work he addes therefore after all his Seale to confirme us which Seale is not faith for the Apostle saith After you beleeved you were sealed where we see the work of faith and sealing distinguished first the soul is set in a good estate and then followes assurance and stablishment But what needs confirmation when we beleeve Is not faith confirmation enough when a man may know by a private reflect act of the soule that he is in the state of grace This act of ours in beleeving is oft terribly shaken and God is wondrous desirous that we should bee secure of his love hee knowes hee can have no glory nor we any solid peace else therfore when we by faith have sealed to his truth he sees that wee need further sealing that our faith be currant and good for all is little enough in the time of temptation the single witnesse of our soul is not strong enough in great assaults For sometimes the Spirit is so tossed and disquieted with temptations that we cannot reflect aright on our selves nor discerne what is in our own brests without much adoe therefore God first workes faith to apply the promise Whosoever beleeves in Christ shall be saved I beleeve in Christ therefore I shall be saved and then sealeth this beleefe with an addition of his holy Spirit for this sealing is a work upon beleeving an honouring of faith with a superadded confirmation How shall wee know that there is such a spirituall sealing in us I answer when we truly beleeve the Spirit of adoption reveales unto us that we are the sonnes of God by a secret whispering and intimation to the soule which the beleeving heart feeles better than I am able to expresse saying be of good comfort thy sins are forgiven there is a sweet kisse vouchsafed to the soule the Lord refresheth it with the light of his countenance and assures it that all enmity is now slaine I am thy salvation thou art for ever mine and I am thine because thou beleevest behold thou art honoured to be my child Againe the Spirit of adoption quickens and fils the soule with heavenly ejaculations to God it stirs up servent supplications to cry Abba Father The soule when it truly beleeves hath a bold and familiar speech to God There are two things in the prayer of a Christian that are incompetible with a carnall man there is first an inward confidence and secondly an carnestnesse in the soule whereby he goes to God as a Child to his loving Father not considering his owne worthinesse or meanes but the constant love that is bore to him This spirituall speech of God to the soule and of the soule to God is an evident demonstration of our truth in grace because we can do that which no Hypocrite in the world can attaine to Thirdly this sealing of the Spirit after wee beleeve is knowne by the worke of Sanctification which it effecteth in us the holy Spirit seales our spirits by stamping the likenesse of Christ upon us so as when a man finds in his soule some lineaments of the heavenly Image he may know therby that hee is translated from death to life when he finds his heart subdued to humility and obedience to such a holy and gratious frame as Christs was he may cleerely discerne that he hath something more than the Old man in him when a man can say naturally I am proud but now I can abase my selfe naturally I am full of malice now I can love and pray heartily for my enemies naturally I am lumpish dead-hearted now I can joy in the Holy Ghost naturally I am apt to distrust the Lord and be discontented with my condition now I can rest securely upon his Promise and Providence sin hath been my delight now it is my sorrow and heart-breaking I finde somewhat contrary to corruption in me I carry the Image of the second Adam about me now I say whosoever hath this blessed change may rest assured of his right to happinesse Know you not that Christ is in you except you be reprobates saith the Apostle A Christian that upon a through search finds something of Christ alwayes in his soule can never want a sweet evidence that he is sealed to the day of redemption The fourth way is by the joy of the Spirit which is the beginning of Heaven as it were and a possessing of glory before our time there are few of Gods children but in the cours of their pilgrimage first or last have this divine impression wrought in them enlarging and ravishing their soules to joy in the Almighty Yet this is especially seene after conflict when the soule hath combated with some strong corruption or temptation To him that overcomes wll I give of the hidden Mannah saith Christ and a white stone which none can reade but he that hath it that is hee shall have assurance that he is in the state of grace and the sweet savour of goodnesse it selfe shall be his portion usually God gives comfort after wee have conflicted with some sinfull disposition and have got the victory as we see in Iob after God had exercised that Champion a long time at the last hee discovered himself in a glorious manner to him In the midst of afflictions when a Christian is under great crosses and God sees hee must bee supported with spirituall strength or else he sinks then he puts in with supply from above when the creature cannot help us the Creator of all things will Thus Paul in the midst of the Dungeon being sealed with the Spirit sang at midnight when he was in the Stocks and so David in the midst of persecution Daniel in a Lions Den the three Children in the fiery furnace c. God doth as Parents smile on their little ones when they are sick and dejected hee reserves his choisest comforts for the greatest exigents when God hath a great worke for his children to doe or some sharpe suffering for them to undergoe as an incouragement before-hand hee oft enlargeth their spirits that they may be able to go through all As our Saviour Christ had Iames and Iohn with him upon the Mountaine to strengthen thē against his ensuing suffering Let us then examine our selves by that which hath beene delivered hath God spoken to thy soule and said I am thy salvation thy sinnes are remitted and thy person received into my favour doth God stirre up thy spirit to call upon him especially in extremity and to go with boldnesse and earrestnesse to his Throne Surely this is an evidence of the seale of the Spirit for who ever wants this cannot look God in the face when distresse is upon him Saul in this case goes to the Witch and Achitophel to desperate conclusions Iudas in extremity we see what becomes of him So every one that hath not this sealing of the Spirit to whom God speakes not peace by shedding abroad the love of Christ in his heart must needs
unbeleeving men hee is pleased to condiscend to our weaknesse hee stoops to the lowest capacity and frames his speech to the understanding of the simplest soule for which purpose this terme of earnest is here borrowed In these respects the Spirit of God together with the graces of it and the comforts it brings for they are not divided is called an earnest And thus having cleared the point we will observe this doctrine for our further instruction That a Christian ought to be and may be assured of his interest in God because as I said before an earnest is given not so much for Gods sake as for our sakes this then must needs follow from hence Either none have this earnest or else those that have it may be assured of their comfortable condition Otherwise God is fickle and playes fast and loose with his children which is blasphemy to affirme Besides if none have this earnest then the Apostle speaks false when he saith God hath stablished us and given us the earnest of his Spirit which is horrible impiety once to conceive If this be so then either such as have this seale and earnest of the Spirit may be assured of their estate in grace or not And if not where is the fault Will not God really and truly vouchsafe unto his people this earnest of the Spirit in their hearts Vndoubtedly he will he is desirous that wee should be perswaded of his love in all things and therefore we may and ought to bee assured of his favour towards us S. Iohns whole Epistle containes little else but sundry markes evidences how we may know that wee are the children of God wherefore was Christ himselfe sealed of the Father to the Office of Mediatour wherefore did he die and rise againe and wherefore doth hee still make intercession for us in Heaven that wee should doubt of Gods love when as he hath given us that which is greater than salvation yea greater than al the world even his owne Sonne no certainly can we desire a more ample testimony of his favour than he hath already bestowed upon us Is it not the errand of all Gods mercies to bring us neerer to him selfe that we should not doubt of his love but rest securely upon him why then doe we distrust the Almighty who is truth it selfe and never failed any Yet we must know that Christians have not at all times alike assurance of their interest for there is an infancy of grace where in we are ignorant of our own condition And there is a time of desertion when as God to make us looke better to our footing leaves us a little as if he would forsake us quite when indeed hee onely withdrawes his assistance for a while to make us cleave the closer to him There be also certain seasons wherin though we are assured of Gods favor yet we have no feeling or apprehension of the same which differeth in Christians much according as they are more or lesse sensible of their estates Some againe use not that care and diligence in the use of meanes which God requires whereupon they are justly deprived of that inward peace and comfort which others enjoy There is a difference likewise in growth and continuance in Christianity some are strong Christians and some weak answerable whereunto is the difference of assurance of Gods love usually in the hearts of his people Nay it s possible that for a long time the Lords Iewels his redeemed ones may want this blessed comfort For wee must conceive there is a double act of faith First an act whereby a poore distressed sinner casts himselfe upon God as reconciled to him in Christ. Secondly there is a reflect act whereby knowing that wee rely upon the truth and promise of the Almighty we have assurance of his favour Now a man may performe the one act and not the other many of the Saints sometimes can hardly say that they have any assurance but yet notwithstanding they will daily cast themselves upon the rich mercy and free grace of God in Jesus Christ. Besides there are many things which may hinder this act of assurance because together with beleeving God may present such things to my minde as may so damp and disquiet my soule that I cannot have any definitive thoughts about that which God would especially have mee to thinke upon As when God will humble a man he takes not away the Spirit of faith wholly from him but sets before such a sinfull creature his anger and sore displeasure together with the hellish torments and paines of the damned as due to his soule which makes him for the present to be in an estate little differing from the Reprobate so that he is far from saying he hath any assurance at that time yet notwithstanding he doth not leave off nor renounce his confidence but casts himselfe upon Gods mercy still Though the Lord kill him yet will he trust in him although he sees nothing but terror wrath before him This God doth to tame our presumption and prepare us for the enjoyment of his future glory If we feele not sense of assurance it is good to blesse God for what we have Wee cannot denie but God offers himselfe in mercy to us and that hee intends our good thereby for so we ought to construe his mercifull dealing towards us and not have him in jealousie without ground Had wee but willing hearts to praise God for that which we cannot but acknowledge comes from him he will bee ready in his time to shew himself more cleerely to us We taste of his goodnesse many wayes it is accompanied with much patience and these in their natures should leade us not only to repentance but to neerer dependance on him we ought to follow that which God leads us unto though he hath not yet acquainted us with his secrets These things we must observe that we give not a false evidence against our selves though wee have not such assurance as wee have had yet alwayes there is some ground in us whereupon we may bee comforted that wee are Gods children could we but search into it Let us not then be negligent in labouring for the same and in the Lords good time we shall certainly obtaine it it is the prophanenesse of the world that they improve not those helpes which God hath afforded for this purpose Nay they had rather stagger and take contentment in their own wayes saying If God will love mee in a loose licentious course so it is but I will not give diligence to make my calling and election sure I will never barre my selfe of such profits and delights nor forsake all chiefly to minde spirituall things Whereas wee ought constantly to endeavour for assurance of grace that God may have honour from us and we the more comfort from him againe that we may live in the world above the world and passe cheerefully through the manifold troubles and
hee longed after the House of God when the people were ready to stone him wherein did he trust but in the Lord his strong â—ower In the last place would we know whether we can rest in God or no. Let us examine our selves then what endeavours we have every day to cleanse our soules from sinne that so God may take pleasure in us and we againe may delight in him Let us see how we restraine our affections from running riot after the World and sinful pleasures And how we set our joy upon God and frame our selves to do his will I beseech you let us deale faithfully with our owne soules in this particular And if we find that our hearts tell us as Peters told him Lord thou knowest that I love thee I desire ô Lord to please thee above all things I have set mine heart upon thee and I joy in thee and in thy love more than in all things else in the world If thus I say we can in the integrity of our spirits appeale to God who only knowes and searches our wayes and say truly Lord thou knowest that I love thee it is a certaine and infallible signe unto us that we are his and all things shall work for the best unto us But take we heed how wee deceive our selves in these things by love we are Christians therefore labour for sincerity of affection A Reprobate or a Castaway may go far in these four signes of love He may admire and wonder at the good things of God but he doth it not from any thing within him but from the outward beholding of them he can admire and talk of them but yet such men are without any rellish or sweet taste of the thing they speak of So likewise an Hypocrite may desire to please God in many things but not in all things as we see in Herod he heard Iohn Baptist willingly and obeyed in some things but not in all he could not be crossed in his beloved sinne which abode in him that must not bee touched Then farwell God and farwell Christ and all So a Castaway may desire to be in Heaven as being a place good for him and hee may have some little taste of those joyes above as is mentioned in the Hebrewes but hee hath no rellish of them from the love of God but only from the love of himselfe And his desire is not such as will draw him on to the use of means for spiritual growth and progresse thereunto as we see in Balaam hee had a desire to die the death of the righteous but this could not make him leave his covetous disposition and find a contentment in God alone A Reprobate may bee content with religion and with Gods wayes so long as peace doth accompany the same as now in this our Countrey Christ commeth amongst us with plenty and prosperity therefore Christ is a good Christ but if the Gospell and Religion should bee professed with perfecution and danger and disgrace it would soone appeare where mens contentments were There is a resting not in the truth because it is truth but in regard of the good things which follow it If we desire to approve our selves to God let us examine our selves about this affection and every branch of it The deceit is both common and deadly and the profession of Religion in many Christians is not for Religion it selfe but for by ends and sinister respects To which end consider further these particulars Where there is true love there will bee a dedesire of union to the beloved object so where the love of God is there will be a desire of the accomplishment of the marriage betweene God and the soule He that loves a Harlot saith the wise man is one with her so he that affects the Lord desires to be one with him therefore men have their names from what they love if they love the world they are called worldlings if they love Christ they are called Christians how canst thou say that thou lovest the Lord and doest not desire his presence in his Ordinances Can we say wee love such a man when we care not for his company God observes not so much what we do as from what affection our duties proceed Againe if we love there will bee a desire to give content to the party beloved this appeares even in carnall selfe-love for take a man that loves himselfe he makes himselfe his utmost aime and end in all his actions but when once God hath plucked this fleshly love out of our soules then our affections will be carried to Christ only this made the Prophet David say I love the Lord deerly He is my rock my fortresse my deliverer a Christian hath his contentment in God alone he findes an all-sufficiency in the Almighty and therfore makes him his resting place In all his trouble he will make God his deliverer and finde more true comfort in him than in all the things of the world besides therefore if God should take all other things from us yet if hee leave us Himselfe a Christian is well contented be cause he knowes his best being is in God But how shall I know whether I doe esteeme rightly of God or no If we highly esteeme any thing whether it be of this or a better life we will be often speaking of them it is a signe men undervalue heavenly truths when they discourse little about them they much set light by God that have him not in all their thoughts Againe what we esteeme of we will choose above other things it appeares we have a pretious esteem of God when we choose him and him alone for our portion as David when he said One thing have I desired of the Lord that I may dwell in his courts for ever where God is truly loved there will be a fall of all earthly things in that mans estimation so he may gaine Christ he counts all else but drosse and dung Lastly if thou lovest God thou wilt be afraid to offend him and carefull to please him in all things God delights not in a proud and haughty spirit but in an humble and meek soule these then should be thy delight God is wonderfull well pleased with faith for it is that which bindes him to performe his promise therefore seek it earnestly whatsoever God approves a Christian should take pleasure in every grace is an ornament to a Christian and God delights to see his owne graces in us Isaac before hee took Rebecka to wife sent her Jewels to adorne her so Christ sends rich Jewels to his children even the graces of his Holy Spirit to make us love him and fit us the more for him Those that live in sinnes against conscience think we that these love God No certainly if they did they would love that which he loves and hate that which he hates what a pittifull thing is it to see men glorying in that which is their shame in swearing
beneath can never accoÌ„plish Wee see that the heavens continue and the earth without any other foundation hangs in the midst of the world by the bare word of the Almighty therefore well may the soule stay it selfe on that when it hath nothing else in sight to rely upon In this case Christians should look 1. That their principles and foundations be good And secondly builded strongly upon them for the soule is as that which it relies on if upon empty things it selfe becomes poore and empty which the Devil knowing strives to unloose our hearts from our Maker and draw us to rely upon false objects Hee sees full well that whilest our soules cleave close to God there is no prevailing against us by any malice or subtilty of men or devils The Saints in him are bold and undaunted in the midst of troubles and torments Indeed the sweetest coÌ„munion with God is when we are beaten off from other helps Though misery upon misery encounters us below yet there is still succour issuing from above to a beleeving soule If God hath it in heaven faith will fetch it downe and enjoy the sweetnesse of it here That man can never doe amisse that hath his dependancie upon the Almighty there being no communion like that of a faithfull heart with the Lord. It is the office of faith to quiet our soules in all distresses for it relies upon God for heaven it self and all necessary provision till we come thither strengthen faith therefore and you strengthen all what can daunt that soul which in the sorest affliction hath the great God for his friend Such a spirit dares bid defiance to all the powers of darknes Sathan may for a time exercise but hee can never wholly depresse a gracious heart True beleevers can triumph over that which others are slaves unto they can set upon spirituall conflicts and endure fiery tryalls which others tremble to think of they can put off themselves and be content to be nothing so their God may appeare the greater and dare undertake or undergoe any thing for the glory of their Maker considering they are not their owne but have given up themselves unto Christ they count not their lives or any thing that is theirs deare for him Hee that stablisheth us with you is God who hath annointed us c. Messias signifies annointed our nature is enriched in Christ with all graces Hee is annointed with the oyle of gladnesse above his fellowes for us that wee might have a spring of grace in our owne nature that God and Christ being one and we being in the Lord Jesus might have all our annointing of the first annointed for of his fulnesse we receive grace for grace What are those graces which wee receive from Christs fulnesse First the grace of favour and acceptance for the same love that God beares to Christ he beares to all his though not in so high a degree Secondly the Grace of sanctification answerable to the grace of sanctification in him every renued work in us comes from Christ. Thirdly the rich priviledges and prerogatives that issue to persons sanctified wee have dignity for dignity favour for favour gracious qualifications for gracious qualifications in Christ. God annoints us all in his Sonne As the oyntment that was powred upon Aaron ran downe to the skirts of his garment so the weakest Christian is stablished with grace by Christ grace runnes from the Head to poorest member the hem of the garment every one that doth but touch Christ drawes vertue and strength from him Why is it called here an annointing Because as the Holy annointing Exod. 30. was not to be applied to prophane uses so neither are the graces of the spirit God being the Author of them to be slighted and undervalued by the Professors of them What are the vertues of this oyntment First it hath a cherishing power it revives the drooping soule and cheares a fainting spirit when men are ready to sink under the burthen of their sins this easeth them 2. Annointing hath a strengthening power it makes our limbs vigorous so doth grace fortifie the soule nothing more Our life is a combating life wiâ—h Sathan and temptations of all sorts therefore wee need continuall annointing to make us nimble and active in resisting our enemie Oyle hath a suppling quality so the Spirit of God makes pliable the joynts of the soule it supports us with hidden strength and enables us to encounter great oppositions to be victorious through Christ over all Grace is little in quantity but it is mighty in operation it carries the soule through difficulties nothing can stand in the way of a gracious man no not the Gates of Hell The spirit of grace that is in a Christian is stronger than he that is in the world A graine of Mustard seed the very least measure of true Holinesse is stronger than the greatest measure of opposition A Christians strength lies out of himselfe he never overcomes by his owne power hee can doe all things through Christ assisting him otherwise hee is a most impotent creature unable to doe or suffer any thing ready to give over at the least trouble and sink under every pressure of affliction Againe ointment doth exceedingly delight and refresh ourspirits as wee see the Box in the Gospel when it was opened the whole House smelt of it So grace is a wondrous sweet thing Before wee are anointed with the Spirit of Christ with stablishing grace what are we but a company of nasty abominable persons in the eyes of God All things are accursed to us and we are accursed in what ever we doe God cannot look on us but as loathsome creatures as the Prophet saith I would not so much as looke on thee if it were not for Iehoshaphats sake That which makes a man sweet is grace this makes our nature that is noisome and offensive in the nostrils of the Almighty in it selfe to become pleasant and amiable A wicked man is a vile man an ulcerous deformed creature grace is of a healing nature wheresoever it is this cures our spiritual distempers beautifying the inner man and making the whole frame of a Christians carriage sweet and delectable First to God who loves the sent of his own grace wheresoever he finds it Secondly to Angels the conversion of sinners rejoyceth them when our custody is committed to their charge how are they delighted with the beauty of holinesse shining in us The graces of God in his Saints are a Feast to them the very name of a godly and gratious man is as a sweet ointment every where Holy men when they are read of in Stories what a savour doe they cast in the Church so far as a Christian is a New Creature it makes him in love with himselfe scorning to be so undervalued as to defile himselfe with base services so farre as a man is gratious he gives himselfe to honourable imployments being a vessell of
grace he improves his abilities to glorious uses esteeming things below too meane for him Grace is a wondrous pleasant thing offensive to none but to wicked men that have no savour of God or goodnesse it sweetens the soule makes it delectable for Christ his holy Spirit to lodge in as in a Garden of spices A gracious man that hath subdued his corruptions is wondrous amiable both to himselfe and to the Communion of Saints his heart is as fine silver every thing is sweet that comes from him grace is full of comfort to a mans own conscience the sense of which enlargeth the soule to all holy services Fourthly an ointment hath another property it consecrates persons to holy uses Anointed persons are raised above the ordinary ranke The graces of Gods spirit elevate men above the condition of others with whom they live Anointed persons are sacred persons they are inviolable Touch not mine anointed and doe my Prophets no harme we wrong the apple of Gods eye we offer indignity to Christ himselfe if we hurt these Indeed nothing can hurt them but God by his over ruling power turnes all for their good Lastly an ointment is a royall liquor it will bee above all so the graces of Gods Spirit where they are will be uppermost they will guide and governe all As if a man have excellent parts grace will rule these and make them serviceable to Christ his truth and members If we have weaknesse and corruption grace will subdue it by little and little and never leave conflicting till it hath got the victory What are our souls without Gods anointing Dead stinking offensive to God to good men and to our selves we cannot see with peace the visage of our owne soules who can reflect seriously into his heart and life without horror that hath no grace A man that sees his conscience awakened without this anointing what is he surely as the body without the soule it is not all the excellencies of the soule laid upon a dead body or all the goodly ornaments that bedeckt it can keep it from stinking and being a loathsome object because it wants the soule to quicken and enliven it to good imployments of it selfe it is but a peece of earth all the vigor and life that the body hath is communicated from the soule they are beholding to our soules for many things Put the richest ornaments whatsoever upon the body and not the Spirit of grace upon the soule to cherish and refresh the same that it may appeare lovely in Gods sight all is to no purpose Likewise this anointing hath relation to the persons anointed Kings Priests and Prophets Christ is primarily anointed and all our grace is derived from him hee teacheth us divine things by a Divine light The poorest Christian in the world whose heart is right with God sees good things with such convincing love that he imbraces them and ill things with such a convincing hatred that he abhors them A man that lives without God in the world may talke but he cannot doe he may speak of death but he dares not die he trembles to thinke of the last tribunall and of resigning his soule into the hands of his Maker such an one may discourse of suffring but when it comes to the point his heart failes him oh how he shrinkes when danger approacheth what indirect courses will hee take to save his skin how hardly is corrupt selfe brought under how heavily doe men come off in this point of doing and suffering for Christ laying downe all at his feet and resolving to be disposed of at his pleasure in every thing Men speak much of patience and selfe-deniall but they do not practise them these vertues shine not forth in their conversation which is the shame of Religion only a true Christian hath the right knowledge of the doing of things and is able to speak a word in due season to reprove to admonish to comfort every member in the communion of Saints hath some qualification for the good of the whole body A faithfull man is likewise spiritually anointed a Priest to stand before God Almighty he poures out his soul for himself for others having Gods eare open at all times to his suits Every sincere Christi an is a favourite in heaven he hath much credit there which hee improves for the welfare of the Church here below And hee keepes himselfe as a Priest unspotted of the world a true Christian is taught of God and knowes the meaning of that Law of his which prohibiteth Priests so much as to touch defiled things therefore he studies innocency he runs not after the course of the multitude neither is carried away with the streames of the times he will not converse familiarly with those that may staine him but so farre as his calling leads him lest he should therby contaminate his spirit A Christian Priest hath his heart alwayes to the Holy of Holies that so he may offer up thankes and praise to God and offer up himselfe a sacrifice to him his endeavour is to kill and slay those beasts those lusts that lurk in his heart contrary to the Almighty Lastly he that is anointed by the Spirit is a King in regard of his great possessions for all are ours things present and things to come life and death prosperity and adversity all help us to Heaven Evill things are ours in advantage and successe though in disposition they be not ours but have a hostil disposition in thē God over-powers the evil of things and gives a Christian a living principle of grace to suck sweet out of sowre draw good out of evill What a King is this that even the most terrible things are at his command and work for the best unto him He conquers and brings under his greatest enemies and feares neither death or judgement nor the vengeance to come knowing God in Christ to bee his reconciled Father he rests assured all things else will be will be at peace with him Others have Kingdomes out of themselves but in thēselves they are slaves Every lust leads them away Captive A Christian is such a King as hath a Kingdome within himselfe hee hath peace and joy and rest from base allurements and terrours of conscience hee walks by rule and therfore knowes how to governe all the glory of his Maker is the chiefe thing hee eyes and to that hee referres every action Who hath annointed us and sealed us Annointing and sealing goe together the same God annoints us doth also seale us Both are to secure us of our happy condition Now Christ is the first sealed Iohn 6. Him hath God the Father sealed God hath set Christ a part from others hath distinguished him and set a stamp upon him to be the Messiah by the graces of the spirit whereof he was richly beautified and by many miracles whereby he shewed that he was the Sonne of God by his resurrection from the dead by his calling of
the Gen tiles and many other things Christ being sealed himselfe he sealed all that he did for our Redemption with his bloud and hath added for the strengthening of our faith outward seales the Sacraments to secure his love more firmly to us But in this place another manner of sealing is to be understood For here is not meant the sealing of Christ but the sealing of us that have communion with him The same spirit that seales the Redeemer seales the redeemed What is the manner of our sealing by the spirit Sealing we know hath divers uses First of all It doth imprint a likenesse of him that doth seale when the Kings Image is stamped upon the wax every thing in the wax answers to that in the seale face to face eye to eye body to body So wee are said to be sealed when we carrie in our soules the Image of the Lord Jesus for the spirit sets the stamp of Christ upon every true Convert there is the likenesse of Christ in all things to be found in him As the Child answers the Father foot for foot finger for finger in proportion but not in quantity So it is in the sealing of a beleever there is a likenesse in the soule that is sealed by the spirit to the Lord Jesus there is understanding of the same heavenly supernaturall truthes there is a judging of things as Christ judgeth a loving of that which he loves and a hating of that which hee hates a rejoycing to doe that which he delights in and a griefe to commit any thing that displeaseth his Majestie every affection of the soul is carried that way that the affections of our blessed Saviour are carried in proportion every thing in the soule is answerable to him in its degree There is no grace in Christ but there is the like in every Christian in some measure The obedience of Christ to his Father even to the death is to be found in every true Christian The humility whereby Christ abased himselfe it is in every renued heart Christ works in the soule that receives him a conformity to himselfe The soule that beleeve that Christ hath loved him and done such great things for him is ambitious to expresse Christ in all his wayes Being once in Christ we shall delight to be transformed more and more into him To beare the Image of the second Adam upon our breasts to make it appeare that Jesus Christ lives in us and that wee live not to our selves but to him that died for us to be meeke and heavenly minded as hee was talking and discoursing of spirituall things going about doing good every where active for God fruitfull in holinesse doing receiving all the good we are able drawing others from this world to meditate of a better estate labouring for the advancement of Gods Kingdome and approving our selves to him this is one use of sealing to imprint a likenesse A second use of a Seale is distinction Sealing is a stamp upon one thing among many it distinguisheth christians from others as we shall see after Againe it serves for appropriation men seale those things that are their owne Merchants we see set their stamp on those Wares which they have or meane to have a right unto It pleaseth God thus to condiscend unto us by applying himselfe to humane contracts Hee appropriates his own to shew that hee hath chosen and singled them out for himselfe to delight in Sealing further serves to make things authenticall to give authority and excellencie The Seale of the Prince is the authority of the Prince This gives validity to things answerable to the dignity and esteeme of him that seales These are the foure principall uses of sealing And God by his spirit doth al theseto his 1. He stamps his own Image upon us he distinguisheth us from others even from the great refuse of the world God by his spirit appropriates us to himselfe hee makes us to be his and shewes that we are his hee likewise authorizethus and puts an excellencie upon us to secure us against all temptations when wee have Gods seale on us we stand firme in the greatest triall who shall seperate us from the love of God wee dare defie all objections of Sathan and accusations of conscience whatsoever A man that hath Gods seale stands impregnable in the most tempestuous season For it is given for our assu rance and not for Gods the Lord knowes who are his hee seales not because he is ignorant but for our comfort and establishment Whether is the spirit it selfe this seale or the work of the spirit and the graces thereof wrought in us I answer the Spirit of God where it is is a sufficient seale that God hath set us out for himselfe for whosoever hath the Spirit of Christ the same is his He is the Author of our sealing so that except you take the Spirit for that which is wrought by the Spirit you have not the comprehension of sealing for that which the Spirit worketh is the seale the spirit goes alwayes with his owne mark and impression Other seales when they are removed from the stamp the stamp remaines still but the Spirit of God dwells and keepes a perpetuall residence in the heart of a Christian guiding him moving him enlightning him governing him comforting him doing all offices of a seale in his heart till hee hath brought him to heaven The Holy Ghost never leaves us it is the sweetest inhabitant that ever lodging was given to he doth all the saving good that is done to the soule and is perpetually with his own work in joy and comfort though he seeme sometimes to be in a corner of the heart and is not easily discerned yet he alwayes dwels in his sealed ones What is that stamp that the Spirit seales us withall The Spirit works in this order for the most part First of all the Spirit doth together with the Word which is the instrument and the Chariot wherein it is carried convince us of the ill that is in us and the misery attending on us for the same It convinceth us of sinne and the fearefull estate we are in by that and abaseth us thereupon therefore it is called the Spirit of bondage because it makes a man tremble and quake till he see his peace made up in Christ. When hee hath done this then he convinceth us of righteousnesse by a sweet light discovering the excellencies of the Lord Jesus and the remedy in him provided for sinners God opens the eye of the soul to see the all-sufficiency of his Sons sanctâ—fication and inclines the heart to cast it selfe by faith upon him When we are throughly convinced of the ill that is in us and of the good that is in Christ and are moved by the Holy Ghost to go out of our selves and imbrace reconciliation in the Lord Jesus then a superadded worke is vouchsafed unto us for the Spirit daily perfecteth his owne
sinck as Lead in the bottome of the Sea which hath no consistence till it come to the Center to Hell Did you ever feele the joy of the Spirit in holy duties after inward striving against your lusts and getting ground of them this is a certaine signe that God hath sealed you But you will say How can that be a seale A seale continues with the thing but the joy of the Spirit comes after the work of the Spirit and abides not with us I answer though wee have not alwayes the joy of the Spirit yet we have the Spirit of joy which though it be not knowne by joy yet may be discerned by its operation and working A Christian may have a gracious work of the Spirit in him and yet want the delight and joy of the Spirit therefore when that failes look to thy sanctification and see what resemblance of Christ is formed in thee See 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heart be humble and broken if thou have a heavenly disposition like to thy Saviour when the joy of the Spirit ceaseth goe to the work of the Spirit and from the work of the Spirit to the voyce of the Spirit Canst thou cry to God with strong supplications or if thou canst not pray with distinct words canst thou mourne and groane The Spirit helps our infirmities when wee know not what to ask This sighing groaning is the voyce of Gods Spirit which hee will regard wheresoever he finds it This made Iob in his distresse to swim above water If one be in the midst of extremity and can seriously seek to God it is an undoubted signe that such a one is sealed especially when the corruption of his soule joynes with Sathans temptations the more to afflict him for a sinner in the midst of stormes clouds of darknesse then to cast anchor and quiet his soule in Christ argues great faith So when a temptation closes with our corruption and affliction yeelds ground to further the temptation then to pray and rely securely upon God is a gracious signe for Sathan useth the afflictions we are in as temptations to shake our faith as thus Canst thou be a child of God and be so exercised so vilified so persecuted Didst thou belong to Christ would ever these crosses losses and miseries have befallen thee deceive not thy selfe Thus affliction is a weapon to temptation for Sathan to help his fiery darts with he having such a dangerous party in us as our own corruption doth us the more harme continually How shall a man know whether God hath a part in him I answer If he can run against the streame if he find his soule resisting Sathans temptations raising him above afflictions standing out and combating with corruptions to the uttermost whē he can check his carnal heart that drawes him downwards saying Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted within me it is a good signe David found inward corruptions and outward afflictions joyning with Sathans temptations to depresse his spirit hereupon he chides his owne soule Why is it thus with thee why art thou dejected in this manner and then he layes a charge upon it Trust in God Whatsoever hardship wee meet with in the world yet there is hope in God still though we can find little comfort below yet there are rivers of consolation above it argues a gracious heart to quiet ones selfe in God in the worst times I beseech you let us labour to have our soules sealed with the Spirit of God to have further and clearer evidence of our estate in grace it is a blessed thing to have Christ live in us the enemies of our salvation are exceeding many and how soone death or judgement may ceaze us wee know not God will set none at his right hand but his Sheep those that have his owne Image on them his best Sheep have no outward mark but an inward the world sees not their beautie The Kings daughter is all glorious within How comfortably will the soule commend it self to Christ when it finds it selfe stamped with the Spirit of Christ when he can chearefully say Lord Jesus receive my soule thou that hast redeemed me by thy bloud and sealed me by thy Spirit acknowledge thine owne likenesse in me though it be not as it should be yet there is somwhat of thine in me Beloved wee must not give false evidence of our selves as wee must not against others what a comfort hath a sealed soul in the houre of death and in all extremities what a difference is there betweene such a soule and others in the time of affliction as in the time of pestilence warre and persecution for Christ The soul that is sealed knowes that hee is marked out for happinesse in the world to come Whatsoever befalls him in this life hee knowes that God in all confusion of times knows his own Seale and that his destroying Angell shal spare and passe over those that are marked Ezech. 9. And though our bodies escape not yet our soules shall Iosias wee see was taken away from the evill to come and Lot was delivered from the judgement of the Sodomites If wee partake not of the sinnes of the wicked wee shall never partake of their plagues God hath a speciall care of his little ones in this life and if hee take them away yet their death is pretious in his sight hee will not part with them but upon speciall consideration he sees if they live it will be worse for them their pretious soules are in continuall danger hee sees it is best for them to be gathered to God and the soules of perfect ones in heaven therefore hee provides a shelter to free them from all stormes on earth And as hee hath an eye over them in regard of outward miseries so in respect of spirituall corruption and infection as Revel 7. Gods holy ones were sealed so many of such a Tribe and so many of such a Tribe to signifie that God hath alwayes some that hee will keepe and preserve from the leaprous contagion of sinne and Antichrist even in evill times God hath his little flock still In the obscure ages of the Church 900 yeares after Christ when there was little learning and goodnesse in the world and Egyptian darknes had over-spred the earth God had alwayes sealed ones marked out for himselfe whom he preserved from the danger of dark times why then should wee be afraid of evill tidings Let any affliction or death it selfe come Christ will know his own stamp in us he hath a book of remembrance for those that are his and when hee gathers his jewells they will bee highly set by God in common calamities suffers his luggage wicked men to goe to wrack but he will secure his jewels his darlings what ever come of it labour therefore to bee a sealed person But you will say what shall I account of my self if there bee
but a little signe of grace in me Be not discouraged you know in wax though the stamp be almost out yet it is currant in Law notwithstanding Put the case the stamp of the Prince be an old Coyne is it not currant though it bee crackt Suppose the mark of the Spirit should bee dim and blurred scarce discernable in us this ought to bee our shame and griefe yet some evidences of grace are still remaining there are some sighes and groanes against corruption which may continually support us if we mourne in our spirits and doe not joyne with our lusts nor allow our selves in them this is a divine impression though it bee as it were almost worne out the more comfort wee desire the fresher she should keepe this seale of comfort And labour to grow in faith and obedience that we may reade our evidence cleerely that it be not over-growne with the dust of the world so as we cannot see it Sometimes Gods children have the graces of the Spirit in them yet they yeeld so much to feares and doubtings that they can read nothing but their corruption When we bid them puruse their evidences they can see nothing but worldlinesse nothing but pride and envie because they grieve the holy Spirit by their negligence and distrust Though there be a stamp in them yet God holds the soule from it and gives men up to mistake their estates for not stirring up the graces of his Spirit in them Honour God by beleeving and he will honour thee by stamping his Spirit more cleerely on thee what a comfort is it to have the evidence of a gratious soule at all times When a man carries about him the marke of the Spirit what in the world can discourage such a soule On the contrary if a man have not something above nature in him when death judgement comes how miserable is his condition If a man be a King or an Emperour of the World and have not an interest in Christs righteousnesse ere long he shall be stripped of all and adjudged to eternall torments Oh the excellency of mans soule a Jewell more to be prized then a Princes Diadem It is the solly of the times to set up curious Pictures but what a poore delight is this in comparison of the ambition of a true Christian to see the Image of Christ stamped in his soule to finde the joy of the Spirit and God speaking peace to his inner man The transforming of our selves into the image of Christ is the best Picture in the world therefore we should labour for the new creature that as we grow downeward one way we may grow up towards Heaven another that as the life of nature decayes so the spirituall life may bee more active and working It should be our daily study while we live in this world to attain that holinesse without which no man shall ever see God There is besides the common broad Seale of God his privie Seal What is the reason that many proud hearted persons are damned the truth is they are all for externall contentments and despise the ordinances of GOD for though they stand upon their admission into the Church upon the common seales and prerogatives which in themselves are excellent yet relying on these things overmuch betrayes many soules to the Devill in the time of distresse It is an other manner of seale than the outward seale in the Sacrament that must settle peace in the conscience When once the beginnings of faith are wrought in us then wee may with comfort thinke upon our receiving of the Communion but the speciall thing to be eyed is the hidden seale If the externall meanes work no inward sanctificatiō in our hearts we shall be the worse rather than the better for them yet we must not be so prophane as to think slightly of Gods Ordinances they are of great consequence For when Satan shakes the confidence of a Christian and saith Thou art an Hypocrite God doth not love thee these help us to hold out why saith the soule I can speak by experience that I have found the contrary the Lord hath removed my feares he hath pardoned my sinne and accepted my person he hath given me many Pretious Promises to support my spirit Here is the excellency of the Sacrament it comes more home to me it seales the generall Promises of God particularly to my selfe for finding the inward worke of the Spirit in my heart and God having strengthned my faith by the outward seale I can defie Satan with all his accusations and look death in the face with comfort We should labour therefore to observe Gods sealing dayes when he uses to manifest himselfe to his people which though it may be every day if wee be spiritually exercised yet it is in the Lords day more especially for then his ordinance and his Spirit go together Now there is a sealing of persons and of truths besides the sealing of our estates that we are the children of God there is a sealing of every particular truth to a Christian. For where there is grace to beleeve the truth God seales those truths firmely to that soule by the comforts of his Spirit For example this is a truth Whosoever beleeves in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life Now the same Spirit that stirs up the soule to beleeve this seales it fast upon the conscience even to death there is no promise but upon our beleeving the same it is sealed by God upon us for those truths only abide firme in the soule which the Holy Ghost sets on What is the reason that many forget their consolations the reason is they heare much but the Spirit settles nothing on their hearts What is the reason that lettered men many times stand out in their profession to blood whereas those that are more able and learned yeeld to any thing The reason is the knowledge of the one is set fast upon the soule the Spirit brings his seale and this mans knowledge close together whereas the learning and abilities of the other is only a discoursive thing swimming in the braine without any sollid foundation their knowledge of truths is not spiritual they see not heavenly things by heavenly but by a naturall light Those that would not apostatize must have a knowledge sutable to the things they know they must see spirituall things by the Spirit of GOD. Therefore when we come to heare the Word wee should not come with strong conceits of our owne to bring all to our wits but with reverent dispositions and dependance upon God that he would teach us together with his Ministers and close with his Ordinances so as to fasten truths upon our soules else shall wee never hold out for that which must stablish and quiet the soule must bee greater than the soule In time of tentations when the terrours of the Almighty encompasse us when God layes open our conscience and writes bitter things against us those
temptations which hefail us in our pilgrimage A man in his pure natu rals will swell against this doctrine because he feeles no such thing and thinks what is above his measure is hypocrisie He makes himselfe the rule of other Christians to walke by and therefore values and esteemes others by his uncertaine condition but the heart of a Christian hath a light in it the Spirit of God in his soule makes him discerne what estate he is in In a naturall man all is dark hee sees nothing because his heart is in a Dungeon his eye being dark the whole man must needs be in blindnesse All is alike to him he sees no difference betweene flesh and spirit and therefore holds on in a doubting hope in a confused disposition and temper of soule to his dying-day But a Christian that labours to walk in the comforts of the holy Ghost cannot rest in such an unsetled estate he dares not venture his eternall welfare upon such infirme grounds What to depart this life and be tossed in uncertainty whether a man goes to Heaven or to Hell What a miserable perplexity must such a soule needs be in Therefore he is still working out his salvation and storing up of grace against the evill day And well may this condition challenge all our diligence in labouring for it because it is neither attained nor maintained without the strength and prime of our care for the sense of Gods favour will not bee kept without keeping him in our best affections above all things else in the world besides without keeping of our hearts constantly close and neere to him which can never bee done without keeping a most narrow watch over our loose spirits which are ever ready to stray from him and fall to the creature It cannot be kept without exact walking and serious selfe-deniall But what of that Can wee spend our labours to better purpose One sweet beame of Gods countenance will requite all abundantly A Christian indeed undergoes more trouble and paines especially with his own heart than others do but what is that to his gaines One day spent in communion with God is sweeter than a thousand without it What comforts so great as those that are fetched from the Fountaine Oh woe to him that savours not these heavenly but lingers after carnall comforts It cannot but grieve the holy Spirit when the consolations of the Almighty are either forgotten or seem nothing to us But why doth the Spirit thus establish and seale us and conveigh grace to our soules why doth that doe all Because since the fall we have no principles of supernaturall good in us and there must be a principle above nature to work grace in our barren hearts Againe there is still remaining in us an utter aversnesse to that which is spiritually good in the best therefore there must bee somewhat to over-power their corrupt disposition But why the Spirit rather than the Father or the Sonne Hee comes from both and therefore is fit to witnesse the love of both the Holy Ghost is in the breast of the Father and the Sonne hee knowes their secret affection towards us A mans spirit is acquainted with his in most thoughts the blessed Spirit is privie to the hidden love of God and of Jesus Christ to us poore creatures which we are strangers unto therefore none so fit to cheere and revive us Indeed the love originally is from the Father but in regard of application of what is wrought by the Sonne all proceeds from the Holy Ghost he receives grace from Christ for us It must needs be so because no lesse than the Spirit of God can quiet our perplexed spirits in time of tentation For when the conscience of a guilty person is affrighted what man can allay its feares That which must settle a troubled spirit must be a spirit above our owne It being no easie thing to bring the soule and God together after peace is broken we have both wind and tide against us in this businesse grace being but weak and corruption strong in the best of us We should labour therfore for heavenly spirits get somthing more than a man in us There can never be any true peace attained till the Spirit from above settle it in our souls An unsanctified heart is an unpacified heart If there be a neglect of holinesse the soule can never bee soundlyquiet where there is not a cleare conscience there cannot be a calm cōscience that is a generall rule Sinne like Ionas in the ship will raise continuall stormes both within and without a man Take away God once and farewell all true tranquillity Spirituall comforts flow immediatly from the Spirit of Comfort who hath his office designed for that purpose But how shall we know that we have the Spirit How may a man know that hee hath a soule by living and moving by actions vitall c. Even so may a man know hee hath the Spirit of God by its blessed effects and operations it is not idle in us but as the soule quickens the body so doth the Spirit the soule Every saving grace is a signe that the Spirit is in us Wheresoever the Spirit dwells hee transformes the soule changes the party like himselfe to be holy and gracious this is an undoubted symptome of the Spirits habitation Secondly all spirituall graces are with conflict for that which is true is with a great deale of resistance of that which is counterfeit the flesh still lusts against the spirit and Satan cannot endure to see any man walk cōfortably to heaven What thinks hee such a base creature as this is to have the earnest of salvation to live here as if hee were in heaven already and to defie all opposite powers sure hee shall have little peace this way I will disquiet and vex his spirit if he will goe to heaven hee shall go mourning thither This is the reasoning of the cursed spirit whereupon hee labours to shake our assurance and follow us with perplexities The grace and comfort of a Christian is with much conflict and tentations not only with Satan but with his owne heart which so long as guilt remaines wil ever be misgiving and casting of doubts there must therfore be a higher power than the soule of man to quiet and allay its owne troubles Thirdly the Spirit enables us to the practise of those duties which by nature wee are averse unto as to love an enemie to overcome our revenge to be humble in prosperity and contented with any estate It drawes our affection heavenward and makes us delight in God above all as our best portion Hee that hath the Spirit joyes in spirituall company and imployment he hates sinne as being contrary to that blessed earnest which hee hath received He looks on things as God doth and approves of the same as hee is made more or lesse spirituall thereby and so is brought neerer to that fountaine of
none are damned in the bosone of the Church but those that set a bar against the Spirit of God in their hearts such are damned because they will bee damned that say the Preacher what hee will think it better to bee as they are than to entertaine such a guest as will marre and alter all that was there before Take heed therefore of resisting the Spirit in the least kind sad not his blessed motions but make much of the same by yeelding subjection thereunto lay thy soule often before the spirit suffer thy selfe to be moulded and fashioned by his gracious working Oh consider how high the slighting of a gracious motion reaches even to the contemning of God himselfe certainly as we use these so would we use the Spirit himselfe were he visible to us And converse not with carnall company for what wilt thou gaine there but sorrow to thine heart if thou belongest to God and as holy Lot vex thy righteous soule with the uncleane conversation of these Sodomites it is an undoubted signe of a man destitute of grace not to care at all what company he frequents Fourthly seeing the Holy Ghost is promised to them that aske it beg earnestly for it at Gods hands this is the good th-ing that GOD gives Christ seemes to insinuate as much saying What can I give you better than the Holy Ghost Yet this will I bestow on them that ask it for indeed that is the seed of all grace and comfort A world of promises are included in the promise of giving the Spirit Labour therefore above all gettings to obtaine this high prerogative the comforts of the Spirit are above al earthly comfort and the graces of the Spirit enable to incounter the greatest tentations whatsoever A man that hath this stands impregnable God may withdraw his favour for a time to humble us but to quench the worke of the Spirit once wrought in the soule all the power of all the Devils in Hell cannot stirre it This will carry us through all oppositions and difficulties in our Christian race Let a man never baulk or decline a good cause for any thing that hee shall suffer for the seale and earnest of the Spirit is never more strong than when we are deprived of all other comforts save that alone What makes a man differ from himself and frō other men but this Take a Christian that hath the earnest of the Spirit you shall have him defie Death Satan the World and all take another that is carelesse to increase his earnest how weak and feeble will you finde him ready to be overcome by every tentation and sinck under the least burthen The Apostle Peter before the Holy Ghost came upon him was astonished with the voice of a weak Damosell but after how forward was he to suffer any thing Labour not then to bee strengthned in things below neither value thy selfe by outward dependances Alas all things here are perishing If thou hast grace thou hast that which will stand by thee when these faile the Comforter shal never be taken away What are all friends in the world to the Holy Ghost This will speake to God for us when no creature dares looke him in the face The Spirit will make requests with sighes and groanes in our behalfe and wee may be sure we shall bee heard when that intercedes for us What Prison can shut up the Spirit of God Oh gaine this what ever thou losest preferre it to thy chiefe treasure The very earnest of the Spirit is far more pretious than the creatures full quint essence If the Promises layd hold on by faith quicken and cheare the soule what shall the accomplishment of them doe If the giving a taste of Heaven so lift our souls above all earthly discouragements how glorious shall we shine forth when the Spirit shall be all in all in us This will make us more or lesse fruitfull more or lesse glorious in our profession and resolute in obedience through our whole course If we want this we can never be thankfull for any thing for it is the love of God that sweetens every mercy to us and indeed is more to be valued than any blessing we enjoy besides which if we eye not or are ignorant of what can we expect but wrath and displeasure in all that befals us Oh it is sweet to see favours and benefits issuing from grace and love they doe not alwayes proove mercies which men oft times esteeme to be so We can have no sollid comfort in any condition further than God smiles upon us in it What a fearefull case must that then be wherein a man cannot be thankfull for what he hath Every condition and place we are in should indeed be a witnesse of our thankfulnesse to God we must not think life was given onely to live in Our life should not be the end of it selfe but the praise of the giver thereof It is but fit that we should refer all that is good to his glory who hath joyned his glory to our best good in being glorified in our salvation which while we question and doubt of it is impossible ever to bee cheerfull towards him Besides how can a man suffer willingly that knowes not that God hath begun any good work in him How lumpish and dead is he under the crosse without this assurance It is worth the considering to see two men of equall parts under the same afliction how quietly and calmly the one that hath interest in Christ will beare his grievances whereas the other rages as a foole and is more beaten A man will endure any thing comfortably when he considers it proceeds from his Fathers good pleasure This breeds a holy resigning of our selves to God in al estates as Eli the wil of the Lord be done his will is a wise will and ever conduceth to his peoples good Fearest thou danger cry unto God I am thine Lord save me I am the price of thy Sons blood let me not be lost thou hast given me the earnest of thy Spirit and set thy seale upon me for thine owne let mee neither lose my bargaine nor thou thine Hence it is that Gods childe can so easily deny himselfe in tentations and allurements which others sinck under Oh saith he the Holy Ghost hath sealed me up to the day of redemption shall I grieve and quench the same for this base lust It is a great disparagement to preferre husks before the provision of our Fathers House when we give content to Sathan and a wretched heart wee put the Holy Ghost out of his Office Againe without this we can never comfortably depart this life hee that hath the earnest of the Spirit in his heart may laugh Sathan in the face and rejoyce at deaths ap proaching as knowing there will be an accomplishment then of all the bargaine then the Marriage will bee perfectly consummate then shall be the great yeare of Iubilee the Sabbath of rest for ever hee that
slipped out of the way themselvs and being by repentance recovered they learne to restore others with the spirit of meeknesse as the Apostle speakes A man humbledby experience of sinne in himselfe will soone relent at the fall of others Those often times prove the most excellent instruments in the Church who have formerly beene overtaken with some grosse sinne by meanes where of they have ever after beene much abased in their owne eyes We see David Paul and Peter fell grievously but being afterwards raised againe and finding comfort themselves they were a great meanes of strengthning others for he which teacheth out of his owne experience and feeling is the fittest and best teacher of all So it was with Ionah when by casting him into the Sea God had humbled him he was fit to preach repentance to Niniveh This is a most certaine truth that never any of Gods elect fell grievously but he was the better all the dayes of his life for his fall David having beene thorowly humbled for sinne when Shimei his subject cursed him to his face how patiently did hee beare the same So Peter having denied his Master and afterwards recovering himself again we see how zealous he was for his Lord Christ suffered death for him Furthermore not only the sins of Gods children which they themselves commit do work for their best but also the sinnes of others of the Saints with whom they converse and live doe much tend to their good and welfare Do not the fals of David Peter Manasses and Paul comfort the distressed and despairing soules of such as languish and are ready to faint under the burthen of their sins And do not the registry of their sins in Scripture give hope to us that God will be mercifull to our sins also we may not think it is Gods will to set upon perpetuall Record the sinnes of his servants for their shame disgrace and punishment but for our comfort who live and remaine to the end of the world And the faults of the Saints have two excellent uses whereof the one is for comfort the other for instruction The use in regard of comfort is this God hath shewed mercy to David Paul Peter and others sinning grievously against him and repenting of the same Therefore if I also shall sinne and truly repent as they did surely God is where he was as full of mercy and readinesse to forgive now as ever The second use for instruction is this If such excellent and eminent Saints by sinne have fallen grievously how then much more are we poore weak soules subject to fall if wee neglect watchfulnesse over our selves If a weak Christian oft assaulted with tentations should not see the falls slips of Gods worthier servants he would be in a wonderfull desperation and cry out of himselfe saying Alas what shall I doe never was any so assaulted and tempted so cast downe and overcome in temptations as I am and therefore my case is more fearesull and worse than ever was any But when hee considereth the grievous falls of Gods speciall servants how they have stepped aside foulely and yet obtained mercy by their examples hee beginneth to be revived and receive inward comfort wherby it is evident that all sinnes whatsoever of Gods Elect as vile and as loathsome as they are doe by Gods providence and our owne serious repentance turne to their good and the good of those with whom they live The next spirituall Evill is that which followeth after sinne committed viz. Gods desertion or forsaking of us when he seemes to hide his favour from men after they have sinned against him when God manifests himselfe as an enemie to his people this grieves them more than any thing else in the world beside wee see David how hee calls upon God not to rebuke him in his wrath nor forsake him in his displeasure where hee sheweth how grievously he was afflicted with the anger of the Almighty But albeit that God doth seeme sometimes to forsake his servants it is not for their confusion but for their consolation for by this meanes they come to be poore in spirit and wonderfully emptied of themselves And it is very observable that when such as are thorowly wounded and afflicted inwardly come to recover strength and peace againe they often prove the most cōfortable Christians of all others walking with more care to avoid offence all their lives after Christ Jesus himselfe though hee never sinned but onely stood as a surety in our roome to pay the ransome of our debts seemed to be forsaken of God his Father and because hee was thus thus humbled therefore hee was after most highly exalted above all both in heaven and in earth So Iob seemed to be forsaken and doth grievously bemoane his miseries but this was not because hee had sinned against God more grievously than others had done but for the triall of his faith and patience to give him experience of Gods love to him in the crosse that he might cleave the closer to his Maker all his time after Another Evill arising from the guiltinesse of sin is anguish of mind and a wounded spirit which saith Salomon who can beare But for all this griefe for sinne is an happy griefe yea a griefe never to bee grieved for This wound in spirit breedeth afterwards a sound spirit Repentance is good Faith in Christ is good But what doth prepare us to these happy graces Is it not a wounded spirit Who would ever repent of his sinnes and lay hold on Christ for remission of the same if hee were not pricked and pierced in the sence thereof Christ professeth himselfe to bee a Physitian but to whom To the lost Sheepe of Israel He promiseth ease and refreshment but to whom To them that are weary and laden with the burthen of their sinnes The Spirit of the Lord was upon him that he might preach the Gospell to the poore and hee was sent to heale the broken hearted that hee might preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering of sight to the blind and set at liberty them that are bruised Againe divers Christians doe walk very heavily and uncomfortably by reason of inward tentations blasphemous imaginations which oft are suggested enter into their minds but these sinnes which so vex the soules of poore Christians are a meanes of their humiliation causing them to sue more earnestly to God for pardon And these sinfull corruptions doe further serve for a testimony to themselves that they are not under the power of Sathan but live in the Kingdome of grace for if they were captived to the Devill and under his government then would he never molest vex them but suffer them quietly to live and die in their sins but because they are from under his rule and jurisdiction therefore hee perplexeth troubleth them all he can By which it is evident that all sinnes by Gods mercy and our
from doing us harme All the strength of the creature rests in the great Creator of all things who if hee denies concourse the arme of their power soon withereth It cannot but bring strong consolation to the soule to know that in all variety of changes and intercourse of good and bad things our loving God hath a disposing hand So as all blessings and crosses all ordinances and graces nay our very fals yea Satan himselfe with all his instruments being over mastred ruled by God have this injunction upon them to further Gods good intendment to us and in no wise hurt us which should move us to see his disposing hand in all that befals us We owe God this respect to observe his providence in the particular passages of our lives considering hee is our Soveraigne and his will is the rule and we are to be accountable to him as our Iudge We should question our hearts for questioning his care in the least kinde So long as God sits at the Sterne and rules all wee may bee sure no evill shall betyde us that hee can hinder Thirdly hence we may learne that there is not two but one Soveraigne head over the whole World which is plainly proved by this Text of Scripture For all things work together for the best to them that love God and things which in themselves are contraries agree together to procure their good therefore all things whatsoever are over ruled by the sole power of the Almighty The Devill himselfe although he be called the God of this World yet he is at Christs beck and could not enter into a few Swine without leave first obtained hee raiseth up hideous storms and tempests against the Saints but perisheth himselfe in the waves at last persecutions and perils may follow us but they are all limited in the doing of hurt which plainly demonstrates that there is but one main worker and wise disposer of all things Further hence observe that there is nothing in the world that to Gods servants is absolutely evill because nothing is so ill but some good may bee raised out of it not as it is an evill but as it is governed and mastred by a supreme cause Sinne is of all evils the greatest and yet sinfull actions may produce gratious effects through Gods ordering and guiding the same Againe observe that a childe of God is truly happy in the midst of all misery To prove this I reason thus In what estate soever the childe of God is it shall turn to his good therefore no affliction can make him truly miserable The proofe of this the Apostle sets downe in his owne example hee was poore yet made many rich he sorrowed yet alwayes rejoyeed he had nothing yet possessed all things he was chastned and yet not killed Gods children although to the world they may seeme to be miserable yet having communion and fellowship with him they are alwayes happy the very worst day of Gods childe â—is better than the very best day of the wicked The worst day of S. Paul was better to him than the best day of Nero was to him for the wicked in the midst of their happinesse are accursed whereas the godly in the midst of their miseries are blessed This Doctrine is a ground of understanding divers other places of Scripture as Psalme 91. The Lord promiseth that hee will deliver his from the snare of the Hunter and from the noisome pestilence and yet oft times his deere servants are in the hands of the wicked and taken away by the stroke of his judgements this truth neverthelesse remaining firme that all worketh together for their best So God teacheth us in his Word that he doth make a league betweene his servants and the creatures but all such expressions of his love we must bring to this Text and then they are true else they may seeme to bee false The plague shall not come neere thy dwelling place but only so far forth as it is for thy benefit The good Prophet was torne in pieces by a Lion and sundry holy men have received hurt by wilde Beasts whose eternall welfare were furthered thereby Therefore this phrase of Scripture that the creatures are in league is to bee understood not that they have put off their hostile nature But that they have the same issue as those that are at peace with us Here likewise is a direction for us how to pray for earthly blessings and the removall of temporall judgements often times worldly honours and riches are snares unto Gods children and temporall chastisements which wee so earnestly pray against work much good unto us And therefore it falleth out that when wee pray against temporall calamities wee pray against our owne good Being therfore afflicted we should desire not absolutely that God would remove our troubles but that hee would work his owne good pleasure upon us therby Our prayers for temporall blessings and removall of temporall crosses must alwayes be conditionall for what good will it bee for us to come out of the fire worse than we were when wee went into it If therefore God in his wisdome see it good for us to have affliction we should not desire him absolutely to remove the same till it have done us good And then Lord deale with us as seemes best in thine own eyes As for such as affect neither God nor goodnesse let them know that if all things work for the best to the Saints then they may forbeare their successesse endeavours which they daily enterprize against them in going about to hurt the godly they doe them most good for God will benefit them by their malice Their wicked practises shall not only bee made frustrate but dangerous to themselves after the chastisement of his servants for their good God will cast the rod into the fire Men may know whether they are vessells of mercy or no by the use they are put to The basest of people are fit enough to be executioners It is a miserable wisedome when men are wise to work their owne ruine Do not many spin a fine thred and weave a faire web when by their turnings and devices they turne themselves into hell What ever wee get by sinne for the present it will one day prove the heaviest businesse that ever wee undertook God is the onely Monarch of the world and makes all things and persons whatsoever service able to his owne end and his Churches good He is higher than the highest Sathan with all his instruments are but slaves to the Almighty executioners of his will Can we think that Gods children who are so neere deare to him shall alwayes bee trampled upon by the powers of darknesse No certainly hee is interessed in all their quarells and takes their injuries as don to himselfe When wee can bee more subtill than the Devill or more strong than God wee may think to thrive against them He is a wall of fire round about
his Church not only to defend and preserve it but to consume all the Adversaries thereof God doth great matters for his servants hee rebukes Kings and Princes and ruinates Empires for their fakes For the bringing home back againe of the Iewes hee translated the Babylonish Empire to the Persians and therefore the wicked must take heed of attempting any thing against Gods Church because the harme thereof will redound upon their owne heads God delights to take the oppressed parties part and serves himselfe of all his enemies for his peoples good They practise against the righteous and he laughes them to scorne Wicked men cannot do Gods children a greater pleasure than to oppose them for by this meanes they help exceedingly to advance them Sathan and all his instruments what get they by their cruelty to the Saints they doe but encrease their own torment and doe them the more good but this is both against their knowledge and wills Therefore if they be loath to doe them any good let them take hee how they attempt any evill against them And here let all such be admonished how they provoke Gods children to cry in their prayers against them For it is better for the wicked that they had all the creatures in heaven earth against them than the poore Saints for a few of these wil more prejudice them than all the world besides Come wee now to the grounds of practise hence to be observed Againe doth God order all for the best to them that love him Let us not then except against any evill that shall befall us for this our present crosse shall turne to our future comfort It is the Saints happinesse That their best is in working still till they be compleat in heaven But the wicked and men of the world their worst is alwayes in contriving their life is bad their death is worse and after death it is worst of all with them God himselfe and all under him work continually for the good of his children their best is last their light groweth on clearer and clearer as the light untill the noone day But the worldly grow worser and worser every moment To them that feare God sinne and sorrow their very worst is by Gods mercies best for them whereas all the best of the wicked by abuse turnes to their worst Observe here the excellencie of the Saints comfort above all other comforts whatsoever The nature of it is this It must be stronger than the grievance of which it is a cordiall And the reason of spirituall comfort must be more forcible than any carnall reason can bee to undermine it Now what stronger consolation can a man have than to be assured that all things without exception shall work together for his good but this is not all What a sweet refreshment is it when the soule can say God will either stop mee from falling into sin outwardly by afflictions or else subdue my corruptions inwardly by his Spirit that I shall not bee overthrown by them hee will never suffer mee to rot in my sinnes but when I do fall will raise me up again It beares up a Christians heart that rather than we shall continue in an evill way God will send some Nathan or other to rouse us out of our security Therefore to all thy comforts adde this That God will not onely save thee at last but turne all things to the best whilest thou art here This is the highest straine of consolation It is farre stronger to refresh and quicken us than any grievance can be to afflict us It maketh evill things in comparison to seeme good As Moses counted the rebukes of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egipt he made more choice of affliction than he did of the worlds glory If God bee with us who can be against us If he be our Shepheard we are sure to lack nothing There is such a force of comfort in salvation that we will rather choose outward evills than to enjoy outward good things Moses by faith seeing that outward affliction and shame were knit to salvation chose these and refused dignity and ease How ought this to stay the soule under all its heavie pressures Why should not I be patient in sicknesse in poverty in dis graces or why should I despaire at the houre of death Am I not under the hand of my God working my good out of every evill It is the subtilty of our arch-enemie to drive us to a stand that we may doubt of our conditions and say with Gideon If the Lord be with mee and that I am his child why is it thus with me How is it that all this sorrow and misery hath befallen mee and lieth so heavie upon my soule But our comfort here is that God who turneth all things to our best is stronger than Sathan Againe considering all things conduce unto our good though in appearance never so opposite this comfort ariseth That if God doe so work this or that then I must beleeve against beliefe I must stand firme against contraries my faith must answer his manner of working and beleeve that God can bring me to honour by shame and to Heaven by Hell gates for if it be his course of dealing first to cast downe and then to lift up by disgrace to bring his servants to glory then in all my extremities I must rest upon God who is never neerer unto his to succour them than when hee seemes to bee furthest off When â—hee meanes to give victory he suffer us to be foiled first and when hee intends to justifie a poore sinner he will condemne him first Let us therefore hope against hope and desire God in our distresses to open our eyes that wee may see our consolations Hagar had a Well by her when she was ready to perish for thrist and yet she saw it not and Elisha's man had Angels to defend him when the Aramites compassed him about but perceived not the same so the Angell of the Lord continually pitcheth his tent about the godly though they are not aware of it yea God is then neerest to us when we are in most straights Cordials are kept for faintings When Christ went to cast the Devill out of a child he then most raged and tare him So likewise Satan and wicked men most rage when they are neerest to their end and destruction In thy greatest danger never rest on thy friends but on the Lord who never standeth neerer and firmer to us than when we are most perplexed and know not what to doe A distressed soule seeth oft no comfort in outward things and therefore retireth unto God in whom it findes whatsoever may make it happy Our strength may faile and our heart may faile but God is our portion for ever When we are weake then wee are strong and when we are most cast downe in our selves we are neerest to Gods helping hand This carriage of the Almighty ought to establish our
wee see in God is this If we doe undrvalue all things else for Christ. Worldly men are ever admiring of the things below accounting such men happy and blessed that abound most therein Therefore there is nothing that doth more truly try a man than this The soul that sees a vanity in the things beneath and can rejoyce in God only as his true riches is in a good condition Where there is a true judgement of God and Religion the soule of that man will never stoop to the creature the soule so rejoyceth in God as that it will not yeeld it selfe to any other Adam and Eve in their innocencie were both naked and were not ashamed one reason might be because their thoughts were taken up with higher matters In heaven we shall not bee ashamed of things wee now are ashamed of A Christian soule is so ravished with the enjoying of God that it mindeth almost nothing but him The second branch in love is a desire to doe all things to the content of the party beloved Our love to God will frame us to the obedience of his will Obedience is the proofe of love If ye love mee saith Christ keepe my commandements If wee love God wee will pray for the enlarging of his Kingdome Where love is kindled in any heart there is a care to bee approved of him whom we so love This makes our obedience generall to all Gods commandements in all places and all things whatsoever It makes us give our inwards to God serving him with the soul and spirit Those therefore that nourish uncleane hearts within them and think it enough to abstaine from the outward act of evill love not the Lord sincerely The Devill himselfe will doe outward things as readily as you hee will confesse Christ to bee the Sonne of God and say Why art thou come to torment me before my time So that if thou dost outwardly only confesse God what dost thou more than the Devill In outward duties without sincerity there is no love You will pray the Devill will doe as much The Devill hath a bad end in good actions so there are many that come to Church make shew of Religion to cloke their evill courses But such poore wretches how ever they are pleased with shaddowes are little better than Satan himselfe Againe if wee be desirous to content him whō wee love then will wee suffer any thing for his sake Therefore the Apostles went away rejoycing and accounted it their glory that they were esteemed worthy to suffer hardship for Christ And David for dancing before the Ark being by Michal mockt saith I wil yet be more vile for my God He cared not for any reproach that could happen to him in a good way Yea this will make us zealous in his truth hee that hath no zeale hath no love If our hearts rise not when God is dishonoured what love have we to him Is Gods glory and the Churches welfare deare to us it is a signe we love him But can we see those things goe backward and have no zeale nor be any thing affected therewith surely then we have no love Againe if wee have a true love to God then have we a desire of union and cōmunion with him we will be much in meditating of him in speaking to him and conferring with him Those therefore that goe on from day to day without private speeches with God or solacing of their soules in him what affection have they to him Love is communicative and what desire of communion can that soule have that lives a stranger to his Maker Can wee say we love one with whom wee never conferre or speak to any purpose Againe if wee love a man we will advise with him especially in matters of moment so if wee love God wee will take counsell of him in his Word for the guidance of our lives and stablishing our consciences If we advise not with God it is a signe that we either think hee doth not regard us or else that we count him not worthy to be counselled by Another signe is To examine what desire wee have to be dissolved and to be with Christ Doe wee love his appearing to judgement and are wee now fit for his comming surely then it is a plaine signe that our love is fixed and set upon him So much as wee doe faile of this desire so much wee faile in love to Christ What was the reason that the people under the Law were so much afraid at the appearing of an Angell unto them was it not this that they were not fitted and prepared for God A man may bee a good Christian and yet not at all times willing to die for as eyes that are sore cannot alwayes endure the light so a soule galled with sinne desires not to heare of the day of jadgement yet ought wee to thirst after it Another signe of this grace is our eager and hungry desire after God when with David we can say Oh God my heart panteth after thee as the Hart panteth after the Brookes of waters When a soule is never at rest til he injoyes his Maker but cryes out still Oh when shall I appeare in his presence it is a good signe The last branch or property is a resting and quieting our selves in the love of God above all things whatsoever saying with David Whom have I in Heaven or in earth besides thee or what doe I esteeme in comparison of thee let me enjoy but the light of thy countenance and it suffices me demand therefore of thine owne heart what the things are that trouble thee most and what is the cause of thy sorrow and disquietments whether it be for losses or crosses outwardly or for want of Gods love and the sense and feeling of his favour inwardly They which grieve chiefly for outward evils are most carried in their affections that wayes but if in the confluence of all worldly blessings wee can grieve for our spirituall wants it is a comfortable evidence When a man reckons not his happinesse to stand in the possession of the creature but in the fruition of the Creator and desires his favour above any thing it is a gratious signe David had an abundance yea he had a Kingdome yet nothing would satisfie him but the mercies of God And when hec was in want what course did he take but stil comforted himselfe in the Lord his God That which a man sorroweth most for when he wanteth it that he rejoyceth most in when he hath it can we in our crosses rejoyce that God is ours This is an excellent signe and plainly discovers that we place our contentation more in him than in any thing else can we delight more in the solace of his favour than in outward prosperity it is a heavenly testimony of a renewed condition When David was in his greatest distresses what desires had he then most in him why