fidence is to be ever the same in Christ Ps 23. 1. So we are commanded to Rejoyce alwayes Psal 5. 11. 32. 11. Let them exceedingly rejoyce Psal 40. 16. Psal 68. 3. and to rejoyce evermore Againe I say rejoyce 1 Thes 1. 5. 16. Phil. 4. 4. The joy of the Lord is our strength Neh. 8. 16. Oh there is enough in the Lord Jesus to satisfie thee at all times he is an unchangeable object of true joy in him onely is all our hope and happinesse whose bloud hath payd all the debt of all thy sinnes It 's Christ that died who now shall condemn surely none Rom. 8. 33. Therefore let not thy fall cause thee to question the love of God seeing thy salvation depends not upon thy repentance or holinesse but from Gods free grace Rom. 9. 15 16. Isa 43. 24 25. 57. 17. Ezek. 16. 1. to 9. My little children these things I write unto you that yee sin not 1 Joh. 2. 1. And for any to turne the grace of God into wantonnesse that is the sweet mercy and consolations of God to incourage them in their sinning they are led by the Spirit of the Devill he is their father and his works they do Joh. 8. I speak to you that regard iniquitie Psal 66. 18. that love sin and delight in it and are bold and venturous upon it and can drinke downe iniquitie like water Job 15. 16. You at present are in the gall of bitternesse and whiles it is so with them here is no consolation for them thâ—â—e may not be numbred with them who through weaknesse and temptation or want of watchfulnesse are overtaken and fall into sinne which they hate by not shunning the occasions of sinne c. Surely all the Lords have need to pray as David did to God Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Psal 17. 5. Howsoever it be be not out of hope although thou didst persecute the truth as Paul did and them that professed it Act. 9. 1 2. yet afterwards he preached the faith Gal. 1. 23. thou knowest not but God may convert thee also The servant of God having fallen into sinne is to rise by faith for shall a man fall and not rise Jer. 8. 4. When I fall I shall arise Micah 7. 7. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth the iniquitie and passeth by the transgressions of the Remnant of his people Micah 7. 18 19 20. God subdues the corruption that is in his not all at once but by degrees therefore he saith I will be mercifull to their unrighteousnesse and their sinnes will I remember no more Heb. 8. 12. God hath nothing against those who are in Christ 1 Cor. 1. 30. Yee are in Christ But alas I feele my heart is hardened There is much hardnesse of heart in a childe of God and they feele it and complaine of it and mourne under it which is from the new heart in them To feele hardnesse is from softnesse and the condition of an experienced childe of God O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayes and hardened our hearts from thy feare doubtlesse thou art our father thou O Lord art our father Isa 63. 16 17. Their hearts were hardened yet they were the children of God Motives or incouragements to beleeve NOtwithstanding faith is the gift of God Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. it floweth from the Spirits operation in the heart therefore our beleeving is said to be the worke of God Joh. 6. 28. the operation of God Col. 2. 12. the Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. The Spirit inlighteneth our understandings and boweth our hearts to beleeve So that without the Spirit of Christ we can doe nothing Joh. 15. 5. Ephes 1. 19. It is through grace that men beleeve Act. 18. 27. yet men are to use the meanes for when in the preaching of the Word we bid persons to doe so and so we expect the holy Spirit of God to put power to the words spoken to make them effectuall to enable the creature to obey as He said unto me Sonne of man stand up upon thy feet and the Spirit entred into me when he had spoken unto me and set me upon my feet Ezek. 2. 1 2. And the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare shall live Joh. 5. 25. Else it were in vaine to speak to dead men 1 Pet. 4. 6. To beleeve c. is a spirituall worke and all men by nature are spiritually dead Eph. 2. 1. 5. 14. onely they beleeve whose hearts God opens as Acts 16. 14. None can beleeve but they to whom it is given Phil. 1. 29. Therefore such words as these Beleeve in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved Act. 16. 30 31. in this sense are to be understood for it is not in him that willeth and him that runneth c. Rom. 9. 16. it is God that worketh both to will and to doe Incouragements to beleeve 1. Because the Gospel is to be preached to every creature he that beleeves shall be saved Act. 16. 16. There is no precept or command for any to doubt none are exempted or forbidden to beleeve see Act. 16. 30 31. 1 Joh. 3. 23. but men are commanded
THE SAINTS DESIRE OR A Cordiall for a fainting soule Declaring that in Christs righteousnesse onely and in nothing else there is life happinesse peace strength comfort joy and all fulnesse of perfection Also the happy estate of a man in Christ the life he lives wherein he is exercised his experiences and his desires to enjoy God c. Surely shall one say In the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength even to him shall men come Isa 45. 24. I will make mention of thy righteousnesse even of thine onely Psal 71. 16. And these things write wee unto you that your joy may be full 1 Joh. 1. 4. By SAMUEL RICHARDSON I heard sweet Jesus Christ unto me say Rise my love my faire one and come away London Printed by M. Simmons and are to be sold by Hannah Allen at the Crowne in Popes-head-Alley 1647. To the Right Honorable Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX Captain generall of all the Parliaments Forces in ENGLAND and Oliver Cromwell Esquire Lievtenant generall to the said Forces such honour as is promised to all that honour the Lord Christ Right Honourable YOu two are so joyned as it were in one that it may be said of you which was said of Jonathan and David two mighty warriours that their hearts were so knit that they loved each other as their own soules they had such sweet experience of each others faithfulnesse that it was not in the power of Saul though a King to break it or cut it asunder and although many have attempted to doe the like to you yet their labour hath been fruitlesse it hath bin a joy to many to see the effects of love so freely flow forth from each to other interchangeably which is amiable sweet and lovely Moreover God hath raised you up and set you in high places where opportunities flow of doing good and which is more God hath given you hearts to improve these opportunities to his glory and the good of his people You have also had many and great experiences of his protection presence blessing even to admiration it is the Lord alone who hath wrought all your works for you surely you may well stand astonished at his dealings with you all you can doe is too little for him who hath done so much for you you know the sorrows sufferings and sighings of the people of God in this Kingdome have been many and great by reason of the Prelates Lording it over them in matters of Religion and their sorrows and sufferings are like to be greater if the plots and snares laid against them take place therefore now is the time for the righteous in authoritie to shew themselves for the people of God and such as sleepe and slumber had need quickly to be awaked that they might rowse up themselves shake off that feare and faintnesse which possesseth their hearts arme themselves with resolution courage to hazard all even life it selfe upon a possibility of doing the least good for to do good we live we rejoyce that God hath chosen you with many others whom God hath kept waking for such a time as this Next under God our eies are upon the house of Commons of England to deliver us from temporall slavery to free us from the oppression of men in matters of Religion we trust they will effect this work fully and God shall give them a full reward as good Job who was a father to the poore and the cause he knew not he searched out and brake the jawes of the wicked and plucked the spoile out of his teeth It is a great honour unto you that you have done valiantly so have been speciall instruments to save this Kingdome from destruction that God hath made you and your Armies so victorious but it is a greater honour unto you that you are of the number of those that love the truth and people of God and endeavour to rescue them from the hands of cruell and unreasonable men the people of God are in the love of God and which is more they are one with God therefore God takes the good done to them as done to himselfe abide by them and you shall be in safety hold together for they that seek their lives seek yoâ—â—â— also And as you have pleaded their cause with many other Worthies with you so still goe on prosper the Lord is with you you valiant men the Saints love you they pray praise God for you England fareth the better for you childreÌ„ unborn shall praise you blesse God for you the memorial of your names shal be for ever precious Most noble Worthies I may seeme to passe the bounds of modesty so to presse into your presence but such is your humility and love that you can passe by any defect in that kinde and accept of that which is presented in love And seeing God doth not despise the day of small things I trust you will not the great respect you have shewed to the truth and people of God hath imboldened me to present you with the best I have in love out of a deep respect unto you the perusall and acceptance of which I submit to your wisdomes and humbly take my leave and remaine Your Honours much oblieged SAMUEL RICHARDSON To all fainting and discouraged soules who are lost and fatherlesse BEhold I bring you tydings of great joy that Jesus Christ came from Heaven to seeke and save you Luk. 19. 10. You shall enjoy mercy life and glory by him for in him the fatherlesse finde mercy Hos 14. 3. You are they who hunger and thirst after Christ and his righteousnesse this desire is from the in-being of the light and life of Christ in you therefore thou art for the present blessed and shalt be satisfied Mat. 5. 6. Therefore you may be sure God is at peace with you he hath loving kindnesse for you which is better then life yea all is yours for God is yours and that for ever Is not this as good news from a farre Countrey welcome and savoury Oh what can be more sutable pleasant profitable or delightfull better or more desireable Christ will give you that peace which cannot be taken from you Oh the fulnesse sweetnesse gloriousnesse and infinitenesse of this peace it passeth our understandings we cannot fully impart it because we doe not fully know it for we know but in part yet a part wee know through grace though many see not this peace nor know not the way of it to whom I have endeavoured to declare that mystery of love and grace revealed to me desiring to obey Christs command When thou art converted to strengthen thy brethren And diddest thou know the freenesse fulnesse sutablenesse sweetnesse and durablenesse of Gods rich grace to a creature who is nothing in his own eyes who hath interest in it and therefore may apply it thou couldst not but be ravished with it Consider what God hath given
12 13. Can babes work and yet if they die in that estate they shall not misse of glory 1 Job 2. 12. It is one thing to be justified and another to be sanctified so it is one thing to live another to be borne and to worke is distinct from both there is as much difference between some of the Lords as there is betwixt willing and doing some are termed carnall 1 Cor. 3. 1. others spirituall Thou maist be begotten but not borne if in bondage and then it is not the season of growing as another season is If thou beest ignorant or in temptation thy understanding is clouded and thy heart being distempered with feare so as Job 23. 8 9. and thou art not fit to judge of thy growth is a new borne babe 1 Pet. 2. 2. fit to judge of its growth Also consider it may be thou art in Gods way and so thou doest not use his meanes or not rightly consider Psal 1. 3. with Song 4. 12. there thou shalt grow I am much tempted by Satan that I have no grace Satan tempts Christs babes to cast away their confidence which is forbidden Heb. 10. 35. therefore if Satan tell yee that yee have no faith thou maist reply if I have it not in the act to my knowledge I may have it in the grace it selfe if he say that he knows and you know you have no grace at all Reply the Devill knows not and if I should thinke so I may be deceived as fire raked up in ashes appeares not and gives neither light nor heat so corruption doth hide and obscure grace 1 Cor. 3. 1. And if I have no grace why let yee me not alone as yee doe others and as yee did me when I tooke my fill of sin then ye told me I had faith when I had none I have found yee a lyer therefore I will not hearken unto you and I am the more confident I have grace because ye tell me I have none He is a lyer and the father of it Joh. 8. 44. But suppose I have no grace there is no reason why I should despaire because every one of the Lords were once without grace in the estate of nature At that time yee were without Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel strangers c. having no hope and withouâ— God in the world but now in Christ Jesus yee who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the bloud of Christ Eph. 2. 12 13. which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2. 10. Many are ordained unto eternall life which did not actually beleeve nor had any grace at all I nor any doe not know but I may be one of them also therefore I know no reason to despaire nor will despaire doe me any good it is better to use the means wait upon God trust him with my soule if mercy come I shall be happy and shall have cause to praise him There is nothing too hard for God Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane Jer. 32. 17. Mat. 8. 2. I cannot pray nor doe any thing to purpose therefore I have no grace Unbeliefe deads the heart and hinders thy living upon Christs strength It is so with thee that thou mightst see a need of Christ Joh. 15. 5. and live upon him who hath promised to be a full supply to his If God hath given thee a desire to obey him say not it is nothing because God saith it's something 2 Cor. 8. to 11. he gives this and if this be all thou hast it is accepted vers 12. and he will grant thy desire He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him he also will heare their cry and will save them Psal 119. 19. Christ will not quench the smoaking flâ—x Isai 42. When we see no fire we know there is fire by the smoake holy desires cannot be in a soule that hath no grace Psal 145. 19. Desire after grace is an act of spirituall life an act is from a faculty a faculty is from life and being a dead man cannot desire none can desire that which they beleeve not to be nor that they doe not love desires if spirituall they flow from faith love and are a part of what it desires A will to obey may be all that a beleever can find in himselfe at some time To will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I find not for the good I would I doe not but the evill I would not that I doe Rom. 7. 18 19 20 21. Presse after obedience to God yet know our greatest holinesse cannot justifie us before God For by grace are yee saved through faith and that not of your selves c. Not of workes lest any man should boast Ephes 2. 8 9. Even the strongest of the Lords are but weake creatures and the highest perfection they can attaine unto in this life is a fight of our imperfections and a desire and endeavour to obey and to live upon Christ by faith see Phil. 2. 12 13. And was not Paul one of the most strongest beleevers see Rom. 8. 37 38 39. yet what saith he of himselfe and his words are the word of God That which I doe I allow not for what I would that I doe not but what I haâ—e that doe I To will is present with me c. Rom. 7. 14. to 25. He had no power to doe what he would yet he lived by faith in the Sonne of God Gal. 2. 20. I find no willingnesse to duties I find no relish in them so that I often omit them Unwillingnesse to duties argueth much corruption from whence omissions often flow God may have begun his work in thee although it be thus with thee it may arise from divers causes as from unbeliefe doubting of acceptance of person and dutie and it 's no wonder if such have little list to obey also eying infirmities and not Christ also with them and not exercising grace especially faith little love to Christ loving temporall things deads the heart and makes it carnall weaknesse of grace or from Gods not affording present strength sloath and ease that slayeth the soule undiscreet doing duties out of their season ignorance of the nature of duties and what God requires in some causes ignorance of the sweetnesse of spirituall duties So the soules sicknesse which hinders the soules relish of spirituall things also weaknesse of body is a great enemy to action My flesh and my heart fayles but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal 73. 26. he never fayles Surely I am deceived I have no grace because I am not able to subdue my passions This declares rather weaknesse of grace then otherwise and it 's certain it is not from a want of truth of grace if
the Lord appeares againe the doubt is dissolved and the soule is satisfied and he is armed with experience against such a time appeares againe if he be able to judge and neglect not to marke well but where use and exercise is wanting there is not so cleare a discerning Heb. 5. 11 12. I feare the opposition that is in me is not between Christ and Satan or the Spirit against the flesh but from my corrupt will my inlightened conscience I grant all the combates in men are not right and many are deceived herein yet the difference may easily be discerned understand it thus 1. The naturall conscience although it be inlightened acts onely in a naturall way at the most it is but morall as not to lye sweare steale and such grosse acts 2. It stirres not unlesse it be forced and onely unto that it is forced unto 3. It sets one faculty against another as the will and affections against the understanding but the Spirit of Christ causeth an opposition in the same faculty as in the will c. 4. Conscience inlightened without grace it strikes onely at the branches of sin but not in the roote 1. Whereas the Spirit of God makes a free full constant impartiall resistance against all sin 2. And discovers unto the soule her secret corruptions in their colours and the Spirit over-powers the soule so as it causeth the soule to hate sin and leave it 3. The Spirit causeth the soule to be more glad when sin is more discovered 4. The Spirit of God teacheth the soule effectually to oppose all sinne even the appearance of evill equally proportionably and orderly I am so troubled with hideous temptations as I beleeve no childe of God is Christ was tempted Mat. 4. and I know no kind of temptation that God in his Word hath promised that his child shall not be tempted unto There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man therefore beleeve and take comfort in the wisdome and faithfulnesse of God who will not suffer you to be tempted above that yee are able but will with the temptation also make a way of escape that yee may be able to beare it 1 Cor. 10. 3. If they be burthensome and hatefull unto you and you cry out to God for help against them they shall not be laid unto thy charge for as it was with the damsell in Deut. 22. 25 26. even so is this matter I feare that when persecution comes I shall not suffer nor hold out unto the end but dishonour God betray his truth shame and grieve his people Cast all these cares and feares upon the Lord as Phil. 4. 10. In nothing be carefull he will care for thee I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 15. 5. God will take care for his glory truth and servants his wisdome and power and faithfulnesse shall order all Others are discouraged because they are not filled with joy and comfort c. Faith may be strong when joy is absent David had faith when he had no joy Restore to me the joy of thy salvation Psal 51. 12. He refused comfort and he wanted it Psal 77. 2. Such as judge their condition to be good because they are filled with joy they are mistaken and build upon a wrong foundation in that they are not founded upon Jesus Christ alone so as to look to him and live upon him onely If some persons had joy they would make it a Christ to them and live upon it and so abuse Christ and themselves and their joy and it 's a mercy for such to want joy till they can better use it Others are discouraged because their soules are filled with terrors saith one Oh I feel the wrath of God in my soule I have a hell in me and so have been for a long time This is a sad condition yet thus it may be with one who is the Lords for thus it was with Heman who said Lord why castest thou off my soule why hidest thou thy face from me I am ready to dye whilst I suffer thy terrors I am distracted thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrors have cut me off Psal 88. 15 16. And Job cryed He hath kindled his wrath against me and counts me unto him as one of his enemies see Job 19. 10 11. 7. 6. 13 14 15 16. And David in temptation judging himselfe according unto the Law to sense and feeling said I am cast out of his sight Psal 31. 22. Horror hath overwhelmed me Psal 55. 5. 77. 8 9. And Jeremiah said He hath led me into darknesse but not into light he hath broken my bones and compassed me with gall he hath made my chaines heavy he hath filled me with bitternesse thou hast removed my soule far off from peace and I said my strength and my hope is perished from the Lord Lam. 3. 2. to 19. The Lord hath his way in the whirlewind and in the storme Nahum 1. 3. Some conceive that if God loved them there should be no such tempests in their soules but should injoy a sweet calme in stead of wrath and terrors sweet peace and joy indeed it is so with many but it 's not so with all that are the Lords as appeares Job saith to God Why doest thou not pardon my transgressions c. Thou hast set me as a mark against thee so that I am a burden unto my selfe see Job 7. 18 19 20 21. 13 14. Because it was so with Gideon as it was he could not be perswaded that God was with him the Angel said God was with him Judg. 6. 12 13. therefore he was mistaken and so maist thou be if thou judgest thy selfe not to be the Lords because thou art filled with terrors c. Comfort depends not upon any freedome from terrors but upon the Spirits revelation of truth and application of it unto the soule The greatest peace any Saint doth possesse is not to be either a ground or an incouragement for their beleeving so also there is no terrors any can possesse ought to be any discouragement in beleeving for our happinesse is not from any thing we feele or apprehend in our selves but in that we are knowne of God who loves us and comprehends us in himselfe and his not imputing our trespasses unto us Psal 32. 1 2. A soule being in such a sad condition should consider what the Lord saith in Isa 8. 20. and to cast all their feares of hell upon God in a promise to trust in the Lord for in Jehovah is strength for evermore Isa 26. 3 4 When thou art in the flames of this fire thou shalt not be burnt With God nothing is impossible Luk. 1. 73. O troubled soule the tender mercies of our God hath visited us and so it may visit thee also and give light to thee that sittest in darknesse and in the shadow of death to
the contrary and to follow after faith and to lay hold on eternall life 1 Tim. 6. 11. 2. By beleeving we come to know our interest in Christ and of our salvation by him Whosoever beleeves in him shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 15 16. He that beleeves in the Sonne hath everlasting life vers 36. see Joh. 6. 40. 3. By beleeving we honour God He that receives his testimony hath set to his seale that God is true Joh. 3. 33. Joh. 5. 10. therefore none can beleeve too soone or too confidently or too constantly 4. If yee beleeve not surely yee shall not be established Isa 7. 9. There is no true quietnesse and settlement of soule without beleeving also thou standst by faith thou fallest into sinne by unbeliefe Rom. 11. 20. Heb. 9. 12. The word preached is precious and powerfull yet it profited them not because it was not mixed with faith Heb. 4. 2. 5. It 's faith that rids the soule of all its distempers doubts feares discouragements Rom. 5. 1. we may not separate the Spirit from faith nor faith from the Spirit 6. By faith in Christ thou shalt be kept in perfect peace it will sweetly transcendently refresh thy soule Thou wilt keepe him in perfect peace because he trusts in thee Isa 26. 3 4. Being justified by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5. 1. By faith we apprehend Christ our justification the fruit of which is joy and peace 7. By unbeliefe we adde sin to sin in the highest nature if we beleeve not what God saith our act of unbeliefe accuseth God to speake falsly He that beleeveth not hath made God a lyer 1 Joh. 5. 10. It is impossible for God to lye The strength of Israel cannot lye 1 Sam. 15. 29. Nor can it be any dishonour to God nor hurt to thy selfe to hope in his mercy and to beleeve in him therefore when thou art tempted to unbeliefe set before thee the evill of unbeliefe 8. As bad as thou canst be have been received to mercy Jesus Christ came to save sinners This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation 1 Tim. 1. 15 16. When thou layst in thy bloud behold it was a time of love Ezek. 16. 8. He justifieth the ungodly Rom. 4. 5. While we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Rom. 5. 8. 10. therefore have hope Feare not but beleeve Luk. 8. 50. The Lord will command his loving kindnesse in the day time and in the night Psal 42. 8. Hope thou in God vers 5. Be not afraid onely beleeve Mark 5. 36. 9. Unbeliefe straitens thy heart and stoppeth thy mouth hinders thy thankfulnesse and praising of God thou shalt be dumb because thou beleevest not Luk. 1. 20. 10. Unlesse we beleeve we can never glorifie God He staggered not at the promise of God through unbeliefe but was strong in faith giving God the glory Rom. 4. 20. Quest From whence is it that many of the Lords children have so many doubts and feares Answ It ariseth from many severall causes as 1. From ignorance of the fulnesse and freenesse of the promise Isa 55. 2. or mindlesnesse and heedlesnesse of the promise Heb. 2. 1. 3. And from corruption in the heart opposing grace Rom. 7. 4. And from the bodies distemper with melancholy 5. or from the conscience being inlightened which sides with the Law against it selfe Rom. 7. 24. 6. or from unskilfulnesse in the Word of righteousnesse Heb. 5. 13. 7. And from unbeliefe which takes the Law and applies it to it selfe which occasioneth feares and feares doubts 8. And from loose walking with God 9. Or from the Spirits not operating in the soule the Spirit when it acts speakes peace and causeth faith to act more strongly Rom. 8. 16. Meanes to quiet and settle a troubled soule in assurance of the love of God God gives peace to his by meanes as appeares 2 Thes 3. 16. Commune with thy heart and make diligent search to find out what it is that troubleth thee Psal 77. 6. Aske a reason of thy soule why it is disquieted why it is cast downe Psal 42. 11. Why art thou cast downe O my soule why art thou disquieted Psal 42. 5 6. Examine from whence all thy discouragements come they come not from God for his voyce is onely comfort unto his people he hath declared himselfe to be mercifull and gracious and slow to anger and plenteous in mercy He hath not dealt with us after our sinnes nor rewarded us according unto our iniquities Psa 103. 3 4. 8. 10. c. His voyce is comfort Comfort yee my people speak yee comfortably to Jerusalem cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquitie is pardoned Isa 4. 1 2. I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evill Jer. 29. 11. Nor come they from Christ he doth not trouble nor discourage any He binds up the broken-hearted he proclaimes peace liberty he comforts all that mourne he gives beautie for ashes the oyle of joy for mourning and garments of praise for the Spirit of heavinesse c. Isa 61. 1 2 3. Luk. 4. 18. He is gracious and pitiâ—ull He will not quench the smoaking flax nor breake the bruised reed Isai 42. 3. His voyce is full of love tendernesse all his words are sweet words as Let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 13. 1. Feare not it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Cast youâ— care upon me I will care for you Phil. 4. 6. Christs voyce is open to me My sister my love my dove my undefiled Song 5. 2. On sweet words of Christ to his Nor come they from the holy Spirit of God he is the greatest and most sweetest comforter he causeth no discouragements but removes them all by revealing and applying to the soule the love of God and carrieth the soule by faith from all discouragements to God who is love peace where the soule is to rest Psal 116. 7. and to be filled with his sweet peace Therefore all our discouragements do proceed 1. From the Devill who is an enemy to faith He taketh the word out of mens hearts lest they should beleeve Luk. 8. 12. 1 Thes 3. 5. 2. Our own hearts Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evill heart in departing from the living God Heb. 3. 12. 3. Or the lying vanities we have chosen but they that harken unto lying vanities forsake their own mercy Jonah 2. 8. Give no way to any discouragement at all though it doe seeme never so just and reasonable c. This was Davids sin to admit of a parley with that which might tend to discourage him saying Will the Lord cast off for ever doth his promise fayle for evermore I said this is my infirmitie Psal 77. 7 8 9 10. As soone as he saw his infirmitie he had other thoughts of God saying Who is so
We receive the Law from the hand of Jesus Christ to be a rule for us to walke by and herein is my Father glorified that yee bring forth much fruit Joh. 15. 8. And the Saints injoy sweet priviledges by walking close with God see 1 Pet. 4. 14. To him that orders his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Psal 50. 23. God sheddeth his love into the hearts of his in his time and measure which love so constraines them that they cannot choose but love God againe for his great love Rom. 5. 5. Ephes 4. 6. 2 Cor. 5. 14. Which love as it is apprehended by them so it constraines them to obey him and there is no faith true but that which workes by love Gal. 5. 6. and to all that love God his commandements are not grievous Joh. 14. 15. 1 Joh. 5. 1. 3. And God hath chosen us that wee should be holy and without blame before him in love Ephes 1. 4. 2. 10. 4. 1. But this doctrine hath ever been slandred and opposed by Papists Arminians and such as they are but let those that can see judge whose lives are most according to the Word they that hold with it or against it 3. The life of faith in Sanctification This consists in two branches The first is the soules cleaving to God in Christ our Sanctification which is for my pardon and peace and assurance of glory 1 Cor. 1. 30. Who is made unto us sanctification The second is the soules cleaving to Christ in his promises to change my nature clense and renew my heart and life and to worke all our workes for us and be a quickning Spirit in us 1 Cor. 15. 45. I will heale their backslidings Hos 14. 5. He will subdue our iniquities Micah 7. 19. Sinne shall not have dominion over you c. Isa 57. 18 19. I have seene his wayes and will heale him and heale all thy diseases Psal 103. 8. This was Christs prayer Sanctifie them with thy truth thy Word is truth for their sakes sanctifie I my selfe that they also might be sanctified through the truth Joh. 17. 17. 19. There is much unevennesse in us it should be a great griefe unto us that we cannot honour God no more in our conversation that our spirits are so much estranged from him as they are and unto holy and divine things which should be familiar and more delightfull unto us All that are the Lords have received great love from him which should greatly ingage their hearts to walke as becometh Saints in a holy course and conversation according to the Word of God every day and all the day long to injoy God and obey him according to his word Of infirmities An infirmitie is such a weaknesse as when the heart is upright yet by reason of some impediment it cannot doe the good it would and doth the evill it would not Infirmities are the imperfections of good actions There is an infirmitie which ariseth from some impediment which a man would faine remove but cannot There is an infirmitie that ariseth for want of growth in grace A sin of infirmitie is alwayes with griefe and sorrow and where there is no griefe for it it is no infirmitie It is a sin of infirmitie in him who desires to be informed of it and to be reproved for it and to know how to leave it when he is ashamed of it and will not plead for it but complaine to God against it and is grieved humbled for it and useth meanes against it There is no childe of God that is wholly free from infirmities therefore every beleever is to live by faith in all their infirmities 4. The life of faith in infirmities Which consists in two things First It is the soule cleaving to God in Christ that he will be to us according unto his promise a God of love and mercy unto us for ever notwithstanding all our omissions and commissions excesses and defects Secondly and that he will supply all our wants for soule or body as if we had never sinned according to his Covenant with Jesus Christ and us in him that it shall stand fast for ever with him Psal 89. 27 28 29. For the first If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. Who forgiveth all thy iniquities Psal 103. 3. Whom he loves once he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Isai 53. 3. Which is confirmed by two immutable things Oath and Covenant c. That wee might have strong Consolation Heb. 6. 17 18. Through the bloud of the everlasting Covenant Heb. 13. 20. If his children forsake my Law and walke not in my Judgements if they breake my Statutes and keepe not my Commandements then will I visit their transgressions with a rod and their iniquitie with stripes Neverthelesse my loving kindnesse I will not take from him nor suffer my faithfulnesse to faile my Covenant will I not breake my mercy will I keep for him and my Covenant shall stand fast with him Psal 89. 30 31 32 33 34. They and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neckes and hearkened not to thy Commandements and refused to obey c. But thou art a God ready to pardon gracious and mercifull and slow to anger and of great kindnesse and forsakest them not Nehe. 9. 16 17 18 19 20. In our greatest falls when the soule is subject to doubt of pardon consider our God will abundantly pardon c. Isa 55. 7 8 9. I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my Names sake Isa 43. 25. And am mighty to save Isa 63. 1. With the Lord is plenteous redemption Psal 130. 7 8 9. I have blotted out thy sins returne unto mee for I have redeemed thee Isa 44. 22. He knoweth our frame and remembreth that we are but dust Psal 103. 14. If thou shouldst mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand But there is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared Psal 130. 3 4. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that feare him As a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that feare him Psal 103. 13. 17 18. Thou art a God ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee Psal 86. 5. But thou art a God ready to pardon gracious and mercifull and slow to anger and of great kindnesse and forsakest them not though they dealt proudly and hardened their neckes and hearkened not to thy Commandements and refused to obey Neh. 9. 16 17. He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities Ps 103. 10. He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was