being in Christ there 's no acceptation but in the Beloved Eph. 1. 6. These few Reasons without adding mo may convince that it highly concerneth thee to be at the utmost pains in trying of thy Faith Consider also that all thy pains shal be richly payed Home if by searching thou shalt find that God hath bestowed upon thee Precious Faith 2 Pet. 1. 1. The Faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1. 1. That Faith whereby a sinner is justified and hath peace with God Rom. 5. 1. That Faith whereby thou art Sanctified Acts 26. 18. That Faith the end whereof shal be the Salvation of thy Soul 1 Pet. 1. 9. Receiving the end of your faith even the Salvation of your Souls What pains should be valued where this is the Result How great may be thy Joy in his Salvation when thou canst say The beloved is mine and I am his Cant. 2. 16. Christ is mine the Pledges of his Love are mine his Fellowship is mine his Food and Table is mine He hath clothed me with the garments of Salvation Isa 61. 10. I shal not be rejected for want of a Wedding Garment Shall be not with Christ freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. Q. But what way shal I take to Examine my Faith First try if you can observe the direct Actings of Faith that you may say now Lord I believe though before it be well out of your lips ye must add Lord help my unbelief Mark 9. 24. Acceptable Believing is of so great Importance that serious souls are solicitous so to Believe as that they might immediately Reflect upon it and finding it believing indeed Blessed Jesus Christ would needs have it out of his Disciples own mouths that they did Believe John 16. 30. By this we believe They do not say we have Belleved but in the very present time we Believe And in the next verse Christ saith Do ye now believe for this Cause it were good especially for you who doubt of your Faith to set your selves for actual present Believing before ye go to the Lords Table some people are apt to weary of long Debates in their mind whether they have Believed or not and tempted to give it over who by the Blessing of God upon this mean are Relieved of their Fears and cleared of their Doubts Addressing themselves to the Lord with all the Reverence and Seriousness they can attain and in the Sense of their sin and need of a Saviour set themselves to Receive and Embrace Christ as their Redeemer and Lord. This Mean hath been so Countenanced of God that after it's serious Performance some hath gone to the Lords Table with desire Chearfulness and Peace though Doubting before Oject But I cannot Believe when I please nor is it so light a matter to go off hand and Believe and so have done Answ 1. Ye cannot Believe too soon if you Believe indeed 2. This is an Opportune Season for it when ye are called to Partake of an Ordinance which you cannot neglect without sin nor Partake without Believing 3 Ye are peremptorly Commanded to Believe therefore it 's Duty to endeavour it and it 's such a Duty as should not be Deferred That ye are Commanded Consider John 14. 1. 1 John 3. 23. And this is his Comandment that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ And that it 's a Duty not to be Delayed see John 3. 36. He that believeth not the wrath of God abideth on him If you still reply I cannot Believe though it be a Duty I will Answer that no more can you perform any Religious Duty aright will ye therefore resolve to perform no Religious Duty will ye not Pray because ye cannot Pray aright will ye never praise because ye cannot do it aright see what thy verie Reason can Answer to this plain Argument what ever God Commandeth we are obliged to endeavour Obedience unto it but God Commandeth us to Believe therefore we are Obliged to endeavour Obedience to this Command of Believing And though it be granted that we cannot Believe when we will yet we are to endeavour and put out the Withered Hand hoping we may take it in Whole if the Lord shal say arise from the dead as Ephes 5. 14. Should we Dispute and Proudly Quarrel in stead of Obeying cannot the Lord of Life give Life with the Word of Command as to Dead Lazarus mind John 11. 25. He that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live But if ye cannot find the Truth of your Faith by this manner of Trial yet ye are not so to leave it for what quiet can a man have in his Soul not knowing but he is still under the Wrath of God as all Unbelievers are and not knowing what hour that VVrath may Surprise him with it's intollerable weight and Eternity Therefore other Means must be essayed to Search it out by it's Fruits for Luke 6. 44. A tree is known by his fruits and the Apostle James saith He will shew his faith by his works it 's a great mercy that there is any way to have it secured Consider these two ways wherein by the Blessing of God the sincerity of your Faith may be Discovered as first by trying your ordinary Dependance on God and 2. By searching into the Gracious Fruits of Faith specially that by Faith the heart is purified Acts 15. 9. For the first enquire at your own Conscience what Course is ordinarly taken for Light and Direction when ye are in Darkness or Doubts do ye still lean to your own Understanding or on Christ as made of God VVisdom unto Believers 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2 VVhen ye do Pray for wisdom and Light is it that you may walk according to that Light or Direction Deal ye Ingenuously with God not seeking Counsel of God with a Reserve if it be to your own Humour but Resolved to walk in his Light whithersoever it lead you has thy Soul fixed on the Lord as thy Guide then Remember what is said Psal 73. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel and afterward recelve me to glory for Glory will follow to the Followers of this Guide 2. Try also what way thou taketh for thy Guilt whither dost thou go for ease to thy Conscience when it accuseth thee as it certainly will if not seard is it to the Blood of Christ or dost thou make a cover to thy Sin of thy Duties thy Tears thy Mourning thy Amending of some evil Practices and thy not being as some other men if this be thy way thou art yet a Stranger to Gospel Faith but if thou believest in thine heart that the Blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin and thou will not dishonour that perfect Sacrifice by thinking it insufficient for thy sin and therefore leans thy Soul with all it's Guilt upon him who made his soul an offering for sin Isai 53. 10. Thy care is to be found in him not having thine own Righteousness but that
24. Whereby we must have the knowledge of our sin be convinced be humbled Yet we shal not find that every one who cometh to Christ is or must be a like measure humbled all are not in a like depth before their heads be brought above water all have not the pangs of the new Birth alike painful all are not struck down to the ground and made blind before they be comforted as Paul We find not the degree of any mans grief for sin set up as a Standard whereby all others must be measured but we find the difference between a worldly and a godly sorrowing much regarded 2 Cor. 7. 10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death Therefore we shal be wiser to search out the nature of our grief than its degrees only If it be a godly sorrowing on the account of sin and its sinfulness in provoking a holy and gracious God This we find made a ground of comfort to the people of God ver 11. That they sorrowed after a godly sort and reformation attended their sorrow 5. It 's necessary also that we take care lest our pressing for such a measure of grief be not by the secret deceitfulness of our hearts designed as a Sacrifice for our sin Idolizing it too much as if thereby sin might be expiated 6. It would be also considered that poor frail men may be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow so that some persons seek after they know not what even such a measure of sorrow as might be their own ruine 2 Cor. 2 7 You ought rather to comfort such a man lest perhaps he be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow 7. Where sorrowing for sin is truly godly sorrowing yet one Christian may have a higher degree than another who is also sincere a man may have true Faith true Love true Repentance and yet another exceed him in all these for both the grace and its measure are the gift of Christ Eph. 4. 7. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ 8. Yet because the most common danger is a defect in this godly sorrowing and no sincere humbling found with many professed Christians no such grief or hatred of sin as can bear the name of sound Repentance and effectual turning to God Therefore as it is a most necessary grace we should seek to grow in it as we would have God to lift us up we must be humbled Jam. 4 10. And blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted And that you may be in some measure helped to discern the soundness of your Repentance Search thy own soul for these things First If thou grievest for the first motiâ—ns of sin in thy heart and resists them though they go no further than thy thoughts and imaginations and though not intertainted by thy affections For the thought of foolishness is sin Prov. 24 9. But thou findest a hateing of vain thoughts Psal 119 113. This was a comfort to the man of God and so it may be to thee 2 Do you not find a sincere loathing of your selves so that hardly can any man judge thee worse than thou judgest thy self and this thou feelest without dissimulation By this ingenuous judging of your self you may take comfort for what is said 1 Cor. 11 31. For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged ye shal not be judged into condemnation godly Jâ—b lookt upon this abhorring of himself as sound Repentance Job 42 6. For he really judged himself vile Job 40 4. 3. Dost thou not search out thy sins purposely that thou may'st mourn over them and turn from them This makes it appear that sin is hated in the soul when thou dost search for it as an enemy to be cast out when a soul is so straight with God that help is desired to find out his enemies Psal 139 23. Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts And see if there be any wicked way in me It 's good when a Christian resisteth sin that 's obvious to him but it 's better when he desireth Gods help to discover secret sins that may be lurking in his heart that he may oppose every sin though this give him more matter of mourning yet being sincere he must pursue sin to the utmost 4. And doth it not endear thy heart to God when thou get'st help of this nature that thy greatest enemy triumpheth not over thee Yea for the very hope that he will subdue thy iniquity Mic. 5. Is not sin bitter to thee even when thou hast no present thoughts of Wrath to follow upon thy Sin I do not say but it 's lawful to mourn for fear of Wrath but it 's comfortable to a Christian when he can Observe that some times on the first Discovery of sin before any thought of it's woful fruit come into his mind it forthwith woundeth his heart for then it appears to be grief for Sin because it 's sin which is true Godly sorrowing we find Psal 65. 3. Iniquities prevail agairst me as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away Here is sin Lamented as bitter when yet there is Faith in the very time that these sins shal be purged away thou has cause to be Comforted to whom sins is bitter when thou hast greatest expectations of pardon and the remembrance of thy sin melting thy heart into the greatest grief when thou considerest the tender Mercies of thy God in pardoning all thy iniquities sins against Love gives the Child of God the deepest Wounds hast thou it not to say that the thoughts of Hell and Wrath hath often left thy heart very obdured but the thoughts of Gods Love and care of thy Soul hath softned and poured it out in mourning that even thou shouldest provoke him to anger who is so Gracious to thee 6. Canst thou not give some Instances of particular sins that are now in a great measure Subdued and thy heart departed from them by nothing that thou canst know of but by the Grace of God such sins as thou wast once a very slave unto Canst thou not now say that by the grace of God thy feet are kept from falling in a great measure Psal 18. 36. Thy turning from sin is the surest evidence of Repentance Psal 119. 59. 5. We are obliged also to try our Obedeince to God First Because Christ will not own us for his friends if we be not found Obedient to him John 15. 14. Ye are my friends if ye de whatsoever I command you Therefore as we would enjoy the happiness and comfort of this Friendship we must study obedience as we would have his Countenance lifted up upon us at his Table and be used as his Friends indeed we must endeavour to have it clear that we obey him from the heart Rom. 6. 17. 2. By our obodience we testifie whose servants we are
trying whether they have Communicated acceptablly or Unworthily they must distinguish between their being helped to perform the Substance of the work then required and having their Graces revived and elevated by the shining of God's Face upon them because a Believer may sincerely receive Christ Offered to him in the Sacrament when â—â—ere is not such lifting up of God's Countenance upon him as at other times a Believer may be under some deserved rebuke even at the Lord's Table and yet he cleaveth to Christ though hiding his face and affectionatly Embraceth Him though his affections be not raised to that hight that they have been and should be 3. There is great need of wisdom from God how to Judge of the passions of mens souls in time of communicating for some men may have great flashes of Grief or joy at such times who know no such thing at other times or if they should be so at other times yet no better than the weeping of an Esau or the joy of an Hypocrite which soon perisheth others again at the same work may have true Godly sorrowing melting down their hearts before the Lord in the Sense of their sin and sometimes the Joy of the Lord 's true Spiritual comfort replenishing their fouls so that they find it unspeakable and these elevated affections having a sincere Root flowing from indignation at sin or Love to Christ are most desireable so that it should or will be painful to a Believer if he find not some gale of affections suitable in some measure to the love he is receiving and publishing at the Lord's Table nor will it abate his regard to these due affections that an Hypocrite may have the Counterfit of them Fourthly Such Believers as doubt of their acceptance at the Lord's Table which doubt doth often arise from people not being comforted at that time or the lowness of their graces not acting vigourously when they were Partaking such Communicants I say for preventing of disponding disquiet of mind must in Reviewing their work Consider if that which was indispensably necessary was performed that is the souls receiving of Christ as He is offered in the Gospel and offereth Himself to His people in that Ordinance if the heart was opened for Him and He embraced then the most Substantial part of the VVork was performed though there be Cause to Mourn that the affections were so low at such enriching and Honourable work yet Bless God if thou wast enabled to Joyn thy self to the Lord for the Ordinance is not profaned and though thou wast a weak yet not an unworthy Communicant It may also contribute to thy Comfort if when thou comest from the Lord's Table thou findest in thy Soul First an Inclination to Praise and Exalt thy Redeemer and for this particularly that He did not utterly forsake thy soul as thou knowest was deserved and though thou had a Rebuke by the hiding of His Face as to thy Comfort yet thou submits to it and does not cease to love Him knowing that He can make a Blessing of that froun to render thee more humble and diligent for the time to come 2. If thou find a desire to hold fast what thou hast received Thou art so far from having done with Christ when thou has done at the Table that thy heart cleaveth close to Him and so much the more if thou had any fear of His anger by withdrawing of His Comfort if thou canst not sray from Him but must have some renewed Testimony of His Love fear of His anger being too heavy for thee to bear Job 10. 2. Psal 80. 7. Thirdly VVhen thou comes from the Lord's Table thou findest upon thy heart a fear of sinning that thy Lord be not provocked more and this fear is of any manner of sinning so that there is no Trial or trouble thou fearest so much as sin and so much the more because thou thinkest thy sin hath provocked thy God already thy indignation is now raised against all sin as thy greatest Enemy making thee long to be Delivered from Root and Branch of it Rom. 7. 24. Fourthly If this thy Indignation at sin be Testifyed by thy watching against it and all Temptations leading to it though it were as Plucking out of the Right Eye if thou find thy heart Purified then thou has the Faith of God's Elect the cleansing Vertue of Christ's Blood hath reached thy Soul for nothing else could do it 1 Peter 1. 19 22. Fifthly If thou comest from the Lord's Table with this fixed on thy heart that from henceforth whatever come in thy way thou wilt Believe let the Difficulty be never so far above thy Strength thou wilt Honour thy Redeemer by Trusting Him with any thing without exception thou has now Professed thy self a Believer before Angels and men and by Grace thou wilt act as becometh a Believer thou fearest sin thou fearest Temptations thou wants not fear that the Burden of some Trials is ready to breake thy Back but now thou dare fear none of them with a faithless fainting fear knowing thy Redeemer is Strong and that thou art Solemnly Engaged to Trust Him at all times If this be the fruit of thy Communicating then the Bond of the Covenant hath bound thy heart to thy Lord then thy heart beareth the Impression of His Seal Psal 52. 8. Sixthly Since thou came from the Lord's Supper observe what Gracious alterations are to be found in thy Soul and Practice that were not found before what thou can find of that exceeding great and Mighty Power whereby the Lord worketh in them that believe if thou has not only brought Godly resolutions from that Ordinance but vertue and power if thou can observe more of the Spirit of Power in thy Duties if there be any observable new spring that decayed Graces are revived if thy sin be languishing and Grace flowrishing if whatever Holy work thou art Engaged in some vigour Life and strength appeareth thou art not now desiring to shift clear Duties thy heart and thy work go now together which often before were far asunder thou now takest delight in doing thy Lord's VVill thou can run now and not weary as formerly if this be found then the Lord hath abundantly Blessed thy Provision thy Meat hath been thy Blessing and thou mayest now find it even as Christ said His flesh Meat indeed and His Blood Drink indeed I shal add but one word more to such as still fear they did not Communicate acceptably even as to the very Substance of the work and cannot say they Believed when they did Partake Answ This Fear is very afflicting but some who find not comfort at a Communion are so cast down and so disturbed in their apprehensions concluding the Lord hath diserted them that they can see nothing for their Comfort and sometimes refuse to be comforted having a strange kind of pleasure to harden themselves in sorrow though they did Believe in the time of Partaking yet now they have not an
counsels â—ince ye will not follow his Is your method better than Gods Your way is either for never Communicating or never to Communicat aright for if you will not examine ye shal not Communicat aright Dare you say that any of Gods Commands are unprofitable whose Commands are for our good always and in keeping of them is great reward Psal 19. 11. Will ye joyn with these impudent wretches who say what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance Mal. 3. 14. But when ye say it 's tedious then ye speak your heart and discover the root of your objection even as the Sluggard he will be undone and slain if he go out to his work Prov. 22. 13. The slothful man saith there is a lion without I shall be slain in the streets yet no other seeth this lion in the way but the sluggard 2. Object I am a Believer and all Believers will be saved and have a right to the Lords Table what needeth more searching Answ If ye know it the less labour in examining will serve and if it be as you say you are the most inexcusable for this neglect and do foolishly requite the Lord for his bountiful dealing and gracious obliging you to all chearful obedience If your faith be so clear already what harm to bring it to the light specially in a season when the Lord requireth the trying of it 2. Do ye know before you try that your Faith is not Dead Do ye consider the direful consequents of a mistake in this Is not the tryal of your faith more precious than that of gold 1 Pet. 1. 7. Are ye become wiser than the Apostle James who insisteth so much in the discovery of precious justifying Faith that it may be discriminate from a delusive dead Faith which leaveth its owner dead in his sins Jam. 2. 17 18 19. 3. Object I acknowledge it a Duty to examine my self but it 's such a Duty as I am not able to manage I find my self incapable of any advantage by it for when ever I Essay it I can come to no conclusion as to the state of my Soul Answ If you give up with all holy duties that are difficult then take heed that ye do not next give up with the way to Heaven for it is a narrow way as Christ hath told us and if you take a Liberty to step aside always when you find it narrow how do you think to get through it if you must needs have an easy way it is very easy to find it in the Broad way leading to Destruction you will have plenty of fellow travellours there who all love it because it is easy Are not all Holy Duties difficult to perform because of the Perverseness of our natures shal we therefore abandon them all Do ye judge it best to give over Prayer Meditation Watchfulness Mortification Plucking out the right Eye c. And all because it is not easie to perform them aright why then should ye neglect to Examine your selves which is an hand maid and furtherance to seriousness in all Duties but still you say it is a Duty ye cannot perform Answ For your help who are willing but are Discouraged by your weakness to perform it to advantage first Pray that God would determine your heart to so clear a Duty that you may be in Suspense no longer whether to perform it or not and Pray for asistance to it's profitable management 2. Allow for so great a work convenient time and place that thou mayest not be Diverted nor the Work Hurried over superficially for want of time to attend it which many are Guilty of who are too Prodigal of time otherways A Heathen could teach us that we should not Complain so much of having little time as that we lose much you know how much time is often wasted on verie Trifles and worse Let securing of your Eternal State have at least some share otherways your last farewell to time may be very bitter when Death shal say not a Moment longer is my Commission though possibly thy Conscience tell thee some time must be taken to Examine the Scriptures require it Ministers press it and it is the Custom of all who have any seeming seriousness and Conscience it 's mouth must be stopt lest it be Clamourous but then the time allowed is so scant that nothing is duely Pondered and so it turns to a Name of nothing 3. As thou art to allow Competent time so also due seriousness is necessary that it may be suitable to the work in hand Examine your selves know you not your own selves 2 Cor. 13. 5. Remember you have a deceitful heart to search the deceitfulness of sin is such as to hide it self in a searching time but you are now to find out Gods Enemies and your own you are now to Try Titles whose you are Christ's or the Devils what Title you have to Christ's Feast of love do you love or hate Him hath he cloathed you with a Garment of Salvation that you may sit down with Confidence at his Table or not if these things be still triffled over know that the time is at hand when thou wilt be more serious than thou desirest serious I say in Hopless Terrours The God of Mercy have pity upon a kind of Infidel Christians in this Age who do not and will not Believe what is comming though Christ hath often given Warning yea five times together in one place Mark 9. 43 c. That the Worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched and that for not being serious and painful in the Duties of Religion 4. When thou dost examine thy self six upon a sufficient Rule not thy own imaginations but the word of God the Law and Testimony Isai 8. 20. Bring forth the hidden works of darkness to this light for they must shortly be made manifest But if thou shalt say then I may end my Examining work when they begin for I have nothing to stand before that light my best works are but darkness where that Lamp shineth I cannot answer for one of a Thousand of my ways Answ Thou hast no other safe Rule for if thou advancest either thy own Opinion of thy self or the Opinion of others as a Rule thou art nothing the wiser for these may deceive thee and do deceive many some thinking they are rich when they are poor Rev. 3. 17. And some have by the Opinion of others a Name that they live but Christ sayeth they are dead Rev. 3. 1. Whether canst thou go but to the word of his lips who looketh upon things that are equal from whom thy sentence must come Psal 17. 2. 4. But Secondly when thou considerest Scripture Precept consider also Scripture Condescension or Gods gracious Condescension there revealed as when the Scripture saith cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Gal. 3. 10. Yet the same Scripture of Truth saith
Christ was made a curse for us v. 13. so John 3. 18. He that believeth not is condemned already But Rom. 8. There 's no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus Observe also that God accepteth of sincerity where obedience to the precept is not perfect John 17. 6. They have kept thy word yet their obedience was evidently Imperfect Therefore let not this break up thy work that thou hast nothing suitable to the purity of Gods Law neither conclude thy self graceless because thou doest not that which thou wouldest in obedience to God Rom. 7. 19. 5. Beware of insufficient marks or evidences either of a gracious or graceless State for thou mayest deceive thy self either of the ways It 's not a sufficient work of Grace thou takest delight some times in approaching to God as Isai 58. 2. Nor great appearances if there be no root Matth. 13. 5. forthwith they spring up the appearance may be such as beholders may take notice there is a great change the seed springeth up then appears a fresh green field that appeared not before yet no sound Root none of the uncorruptible seed which springeth up to Life Eternal Thou mayest be again and again ashamed of thy sin and confess it as Saul yet no Godly sorrowing on the account of sin it self you may also have the out side clean and whited beyond others and yet be but whited sepulchres nothing within but Death what is whiter than a dunghill covered over with snow but when the snow is gone the dunghill appears as it was On the other hand it is not easie for a Christian when he Examineth his Souls State to take the highest degrees of grace which hath been attained by the Saints and makes them the only Evidences of true graces as Pauls wish Rom. 9. 3. For I could wish that my self were accursed from Christ for my brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh There is no ground to think that is recorded as a Mark whereby every Christian must Try if he be in a State of Grace a man may be a sincere Christian and not know how to manage such a wish The Apostle Paul understood how to abide in Christ notwithstanding of this his extraordinary Zeal for his Countrey-men but the measure of grace is given according to the gift of Christ Eph. 4. The safest way is to take Scriptural Marks such as are set down as evidences of sanctifying Grace for it is Dangerous to overlook these such as that John 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And 2 Cor. 5. 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are past away behold all things are become new and such as that John 14. 23. If a man love me he will keep my words Such as these are the Marks we should Try our selves by for the Spirit of God hath given them as Discoveries of Grace and our Interest in Christ and therefore it is our sin to neglect them being a great Mercy that the Lord in a manner Condescendeth to answer our Questions How shall I know if Heaven shall be my Habitation It 's answered we must first be born again we must be regenerated by the Spirit of God How shall I know if I be in Christ It 's answered I must be a new Creature How shall I know if I have the love of God It 's answered Prov. 8. 17. I love them that love me again how shall I know if I Love him It 's answered I must keep his Words and 1 John 5. And every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 6. When thou art under this Tryal seek to have thy Witnesses assisting and speaking freely Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the children of God albeit Grace hath been freely given thee yet thou wilt need the help of the Spirit of God to make known the things that are freely given thee as 1 Cor. 2. 12. If the Giver of Grace shine not on Grace it will not appear the Spirit is the Comforter even on this account to give the Comfort of his own Grace to to make it evident for thou canst not Judge without evidence 1 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit searcheth all things yea the Deep things of God Thy second Witness is thy own Spirit or Conscience for the Spirit beareth witness with our Spirits Let your Conscience speak freely all it hath to say as to the very Intentions and Designs of thy heart for what end and by what Motives thou performest Duties if thy Conscience can Charge thee with hypocrisie let all its Depositions have a fair hearing if it accuse thee of any retained Idol of heart or any lust thou makest Provision for if faithful Witnesses be not heard how shalt thou Judge of thy State or if thy Conscience warrantably Excuse and Comfort thee as to thine Integrity that thou canst humbly appeal to the Searcher of hearts and thy very Soul content he Search thee then thou art not to pass from thine Integrity Job 27. 5. I will not remove my integrity from me 7. Search not only into your sins nor only into your Grace but search out both some who are under Bondage by fear when they Examine themselves look only into their faults and often are apt to say what need for any further Search here are so many sins often prevailing I see them I feel their Power the world also may see many of them in my Practice though they cannot see all whereupon they are forthwith discouraged they open their eyes upon such Words as these Psal 65. 3. Iniquities prevail against me and their faint heart not considering what follows as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away nor the Interest they have in such Comfort that the Lord will purge away their Iniquities nor that the Grace of God hath made it their ordinary care to keep themselves from their iniquities Psal 18. 23. and cannot deny but sin is their greatest burden Psal 38. 4. And that there is a constant warfare against it Rom. 7. Some on the other hand sinfully covering their sin consider only their best side Luke 18. 11. Lord I thank thee that I am not as other men I am more holy than many others Isa 65. 5. But these are found most unsavoury before the Lord as a smoake in his nose they please themselves as preferable to all others they will soon say come see my zeal 2 Kings 10 16. but dare not say as Psal 139. 24. see if there be any wicked way in me If thou cover thy sins thou shalt not prosper Prov. 28. 13. Therefore be ingenuous with God and thy own Soul search out the worst as well as the best and the best as well as the worst the worst that thou mayest be yet more humbled and the best that thou mayest praise 8 Remember also to search into
which is by the Faith of the Son of God thou must have a Jesus to Save thee from thy sins thou must flee to him as thy Refuge then Consider what is said Heb. 6. 18. That we might have a strong consolation who have fled for a refuge our merciful Redeemer saith not to the poor sinner thou hadst never come to me but because thou could make no other shift thou has made me thy last choice therefore be gone No no but when the poor sinner cometh only by a Consent of necessity yet he will in no ways cast him out though he could find no other Refuge yet when he cometh he shal have strong Consolation thou findest Blessed Jesus like none but himself for this not the manner of men 3. Search thy way as to the subduing of thy Sin if thou sufferest sin peaceably to prevail as its willing servant or is its prevailing bitter making thee often complain to God against thy self as Psal 65. 3 Art thou not often crying to him that no sin may have dominion over thee That he would cleanse thee from secret faults and keep thee back from sinning Psal 19. 12 13. Art thou not searching also upon what ground thou mayest expect the mortifying of any sin For if thou art sincere with God and pained with Sin thou will be as earnest to know upon what grounds thou may expect the subduing of sin as the pardon of it Therefore it will not suffice thee to have it to say thou has prayed for a clean heart but to know what encouragement God hath given to hope for it this will make thee search the Promises for cleansing and sanctifying of thy Soul and what interest thou hast in these Promises this will make thee careful for an interest in Christ Crucified that by him thy lusts may be crucified and that thou serve sin no more as Rom. 6. 6. And though it be one of the greatest trials of thy Faith to believe the mortification of some rooted sins that easily beset thee yet dare thou not distrust the Promise of God Ezek. 36. 25. From all your filthiness and from all your I dols will I cleanse you Though thou has been striving many years against some particulur sins without the desired success yet thy regard to the Promise continueth thou dependest still upon it as Mic. 7. 19. He will subdue our iniquities This is the Faith of the Saints who now inherit the Promises 4. When thou has Duties to perform far above thy strength try what is then thy ways Dost thou neglect them because they are difficult or dost thou go to thy work in the strength of the Lord God If thou goest to work in his strength then thou art acting Faith Art thou not strongest when weakest in thy own opinion and upon this experience that out of weakness thou art made strong and that God never faileth thee thou resolvest to refuse no duty he requireth of thee for thy Ebenezer is set up hitherto hath God helped this is direct living by Faith and if Believers were more exact in remarking how often God doth countenance their essays to believe when they are weakest in their own eyes the comfort of their Faith would not be so rare how gratefully is it to be remembred that when there is sharp sense of guilt and fear of being deserted because of guilt yet engaging in work that God calleth unto some can hardly instance a time when they lean to promised strength but God appeareth the glory of their strength Whoso observeth these things are in the way to understand the loving kindness of the Lord and so obtain the comfort of their Faith 5. If thou canst not yet take comfort to thy self that this precious Faith is thine Search yet further for it 's worth the pains of many days or years if it be found at last Try then if thou canst find it in the Furnace of affliction where sometimes it shineth more brightly than in any easie lot In the day of thy Calamity whether goest thou for help to the arm of Flesh or to the arm of Jehovah Where goest thou first dost thou no sooner come to trouble but thou lookest up to meet with God as soon as the trouble There is much to be discovered of the dependance of a Soul by the way it first taketh in Affliction for what is habitually trusted is commonly first resorted unto When godly Job heareth the surprising tidings of the Death of his dear Children and other losses immediatly he looketh to God and Worshippeth Job 1. 20. So when David was distressed by the Amalakites taking his Relations and all away Captives 1 Sam. 30. 1. The first thing he doth is to encourage himself in the Lord verse 6. But the first thing we hear the poor Men speaking who were not so acquainted with dependance on God was the Stoning of David Next when thy tryals are overwhelming so that thou art ready to sink Try if thou believest that there is a Rock able to bear thee and the heaviest of thy Burdens and that God hath not left his people so destitute as that perishing must needs be the result of these overwhelmings But as it is Psal 61. 2. When my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I So thou betakest thy self to God as thy Rock and withal commits the leading of thy soul unto this Rock to him who is thy Rock here is abounding Faith not only trusting the Lord as the Rock of Ages but the leading of thy soul to himself thou commits the very management of thy Soul into his hands if thou canst claim this as thy way then thou has the precious Faith thou art seeking after Try also the unseignedness of thy Faith by other unseigned fruits If thou has true Faith toward God it will carry up thy heart to him thou will live upon Christ and obtain some real victory over this World it shal not captivate thy soul as it doth the souls of Men who have their portion in this life 1 Joh. 5. 4. It will raise thee to the affectionat Meditations of thy better Countrey and there thy desires will be captivated until thy self be placed with them Heb. 11. 16. Thou will find the first fruits so pleasantâ— as to deaden thy heart to the pleasures of sin for Faith will purifie thy heart Act. 15. 9. And though this evidence of Faith appeareth difficult because of the many impurities of heart remaining in Believers Yet the Words of God must be regarded and this purifying of the heart must and will be found where justifying precious Faith is for Believers even in this life obtain some measure of true purity as appeareth by Matth. 5. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God For here Christ declareth some are pure in heart before they come to see God as they shal see him hereafter so Joh. 15. 3. Now are ye clean or pure as the word is commonly
rendered Believers being in a justified state they obtain in this life some real purity of heart notwithstanding of their Imperfections and it becometh a snare or woe to souls that study no purity because of no intire perfection in this life and these have the true beginnings of holy purity who follow that example and direction 2 Cor. 7. 1. Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God for 1. Christ died to purifie a people unto himself zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. And he will see the travel of his soul 2. Christ dwelleth in the heart by Faith and where he dwelleth there the throne of iniquity cannot stand Psal 94. 20. 3. All who receive forgiveness of sins are sanctified by faith in Christ Acts 26 18. 4. Sin shall not have dominion over any who are brought truly under grace Rom. 6. 14. Search diligently for this purifying of the heart as thou wouldest not be deceived of thy faith hope for according to 1 Joh 3. 3. Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure think not of accepting thy self where the words of God are every man examine your selves Particularly in these 4 things First If thou findest an active Principle in thy Soul standing in opposition to sin if sin be hated so as thou can say of it it 's the evil I hate Rom. 7. 15. See that this hatred be not pretended and Sin in the mean time cherished for it 's not only a sure step toward but also a great length in the purity of holiness to be a hater of Sin 2. And to secure the truth of this hatred try if there be an ordinary warfare against Sin For if it be hated there will be opposition made to it as Rom. 7. 23. Thy sins will feel thy grace to have some power and therefore Christ compareth the mortifying of sin to the cutting off the right hand c. And where there is nothing of this it 's vain to pretend hatred 3. Try if thou lovest the Law which requireth this purity for to love that very Law which reâ—â—râ—ineth from Sin yea the sins that easily beset us is a blessed but I fear a rare attainment to be content to be hedged up from the way of our own hearts and to love the hedge of Gods making not to wish in heart that the Laws of God were otherwise that we might have a greater liberly for sin Psal 119. 97. O how love I thy law There is the greater necessity of searching into this because it 's given us as the character of a godly man to delight in the law of the Lord Psal 1. 2. 4. Try what success attendeth your endeavours against sin if by dependance on the spirit of Christ which mortifieth the deeds of the body it may be said of you as 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth Mark these words ye have purified whereby we may see that Believers have some success against their sin their work is to cleanse themselves and their labour is not in vain in the Lord and it 's necessary that every Christian have some instances and proofs of this in readiness that he hath purified his Soul and kept himself from his iniquity and shut not your eyes upon that awful evidence of an interest in Christ Gal 5. 24. They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Know then that it not only should be but is a sound Believers work to be purifying his Soul though he get not sin abolished in this life 3 Communicants should also examine their love to Christ before they go to the Lords Table and if any shal say that this is a superfluous burdening of people with unnecessary questions their saith being clear what needeth examining of love also But I find Christ is of anâ—ther mind who examineth his followers both as to their Faith love John 16. 31. Do ye now believe And John 21. 16. lovest thou me Therefore we are concerned to be in a readiness to answer both and if our love cannot abide the trial no more can our faith for faith worketh by love Gal. 5. 6. Consider first that Christ manifesteth himself to such as love him John 14. 23. And if Christ do not manifest himself to us at his Table we shal never be able to discern him aright A manifested Christ is the blessing and beauty of that work even when he manifesteth himself as crucified bleeding to death he is then most lovely and beautiful to the Believer he then sheweth himself dying in pure love and what manifestation of him should be more engaging and overcoming but no eyes can thus profitably behold him except he manifest and shew himself which the lovers of Christ may expect and therefore our love to him should be examined 2. This holy Communion is a banquet of love and therein it might well be said he giveth his loves giving himself and the pledges of his love Cant. 7. 12. And is appointed only for the lovers of Christ they are his friends and beloved who are allowed to eat and drink aboundantly Cant. 5. 1. The lovers of Christ are the only prepared persons for Communion with him for he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God 1 Joh. 4. 16. And no man is capable of Communion with him who wants it love being necessary to true fellowship Ther 's need then to search for it lest Christ have it to say as Joh. 5. 42. I know you that ye have not the love of God in you 3. This grace should be carefully searched for Because we are ready to flatter and deceive our selves with an hypocritical love Ezek. 33. 31. with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousness They make a show of what they have not men are not willing to charge themselves with the want of love to God it appears so hainous and therefore must have it's shadow but their heart is reserved for others and far from God Isa 29. 13. They have removed their heart far from me Yet the poor men were honouring God with their lips 4. Blessed Jesus Christ not only declareth that love is the great Command Matth. 22. 37. But also searcheth most narrowly and pressingly for this grace in his people as appears by questioning Peter 3 times if he loved him until the godly man was grieved fearing his love was suspected This wounded him that he was asked the third time Joh. 21. 17. Christs questions should teach us to question our selves and to be in readiness for such an answer as was then given Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee He could give an account of his love and appeal to the searcher of hearts for it's sincerity and so should we 5. It distresseth serious souls to be in doubt of their love being of the same mind with the
for that Try thy self the more exactly in this point of thy love to the people of God because God is greatly dishonoured in this age for the want of it Beware of patcht up counter feit agreements and love before Communions But as thou art to labour for Communion with Christ himself so labour to the utmost of thy power for a cordial Communion of Saints that you may Feast together here in love and hope to be together in a better place and be not saying I forgive such a Christian but I desire never to see him I desire never to speak with him this will not be found forgiving from the heart as Christ requireth Matth. 18. 35. Let your love be without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. Not in Word only but in Deed promoting the good name of one another See that ye love one another with a pure heart servently 1 Pet. 1. 22. These are the Words of God but Ah how little regarded and I fear shal not be much regarded while we continue falling from our first love to Christ love to him and his followers must revive together 4. We should also examine our Repentance because First Christ hath enjoyned it with a certification that except we repent we shal perish Luke 13. 3. How speechless will it render the impenitent perishing sinner when the Books are opened and this found that this obdured sinner was forwarned of this perishing but shut his ears and would not hearken 2. This repentance is that part of Religion which we are most averse either to act or try and therefore the greater need to oblige our selves to search if we have it For to hear of Faith and love and Love goeth more easily down the very naming of them is sweet to such as know little of them but cannot with patience hear of conviction mourning or departing from iniquity many also continue to ensnare their own souls with the conceit that they believe so well that they need not trouble themselves with repentance but they should remark Christs requiring of both Mark 1 15. Repent and believe 3. Others observing repentance to be peremptorly commanded Conclude that some repentance they must have but are satisfied with a shadow of it and are so superficial that any extorted flash of sorrowing any change any returning though not to the most High satisfieth them We find Hos 7. 16. That some return but not to the most High They think they have returned sufficiently And therefore need no more saying as Mal. 3. 7. Wherein shall we return The Lord seeth that they are yet to turn to him as in the same ver return unto me saith the Lord but they think otherwise this should make us afraid lest God do not iudge of our Repentance as we do and therefore to examine it in time It 's easie for people to think themselves sufficiently qualified for a Communion or for Heaven it self but the woe will be that it was only themselves thought so when they find God their judge of another mind 4. There is the more need to examine our Repentance in this age wherein the broken in spirit and contrite in heart are as signs and wonders as if all the broken in heart before us had been in an error and troubled themselves in vain or as if God never regarded any such Soul-exercise and wounding of Spirit though he hath expresly declared Isa 66. 2. But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word Then it 's necessary as men would have God to look favourably upon them as ye would have a comfortable reviving look at this Table to try if ever you were wounded in heart for your sin See to it lest the searcher of hearts have it to say here is a man that to this day was never humbled Jer. 44. 10. Never pierced at the heart never at what shal I do to be saved never so wounded but he could easily cure himself no use for that mercy Psal 147. 3. He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds You will needs go to the Communion but it 's not for any great business you have to do there you have no burden of sin to take off as finding it too heavy for your selves Psal 38. 4. 5. There is the greater need to search particularly into the sincerity of our Repentance before we approach the Lords Table because some serious Christians may deprive themselves of that benefit fearing their Repentance is not sound and that because they had never such a measure of grief as others never so deeply wounded for sin as they think they should or as they have perceived by others who refused to be comforted were long in bondage of fear and ready to be swallowed up with grief and terrour To clear this alittle Consider first That trouble or terrour of mind of it self cannot prove any gracious good in a soul A Judas hath terror of mind but no grace terrour is sometimes a Judgement from God as Lev. 26. 16 I will appoint over you terrour and Deut. 28. 20. The Lord shal send upon thee vexation And some wicked persons are consumed with terrours Psal 73. 19. Therefore it 's not safe to desire such terrour of mind as some have been under for it was their plague 2. Men may have a temporary sorrowing and grieâ— which sin hath occasioned and yet their sorrowing is not for their sin nor any sanctifying grace in their mourning A Saul may lift up his voice and weep and confess others more Righteous than himself and yet still go on in his sin 1 Sam. 24. 16 17. Some may make a great noise of their repentance as he lift up his voice and wept And yet but a worldly sorrow that David was like to have the Kingdom is his greatest grief 3. Some are surprised with a sudden fear of Wrath which they cannot shake off but are as captives so far from any true and humbling sense of sin that all their trouble is for being troubled and cannot help it They are in chains and fetters not knowing for what for it seised them without any apprehension or sense of their sin This doth sometimes make a great alteration and commotion while it continueth so that they tremble under it as Felix Acts 24 25. The poor man knew not what was come on him he is frighted but getteth no good of it and therefore desires Paul to be gone I have seen severals after the same manner frighted with a sudden fear of Judgement and for any thing appeared their Religion never went a greater length yet their trouble in the time was great and made a great noise but when the fright was over their Religion was also over It is not safe then to set up such as paterns for your Repentance though the degree of their anguish might be greater than yours 4. Though the Law be our School-master to bring us unto Christ Gal. 3.
Lords words but Confessest him before men then take comfort from what Christ saith Mat. 10. 32. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven and mind what followeth in the next verse But whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny and though we have not often the occasion of such publick confessions as many Blessed witnesses had before us yet while we converse with men on Earth we shal still be found either confessing Christ his words and true godliness or ashamed and fainting great may be their Comfort who a vow Holiness in all companies This is the more to be adverted because if some Christians be permitted to keep their chambers or much retired from Converse with men then they obtain some measure of comfortable exactness in their Practice but no sooner engadged in Company but some fainting appears shrinking from their former exactness and failing of the Duties required in all company sinfully forgeting God whereby they often return with loss to their Souls and a condemning Conscience Therefore let the fear of being Denied by Christ still influence thy deportment more than fear of mens displeasure 7. When thou art helped in some sincerity to Obey thy Lord having a respect to all his Commands endeavouring to act all thy obedience by Grace out of Christs Fulness and taking delight to do his will yet art thou not of the same mind that Christ requireth Luke 17. 10. When ye shal have done all these things which are Commanded you say we are unprofitable servants though ye take comfort in obeying from the heart as an evidence of Gods grace and Favour yet dare not trust to it as a procuring Cause of the least of your Mercies thou thinkest in heart there is no more cause to boast of the best of thy performances than if a man should declare himself a fool by boasting of filthy rags then the Grace that helpeth thee to obey maketh thee also humble and of the poor in spirit who are rich and Blessed in Christs account CHAP. IV. Sense of sin necessary before Partaking The third Inference THis Blessed Ordinance of Christ being the Communion of his Body and Blood Then Communicants are to approach it with a humble sense of their sin as needing the Vertue of that Precious Blood And that this is necessary Consider First That if ye have not the Sense of your sin you cannot duely regard a Crucified Christ and so may mistake the whole work despising his Death as of no great use for you and so cannot and will not apply his Blood for purging away of Sin and Guilt for thou art not sensible of Guilt This of it self were there nothing else will make thee eat and drink Unworthily undervaluing that Life-giving Death for the Communicants work is humbly and thankfully to receive a Crucified Christ Represented in that Ordinance as knowing they perish without him 2. If there be no humbling Sense of sin thou shalt Partake as an hypocrite pretending before God and men that thou comest to Embrace Christ as the onely propitiation for thy sins and yet there 's no such thing on thy heart Thou doest not Judge thy self so Guilty or that ever thou provocked God to such wrath but that less might have served Thou felt no such a Burden of thy sin but such as thy self could bear with great ease thou wonderest there should be such a stirr in the World about sin thou never committed any sin but thou hadst a Covering of thy own to cast over it Thou couldest at any time after thy greatest abominations with the whorish Woman Prov. 30. 20. Wipe thy mouth and say I have done no wickedness If thus thou comest to the Lords Table thou wilt but receive Bread and Wine finding need of no more 3. If thy sin do nothing smart and wound thee thou wants the very best Qualification of a Communicant which is hungring after the Bread of Life For he satisfieth the longing soul Psal 107. 9. The Lord hath his Eye upon such more than all others â—sai 66. 2. But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit he findeth out such when others are passed by such as are so sensible of their Guilt that they wonder that he should look upon them any other way but to Consume them such as are ashamed to look up to him because of their Iniquities Psal 40. 12. And yet are Longing for a Favourable Look They cannot look up and yet cannot but look up necessity constraineth them to hang upon him for Mercy knowing they perish without him such as these will be Graciously Visited and Received Isai 57. 15. He will revive the spirit of the Humble and revive the heart of the Contrite ones But thou a Stranger to these Contritions of heart will be a Stranger also to these Revivings and no wonder for thou feelest no need of them and therefore Consider 4. That it 's the way of God first to wound and then to Heal Deut. 32. 39. I wound and I heal If thou didst never know any Wounding of heart for sin what Healing canst thou either expect or value for no wounding and no healing no casting down and no raising up no sickness and no Physician For the whole need not the Physician but the Sick Thou hast no use for his coming with Healing under his Wings Thou has nothing to Heal he may spare his Visit until thou has more need of him and keep his Medicines for others Thus thou mayest sit down at the Lords Table with the Best but Christ and thy Soul have no Merciful meeting When the poor and needy are drawing out of Christs fulness getting their Diseases Healed and their Souls Restored Thou art sent away Empty neither art thou Disappointed for thou sought after no more Thou canst not complain of Christ for he Refused thee nothing thou sought Thou art like these Rev 3 17. I have need of nothing 5. Consider also that of all the meetings between Christ and poor sinners on this Earth this is the most Endearing and Comfortable when Sense of deep Guilt and deep Mercy meet together some times the poor sinner is ready to sink under the weight of Guilt it 's a Burden they cannot bear the Fear of Gods Wrath and Separation from him being intollerable The Soul chusing rather if possible to be Reduced to nothing and some times ready to Cry out O happy no Beings being compared with me they shal have no Anguish but my Anguish I can neither bear nor escape no Mountains can cover me from my Judge no Death will extinguish my Pain but if I die in my sins my pain shal never Die Death will flee from me when thus the the poor sinner is Bruised and can stand no longer how Gracious is that Message as Job 33. 24 Deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransom And Ezek.
16. 6. I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live I die for thee that thou mayest not die I am come that thou mayest have Life then the Blessing of these who were ready to perish are poured out upon the Ransomer Then as Mic. 7. 18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity The deeper thy Sense of Guilt be being joyn'd with some hope of Mercy thou art in the surer way for the rich Consolations of God they that Sowe in Tears shal reap in Joy the Lord hath appointed the Garment of Praise after the spirit of Heaviness Isai 61. 3. 6 And though thou has no fear of Wrath having ground to hope that thou art Reconciled to God by the Blood of Christ Yet come humbly because thy sins are against such Streams of Mercy runing upon thee and passing by others thou knowest that thou hast never lived Suitable to the Greatness of thy Mercy never fully payed thy Vows never Glorified God in body and spirit as it became one not his own but Bought with a Price much is required of thee because much is given thee let the Sense of this go deeper in thy heart for if hope of Pardon make thy sin easie thou has cause to suspect both thy self and thy hope There are no Convictions should be more humbling than foolish requiting of the Lord and no Grief more grieving than grieving of his Spirit who minded our griefs and knew our Souls in adversities Thou will not want Matter of humbling to take with thee to the Lords Table and need of Renewed Application of that Precious Blood If thou open thine eyes to see thy way Jer. 2. 23. 7. Come humbly in the Sense of thy sin that thou mayest value the least of Mercy and the very Crumbs that fall from his Table and if such a full Cup of Consolation be not poured out to thee as to others or as at other times to thy self yet to Justifie God in thy heart not thinking thou hast hard measure not wondering if he hide his face from thee but rather wondring if it shine upon thee considering thy Provocations This true Sense of thy unworthiness will make thee think O that I may have a Cup of Salvation when I go to his Table whether it be a Cup of present Consolation or not And that thou may'st approach with some humbling sense of thy sin Consider that there must be some more deadly poison in sin than we do apprehend when no less doth expiate the guilt than that Blood which is called the Blood of God that no other Sacrifice nor Offering could avail Study O Christian to know more of the demerit of sin the greatness of the Justice of God that would accept of no other Atonement and the greatness of thy deliverance if thou art now a Believer that the weight of wrath is not come upon thee And think with thy self thou by thy sins pierced him thou brought blessed Jesus to sweat these drops of Blood thou pressed on him with the weight of thy sins until he cryeth out My GOD my GOD why hast thou forsaken me Canst thou want a humbling sense of sin and think this was for thee Canst thou yet mind it and not mourn What hateful hearts have we that are not more pierced with the piercing of Christ and a wonder if many of us find an interest in that Death wherewith we are so little concerned 2. Be Particular and Impartial in searching out the Aggravations of thy Sin from thy Youth up and when convictions arise in thy Conscience choke them not but intertain them as a Mercy until they be ripened for gracious humbling Thou may'st soon lay aside thy convictions but not so soon take them up again it may be God gave thee the mercy of many Convictions but thy love to sin has mastered them all that now thy Conscience lets thee sin with ease being seared and thy heart hardned and no wonder for many wakenings of Conscience that still end in security makes our hearts as the Iron many heats and many cools makes the Iron harder 3. But when none of thy Meditations or Convictions can soften thy heart but thou can behold thy sin and not grieve and often confess it yet canst not mourn never get thy heart poured out to God except some weight of Affliction press thee and then thou wilt pour out a prayer when the Lord is chastening thee and when thy affliction is over the pouring out of thy heart is at an end I say when nothing prevaileth with thy obdured heart yet bless God that there is a promised spirit of mourning Zech. 12. 10. They shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shal mourn Cry to God for this help that thou may'st go to this blessed Ordinance as is expressed Jer. 50. 4. going and weeping and verse 5. joyn thy self to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant CHAP. V. Communion with Christ should be known before Partaking The fourth Inference IF that the worthy Receiver at the Lords Table obtain the Communion of his Body and Blood then Communicants are obliged to understand what that is which is called Communion with Christ before they Partake lest they be found ignorant of it when they Partake Consider then that true Communion with Christ being the happiness and honour of all who obtain it meriteth the greatest seriousness to know how sinful Mortals partake of it And though it be wonderful yet the exceeding riches of free Grace hath made it sure for Believers have the priviledge of entering into the holiest by the blood of Jesus and so obtain a more gracious nearness to God than those who remain only in the outer Court and that this may appear for the incouragement of those who still retain a value for it but fears that this fellowship is reserved wholly for a better life I shal by the help of God shew first that Believers in this life partake a peculiar and intimate fellowship with Christ Secondly It 's preparatory Antecedents whereby they are brought unto it And Thirdly Wherein it consisteth and the way how it 's enjoyed so far as God giveth to understand it I can promise the Reader no more For the First This blessed Communion with the Lord is not only Commanded both in the Old and New Testament Micah 6. 8 walk humbly with thy God Joh. 15. 4. Abide in me I in you so is made the plain Duty of the People of God to seek after it but is also promised Psal 140. 13. The upright shall dwell in thy presence Joh. 14. 23. We will come unto him and make our abode with him So that Believers may expect success to their Prayers and endeavâ—urs after Communion with God For faithful is he who hath promised Heb 10. 23. Secondly The near Union that is between Christ and Believers doth undeniably prove this Communion he being the Head and Believers the Body supplied in every part by the Head
good I think this passeth all thoughts but silent Admiration yet he standeth there till he complain that his Locks are wet with the drops of the night Cant. 5. 2. This increaseth the wonder but however wonderful glory to God that we safely may and must believe it on the other hand the Believer having tasted of the blessings of his fellowship cryeth out O when wilt thou come unto me Psal 101. 2 and Cant. 1. 7. Let me know where thou feedest that I may feed there I can feed no where but where thou art this meeting cannot but hold at last when both are on the way to other 4. And when the Believer doth so meet with Christ as that he knoweth he is come by the lifting up of his countenance with how great joy is he received Isa 12. 1. Tho' thou wast angry yet thou hast turned away from thine anger and comforted me now thou art become my song and my salvation how meanly do they think of any pains they have been at in seeking after him Cant. 3. 4. It was but a little farther that I went and I found him whom my soul loveth If it were to do I would go on tho' I should be torn by the way for it 's as life from the dead when he cometh and bringeth healing under his wings then it is that they sit down under his shaddow with great delight his countenance is the health of their countenance Psal 42. 11. Then their Graces have a reviving and a new Spring then their Spiknard casteth forth its smell when the king sitteth at his table Cant. 1. 12. Then it is that worldly Comforts become insipid and of no value then it is they say what have I to do any more with idols Hos 14. 8. When they sit under his shaddow they know then that no idols ever gave them such entertainment then they can say their Lines are fallen in pleasant places What out of Heaven can be compared to that complyancy between Christ and Believers when they can without terrour converse with God and solace their souls in him He delighting in them Isa 62. 4. And they delighting in him Isa 58. 14. And commanded to do it Psal 37. 4. This made the godly Martyers go through Flames chearfully to the full possession of this Fellowship 5. In this Communion there is great freedom on both sides the Lord allowing them to pour out their hearts before him Psal 62. 8. And they accordingly as Psal 142. 2 3. I poured out my complaint before him I shewed before him my trouble When my spirit was over whelmed within me then thou knewest my path They willingly expose all that is in their heart before him and are content he search them Psal 139. 23. It would be an affliction to them if their nearest friends knew all that is in their hearts but a sincere Soul desires to conceal nothing from him but rather desires his help to search fearing there may be evils in them which they cannot search out themselves they dare not proudly boast as if nothing evil were to be found in them but humbly beg that he would see and heal what they see not and so far as they know they lay their hearts open before him their most secret sins complaining how they prevail against them such evils as they could reveal to none on earth so also their Doubts and Temptations their Griefs their Fears and what they desire most all their desire is before him Psal 38. 9. And blessed Jesus Christ is faithful to them and free with them both as to necessary reproofs I have somewhat against thee Rev. 2. 4. And as to encouragement Thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word Rev. 3. 8. and Psal 25. 14. He sheweth them his Covenant he openeth it up to their understandings and there they find all their Salvation there they find relief as to their Sins Doubts and Fears there they find their victory secured for The secret of tho Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his covenant 6. In this Communion there is still desire for more nearness to Christ Cant. 8. 6. Set me as a seal upon thy heart What boldness of Love is Oh is there nothing will satisfie less than Christs heart They must be placed there for his love is their happiness 2. They desire it may be made evident for their comfort as by a Seal that thereby they may read his desires is toward them this secureth their comfort when they can say his desire is towards me Cant. 7. 10. If it be thought never so great ambition yet sincere love to Christ is kept in pain without some evidence of the love of his heart his mercies are sweet his graces very sweet but his heart is sweetest of all I question if there be any sincere love to Christ where this is not desired though such an habitation such a seat as the heart of Christ cannot be enjoyed without admiration 3. When it 's said set me as a Seal c. That is ratisie and confirm this my Interest in thee and Communion with thee as by a Seal that thy love shal be my allowance and Communion with thee my priviledge for ever 4. When it 's said set thou me as a Seal is as much as an humble acknowledgement Lord I cannot place my self where I would be I cannot bring my own soul to this near Communion with thee but I commit it to thee who can draw my heart to thy heart I trust thy efficacious power that what ever be my natural aversness to such holy Communion yet my heart is under thy dominion thou canst prepare and form it for thy self all this Salvation is thy own doing thou canst bear me up to this eminent part of it to be so near as on thy heart Therefore it 's my humble request that thou set me there the Spouse doth not say I will set my self there but set thou me as a Seal c. It 's observable that after Moses had near Communion with God on the Mount yet he still presseth for more Exod. 33. 13. I beseech thee shew me thy glory What he had obtained did but excite his desires for more and so it is with all who have the true beginning of Communion with God in this life though they have it not in the manner Moses had the Communications that Believers receive here are discoveries of a greater beauty and glory yet before them these foretasts captivate their love and desire so as they cannot but pursue for greater discoveries the first fruits they have found are so sweet to their taste that the more they get the more they hunger Rom. 8. 23. 7. That which Believers obtain in Communion with God is so strengthning and comfortable that the hideing of his face is most bitter Psal 30 7. Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled If there be no grief of heart upon the hiding of his Face
extremity of terrour 3ly It were necessary also to know the rise and first beginnings of their disquiet if natural or accidental melancholy and grief hath first opened a door to their troubles as also if their understanding or bodies begin to suffer that means may be the more dexterously and seasonably managed for their good both as to soul and body 4thly It hath been observed to be sometimes useful to improve for their incouragement any word that droppeth from them savouring of respect to God and fear of sin for some of them do inadvertently let fall most savory expressions and where these 3 things are found 1. Speaking honourably of God 2. Bitterly against their own Sin and 3ly Prayer continued there is good ground to hope for a merciful Issue Lam. 3 25. He is good to the soul that seeketh him 5ly It 's necessary also prudently to conceal what Temptations they discover for if they find them published they will be ready to impart no more and withal if their most frighting Temptations be published the very shame of them may heighten their anguish and tempt to worse 6ly It 's expedient also their friends take care that they be not troubled with such company as may increase their affliction such as are not prudent but may be ready to quarrel them for some of their expressions or possibly mock them which will be to their grief as also from such company as are in like case with themelves and not yet healed of their wounds but these who have been in such trouble and are now at liberty from their former bondage are most meet for converse with them to declare what God hath done for their souls Psal 66 16. 7ly Great prudence and caution is necessary to any friend of theirs who would perswade them to go to the Lords Table while under the violence of these Temptations for to urge them without some composure of mind and freedom in their own consciences may have bad effects the safest way is to use arguments for convincing them of their Duty and if this cannot be obtained better forbear until God make light to arise and they be more fitted for it I have known some who being pressed by their friends have been perswaded to go to the Lords Table but being there did not open their mouth either to eat or drink which afterward raised their trouble to a great height and are at this day under deep distress on that account it appears then to conduce more for the good of such souls to suffer them to wait for a more serene hour by the arising of the Sun of Righteousness whereby the dark clouds surrounding them shall be dispelled and then in his light they sâ—al see light Psal 36. 9. And for such as are tempted all of you are not in a like danger and faithfulness requires to be plain with such of you as have never been concerned for your salvation that your danger is great every way until ye flee to Christ as your refuge and though ye hear that godly persons has been assaulted with horrid Temptations yet that is no ground for you to think your selves godly because ye have such Temptations for ye may have their Temptations but want such grace to resist them if ye embrace not Christ and Salvation through him ye expose your selves as a prey to any Temptation having no interest in him who came to destroy the works of the Devil Therefore cry to God to make you serious for Salvation to make you sincere Believers and convert you to himself by his spirit of grace and the more ye are tempted be the more diligent make the greater haste that ye may be found in Christ by whom ye shal be overcomers and who knoweth but meat may come out of the eater and he who goeth about as a roaring lion seeking to devour be disappointed of his design and thy affliction under these very temptations be made by the over-ruling power of God a mean to make thee flee to Christ for Salvation to thy soul and deliverance from all thine Enemies and if you will fix on this way for your relief and all of you who have done so before ye came under these fiery trials Consider First That blessed Jesus Christ was tempted himself and tempted to the greatest sins even to worship the Devil God's great enemy Matth. 4. 9. And to destroy himself by being guilty of his own Death ver 6. By casting himself down from the Pinacle of the Temple All this and more he subjected unto and being carried by Satan from one place to another that thou a poor weak tempted Believer might be perswaded he knoweth the greatest and worst of thy Temptations 2ly That he will have Sympathy with thee as being tempted himself Heb. 2 18. 3ly That he hath sanctified this trial to Believers by subjecting to it himself for though the wicked Temptations be not sanctified yet thy lot under them is thereby sanctified 4ly That he overcoming them all thou in him as thy head shalt also overcome Therefore adhere still to him and thou cannot sink Rev. 12 11. He who accuseth day and night is overcome by the blood of the lamb 2ly Consider That there are some Temptations that are the Devils sins rather than ours not arising from our selves nor entertained by us are but the fiery Darts of Satan cast in by violence if Satan should now appear or any other way should tempt a godly man to renounce God and worship him this godly man at the very first rejecting such Temptation with Indignation and hatred is not guilty by that Temptation albeit the nature of the Temptation be most horrid and blasphemous and albeit the same godly man have sin remaining in him yet that temptation is not his sin because it neither had it's Original in his heart nor in any measure entertained by him therefore do not so far yield to the Adversary as to take with all his Temptations as if they were your sins for that 's no final part of his design thereby to terrify you as if ye were the most monstrous sinners in the World the Apostle Rom. 7. 17. Finding a gracious principle in his soul against Sin and Sin making war against the law of his mind he can say of this Enemy that warreth against him this Enemy is not himself it 's no more I but sin that dwelleth in me the tempted Believer may well say it 's not I but Satan who tempteth me and so much the more because these Temptations had never that place in his heart that his Sins have albeit it be afflicting to a child of God that Satan should come so near yet he is in all this but at War not gaining nor yielded unto 3ly Therefore be sure of your resisting these Temptations from first to last for voluntary entertaining such Suggestions would soon weaken your confidence and strengthen your adversary therefore let all your thoughts be resisting thoughts and then the Temptation
required for its Celebration for every Partaker was to be sanctified unto the Lord 2 Chron. 30. 17. But some had not cleansed themselves yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written ver 18. But Hezekiah prayed for them that the Lord would pardon such as prepared their hearts to seek God though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary ver 19. And the Lord hearkned to Hezekiah and healed the people ver 20 Whereby we may see that sins of that Nature are pardoned when sincerely acknowledged and application made unto the tender mercies of God The knowledge of this is necessary for some who fear their condemnation is inevitable because of their not Communicating aright but by these Scriptures ye may see that all shall not be condemned who have been guilty by sins of that nature where Repentance is there is remission of sins by Christ giving both together Acts 5. 31. CHAP. X. Communicants obliged to review their Communicating The 9th Inference THis Ordinance being the Communion of Christ's Body and Blood then after Partaking Communicants are obliged to try if they have obtained that blessed Communion Consider 1 The Reasons why this should be tried and 2. A few helps how to perform it All Communicants should seriously examine the way of their own hearts when they did Partake because First It was our blessed Redeemer's way after the first Celebration of this Sacrament to set the Communicants in this Road of searching themselves whether they did then believe or not Joh. 16. 31. Do ye now believe This was demanded of them when they had but lately risen from the Lord's Table and therefore is a question that Communicants ought to put to themselves and obliged to have a ready Answer as these Communicants had which is the more to be noticed that after they had declared their Faith ver 30. Yet ver 31. Christ urgeth it again that they may be deliberat and know well what they say when they say they believe Secondly Our Communicating should be carefully reviewed lest we did eat and drink unworthily otherwise we shal be found despisers of that important warning 1 Cor. 11. 27. That such as eat and drink unworthily are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Men have neither a due fear of the anger of God nor regard to their own souls who having partaken think there is no more to be done not so much as to enquire whether they came from the Lords Table guilty of his Body and Blood or not for the best of men should take notice of the great regard God hath to Sealing Ordinances The First thing we find Godly Hezekiah considering after the Celebration of the Passeover 2 Chron. 30. 18. Is the transgression of the people who did eat the Passeover otherwise than it was Written for whom he prayed and the Lord mercifully answered his prayer Thirdly If the pains thou did take in preparation before Partaking was sincere that thou might have a blessed meeting with Christ then the same principle will lead thee to enquire if he did meet with thy Soul for no man can be said to be earnest for that which he will not so much as observe if it be found if Communion with Christ was the desire of thy Soul then it will be thy desire now to be secured of it that thou may'st say I sought and found him whom my soul loveth Cant. 3 4. Fourthly If thou shalt find after searching that thou did obtain real spiritual Communion with Christ this will make thy Thanksgivings sincere this will be a mean to endear thy soul to Him and increase thy Love which thou knowest hath need to be encreased when thou has it to say he came and manifested himself to thy Soul did draw the in to his Fellowship fed thee with the hidden Manna whereby thy Soul was revived canst thou then but Love and seek to have thy heart enlarged for more Love This will also endear thy heart to this holy Ordinance wherein thou found Him this will make thee forward in seeking occasions for it hereafter because there the Lord appeared unto thee This will help thee to be a good example to others who are negligent in seeking after it this will be a mean to endear to thee the Promises to thee the Lord promised to come and bless his people where he recorded his Name thou has found it even as he hath said his Words be true now thou knowest it to be a meer Temptation to doubt of his Promise or think that it faileth now thou canst say I will no more distrust any offer that Christ maketh of himself to a poor Sinner for as he offered so I did embrace and am not disappointed now thou canst Sing by experience as Psal 33. 21. For our heart shall rejoyce in him because we have trusted in his holy Name Be perswaded then of the clearness and necessity of this Duty to review thy work at the Lord's Table that thou may'st know what to conclude of thy self whether thou may'st safely take comfort to thy Soul as a sincere and accepted Communicant or not for a mistake here is dangerous if on the one hand thou judge thy self a worthy Communicant and thy self but a stranger to Christ this will harden thy heart in Sin and render thee obstinate against all necessary admonition and reproof and thus you may go on adding to your guilt at every Communion and remain impenitent ye thinking it improper for you to repent for any sinful Communicating on the other hand it 's also dangerous for you to conclude your selves unworthy Communicants without sure grounds or ever searching into the matter for thus you may deny the grace freely given you and belie the operations of the holy Ghost and thus ye may deny God the glory due to him for his mercies and cast your own souls into perplexing diquiet and bondage therefore there is much need to be guided of God in this Search And for the clearing of this a little we are to Consider both how it was with our Souls in the time of Communicating and with what impressions and help we come from that work as for our work in the time of that Solemnity albeit by the Word of God it may be declared how Communicants should act and if they have so acted then they are not unworthy Communicants yet no man can discover the internal acts of other mens souls whether they have acted as they should or not none can know that but God and mens own consciences Therefore when ye are to try your sincerity at the Lords Table the Word of God must be your Rule the spirit of God your Guide and your own Conscience a Witness for the utmost that can be said by men is Conditional that is if you have acted suitable to the nature of the Work if you have embraced Christ c. Then you are accepted and not unworthy Communicants 2. VVhen Communicants are
Season of their Mercy feeling their hearts to burn within them they would not part with Christ but verses 28. and 29. Albeit He made as though He would go away they constrained him to stay with them unto which He Graciously yielded approving their Diligence to have their Mercy continued Keep your selves in the love of God Jude 21. And remember that these Disciples who fell asleep presently after Communicating the next thing we hear of them was forsaking their Master 3. As thou art to begin thy work early so Engage in it Effectually and particularly to follow the Lord fully Remember before thou came to the Lord's Table when thou was Examining thy heart and Practice how many sins then appeared and how Hainous insomuch that thou thought it hard for thee to approach the Lords Table lest thou should prof me it and durst not resolve on Partaking until thou hadst resolved and Engadged against such and such particular sins as for Instance thy pride and seeking of vain glory to thy self polluting lusts over reaching of the siâ—ple wasting of time in company without necessary occasion thy being often ashamed of thy Lord's Words rather complying with than rebuking of evil thy offensive passions fretting at thy Lot thy fainting in time of Trial thy earthliness of mind thy frequent neglecting of Prayer thy lukewarmness in it thy neglect of Meditation on the state of thy Soul thy wearying of Sabbaths or the Holy Duties then required thy Ingratitude for many signal Deliverances and Mercies thy being unâ—utiful either to the Souls or Bodies of thy Relations or to the Poor the bad example thou often givest to thy Family and the like sins If all these or any such evil were wounding to thy Conscience acknowledged to God Lamented and Engadged against as in the sight of God when no Mâ—â—tal eye was witness and with this Engadgment on thy Conscience to Reform thy ways to endeavour all Duty and cast away all thy Transgressionâ— by the help of Grace if thus thou came to the Lords Table and there Solemnly Renewed thy Covenant with God avâ—ching Him that day to be the Lord thy God and to walk in his ways Deut 26. 17. And in Testimony of thy Consent to all the Articles of the Covenant of Grace didst receive the Lord's publick Gospel Seal then know that God will call thee to account for thy observation of this Covenant take care lest thou be Charged as these Psal 78. 36. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and they lied unto him with their tongâ—es For their heart was not right with him neitheir were they stedfast in his Covenant Take heed ye be not as these who said they would not Transgress and yet are found wandring from God and playing the Harlot every where Jeremiah 2. 20. And that ye may be stedfast in your Covenant with God and faithfully performing your Vows that ye may shine more and and more bright unto the perect Day and continue that Blessed Communion with Christ which is begun Resolve on a true walk with God this honourable Walk is often mentioned and diverse ways expressed in Scripture whereby the Lord Condescendeth to our weakness for our good that we may the better understand how to manadge this Walk as First Walk in Him Col. 2. 6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him What a wonderful walk is this to walk in Christ who can understand this if it be not given from above yet they are the Words of God discovering our Duty our Priviledge and our greatest Help for this Holy Walk 1. Our Duty still to abide in Christ never to go from Him to any hand to have all our way consisting with Communion with Christ to admit willingly of nothing but that which He will admit of in fellowship with Him that so our fellowship may be continued 2. Our Priviledge in partaking of so great Happiness as to be Interested in His Favour His love and care and Blessed with such nearness as to have Him for our Habitation where we may live and walk at a Holy Liberty 3. Here is our greatest Help and the very Fountain of it if all ordinary Cisterns were dried up the Believer shal Live by the Fountain itself because Christ Lives he who is in Him shal Live also the Believer Liveth upon Christ and His Fullness there he hath Grace to make him Love this Holy walk and hold up his goings in it 2. Walk with God Micah 6. 8. Walk humbly with thy God Let none be so profane as to say are not these one to walk in Him and to walk with Him and what need is there for Expressing this walk so many ways for they are the Words of God and therefore all to be Regarded This walking with God is a Testimony and Proof of our being agreed with Him otherwise there could be no walking with Him For He putteth away all the wicked like dross Psal 119. 119. The Lord confereth this honour upon Believers that being now reconciled by the Blood of Christ they may draw near with some Holy confidence and without Presumption walk with their God though it must be Humblâ— because He is God and we but dust nor is it possible to keep up this walk without Humility for the proud in heart are an Abomination to Him and the rareness of true humility maketh this walk so rare 2. It 's to walk with God that is in His way not in our ways we must attend Him in His own ways not expecting to walk with Him in our sinful ways this is the more to be regarded because we would willingly have God to be with us in our own way to owne and countenance us in the way of our own chusing when there is little care taken to be with God in his ways but we cannot walk with Him out of His own way and as we would have Him to be with us so we should take care that we be with Him 2 Chr. 15. 2. The Lord is with you while ye be with Him 3. Walk before me Gen. 17. 1. I am God Almighty walk before Me and be thou perfect 1. To walk as being under Gods al-seeing Eye which is a great help to a Holy walk labouring to do nothing but as being content God behold it setting the Lord always before our eyes or as the Apostle expresseth it I forsaw the Lord always before my fâ—ce Acts 2. 22. Blessed is the man who frameth all his way for that Omniscient Eye 2. To walk before Him is not only to be impressed with His discerning all our ways but to set Him before our eyes as our all sufficient God and help Believing in our hearts that He can strengthen and bear us up in all the difficult steps of our walk 3. To walk before Him or before His face is to Encourage the Believer that not only God can help but that His Eyes Mercifully upon His People observing all their
Rom. 6. 16. Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness This therefore should be carefully tried if the course of our life he serious to the Lord if we be indeed his Servants he will make us eat but others shal be hungry his Servants shal eat of the hidden Manna ye shal have his Company when others are far from any Fellowship with him John 12. 26. And where I am there shall also my servant be If any man serve me him will my Father honour As ye would enjoy all these the verie choisest of Mercies 1. To eat the best of Soul Foodâ— 2. To be accepted into near Communion with Christâ— 3. The Father to put honour upon you 4. As ye would Sing for Joy when others houl for vexation of Spirit and 5. As ye would at length serve him and see his Face together Rev. 22. 3. 4. Labour to have it Secured that ye are entred into his service and let it not Discourage you from this search into your serving and obeying of him that ye find great failings for he whose servant ye desire to be hath the tongue of the learned and is able to furnish you with such distinctions as that ye may be found faithful though not perfect Servants he saw it necessary to have that recorded for encouraging all the sincere in heart Matth. 26. 41. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak And that some persons of many failings yet their heart was perfect all their days as Asa 2 Chron. 15. 17. The Lord knoweth how to manage his own peoples heart so as these condescensions shal not be perverted into a Latitude for sinning but only to strengthen when they are under fears that their Service is not accepted this the Apostle Paul Comforteth himself that though he found a Law hindring him from the good he would yet he delighted in the Law of God after the inward man Rom. 7. 22. nor was this Comfort only Paul's but remaineth to be a great Encouragment to every Christian who can say without delusion or dissimulation that he findeth his heart inclined and set upon Obedience to God in all things Psal 119. 112. I have inclined my heart to perform thy Statutes always even unto the end 3. The Lords Table should be approached in obedience to his Command A Communicant should be engadged to that Ordinance not only because of the rich benefites he may expect there if he be seâ—king Christ but because of his Command Do this in remembrance of me and therfore should Examine if a Principle of Obedience â—eadeth â—â—m to that work and for your help to find out the sincerity of your Obedience Examine First if thou seekest the Lords precepts that not only thou endeavourest to perform what thou already knowest but lest any Duty be omitted thou searchest for thy Duty this was a comfort to the man of God Psal 119. 45. I will walk at Liberty because I seek thy precepts Thus we find the man of God so often praying that he would teach him his Law and not hide Commandments from him Psal 119. 19. 2. When Duty is discovered to you and that it 's the present season for such a Duty Dare ye not deferr it conferring with flesh and blood to darken a clear Duty as many do who have no minde to obedience taking pains that it may appear no Duty which once was made clear Disputing their Light into darkness whch becometh a snare to their Souls putting Light for Darkness and darkness for Light Isai 5. 20. But if the Laws of God be so written in thy heart that thou makes haste and delayes not to keep his Commandments as Psal 119. 60. Then thou art in the way to the same Comfort expressed verse 57. Thou art my portion O Lord. 3. Is it not the desire of thy Soul to be always in some obedience to God Psal 119. 44. I will keep thy Law continually art thou afraid to be out of path of Duty at any time never thinking thy self safe but when thou art obeying God even in thy worldly concerns or whatever thou hast to do And canst thou go from one Duty to another willingly as the Lord directeth though thou be engadged in a Duty very pleasant to thee yet if the Lord call thee to another thou goest not grudgingly to it not wishing in thy heart that God had not Commanded it but judging all his Commandments to be Right Psal 119. 128 Thou dare not carve out thy own work thou dare not be wiser than thy Lord saying such a piece of work would do better than that he requires for to be a follower of God is sufficient to thee this is the Principle of his children as Eph. 5. 1. 4. Hath God made thee serious and frequent in Prayer that he would teach thee to do his will not only to know it but do it Psal 143. 10. Teach me to do thy will Dost thou improve the Promise of the new Covenant for new Obedience I will write my Laws in their heart Heb. 8. 10. and drawest grace out of Christs fulness for doing of his will John 1. 16. Go then and get more where he Offereth himself 5. Is it the Rejoycing of thy heart when God helpeth thee to obey with Spiritual cheerful Gospel obedience when he maketh thy feet as Hinds Psal 18. 33. So that thou runnest and dost not weary and if thou find thou hast not Obeyed God from the heart in any Duty though men should give thee applause and be saying God appeared in such a performance yet thy heart is heavy and ready to sink within thee for want of the Testimony of a good Conscience knowing thou didst not serve God in Spirit Dost thou frame thy duties for Gods Eye and not for mans Is pleasing of him thy Study canst thou safely averr it with any confidence in the sight of God that notwithstanding of many failings yet it is thy constant endeavour to please him then thou mayest have Confidence toward God 1 Joh. 3. 21 22. Beloved if our heart condemne us not then have we confidence toward God And whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight And for thy Comfort whom God hath made sincere compare this with the words of the same Apostle 1 John 1. 8. If we say that we have nâ— sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us Here you may see how these 2. Things consist in the same persons 1 The sense of remaining sin and imperfections and yet 2. The certainty of doing these things that please God whereupon the Conscience is comforted and Holy Confidence ariseth but let that still be remembred that what we do can only be acceptable and our selves accepted in the Beloved 6. Dost thou take care not to be ashamed of thy