Him in a day of tryall Confession of Him must be made with the mouth as with the heart we must beleeve Ro. 10 9. Let corruption speak against this what it will because it is alwayes desireous to keep the skinne whole yet reason cannot but say that it is equitable especially seing He hath said that whosoever confesseth Him before men He will confesse them before his Father which is in heaven Mat. 10. 32. And that if we suffer with Him we shall also reigne with Him 2 Tim. 2. 12. Is He our Lord and Master and should we not owne and avouch Him Should we be ashamed of him for any thing that can befall us upon that account What Master would not take that ill at his servants hands Hence then we see that there is nothing in all the conditions on which He offereth Himself to us that can give the least ground in reason why a poor soul should draw back and be unwilling to accept of this noble offer or think that the conditions are hard But there is one maine Objection which may trouble some and that is They cannot beleeve faith being the gift of God it must be wrought in them How then can they goe to God for this and make use of Christ for this end that their souls may be wrought up to a beleeving consenting to the bargan and hearty accepting of the offer To this I would say these things 1. It is true that faith is the gift of God Ephes. 2 8. and that it is He alone who worketh in us both to will to do Phil. 1 29 and none cometh to the son but whom the father draweth Iohn 6 44. and it is a great matter and no small advancement to win to the reall faith and through conviction of this our impotency for thereby the soul will be brought to a greater measure of humiliation and of despaireing of salvation in it self which is no small advantage unto a poor soul that would be saved 2. Though faith be not in our power yet it is our duty Our impotency to performe our duty doth not loose our obligation to the duty so that our not beleeving is our sin and for this God may justly condemne us His wrath abideth on all who beleeve not in his Son Jesus and will not accept of the offer of salvation through the crucified mediator And though faith as all other acts of grace be efficiently the work of the Spirit yet it is formally our work we do beleeve but it is the Spirit that worketh faith in us 3. The ordinary way of the Spirit 's working faith in us is by pressing home the duty upon us whereby we are brought to a despairing in ourselves and to a looking out to Him whose grace alone it is that can work it in the soul for that necessary 〈◊〉 and breathing without which the soul will not come 4. Christ Jesus hath purchased this grace of faith to all the elect as other graces necessary to their salvation and it is promised and convenanted to Him that He shal see his seed and shall see of the travell of his soull Esai 53 10 11. and that by the knowledge of him that is the rationall and understanding act of the soul griping to and laying hold upon Him as he is offered in the gospell many shall be justified Ibid. Hence he sayeth that all whom the father hath given to Him shall come unto Him Ioh. 6 37. and the Apostle tels us that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him Ephes. 1 3. 5. Not only hath Christ purchased this grace of faith and all other graces necessary for the salvation of the elect but God hath committed to Him the administration and actuall dispensation and outgiving of all those graces which the redeemed stand in need of Hence He is a Prince exalted to give repentance and forgivenesse of sinns Act. 5 31. all power in heaven and earth is committed unto him Mat. 28 18 19. Hence He is called the author and finisher of faith Heb. 12 v. 2. and He telleth his disciples Iohn 14 13. 14. That whatever they shall ask in his name He will do it He is made Prince and a Saviour having all judgment committed unto him Iohn 5 22. and He is Lord of all Act. 10 36. Rom. 14 9. 6. Hereupon the sinner being convinced of his lost condition through sin and misery of an utter impossibility of helping himself out of that state of death of Christ's alsufficiency and willingnesse to save all that will come to Him and of its owne inability to beleeve or come to Him for life and salvation or to lay hold on and leane to his merites and satisfaction and so despaireing in himself is to look out to Iesus the author of eternall salvation the foundation and chiefe corner stone the author and finisher of faith I say the sinner being thus convinced is thus to look out to Iesus not that that conviction is any proper qualification prerequisite as necessary either to prepare dispose and fit for faith or far lesse to merite any manner of way or bring on faith But because this is Christ's methode to bring a soul to faith by this conviction to the glory of his grace The soul naturally being averse from Christ and utterly unwilling to accept of that way of salvation must be redacted to that straite that it shal see that it must either accept of this offer or die as the whole needeth not a physitian so Christ is come to save only that which is lost and his method is to convince the world of sin in the first place and then of righteousnesse Iohn 16 8 9. 7. This looking out to Iesus for faith comprehendeth those things 1. The Souls acknowledgement of the necessitie of faith to the end it may partake of Christ and of his merites 2. The souls satisfaction with that way of partaking of Christ by a closeing with Him and a resting upon Him by faith 3. A sense and conviction of the unbeleefe and stubbornnesse of the heart or a seeing of its own impotency yea and unwillingnesse to beleeve 4. A persuasion that Christ can overmaster the infidelity wickednesse of the heart and worke up the soul to a willing consent unto the bargane 5. A hope or a half hope to speak so that Christ who is willing to save all poor sinners that come to Him for salvation and hath said that He will put none away in any case that cometh will have pity upon him at length 6. A resolution to lye at his door till he come with life till He quicken till He unite the soul to Himself 7. A lying open to the breathings of his Spirit by guarding against every thing so far as they can that may grieve or provok Him and waiting on Him in all the ordinances He hath appointed for begetting of faith such as reading the scriptures hearing the word conference with godly persons and prayer
parlying too much and too readyly with Satan Eva's practice might be a warning sufficient to us 5. Not living in the sight of their wants and of their dayly necessity of Christ nor acting faith upon Him dayly for the supplying of their wants and when faith is not used it may contract rust and be weakned and come at length not to be discerâ—…ed 6. Intertaining of jealous thoughts of God and harkening too readyly to any thing that foster and increase or confirme these 7. Not delighting themselves in and with pleasure dwelling on the thoughts of Christ of his offices of the gospel and promises so that these come at length to lose their beauty and glory in the soul and have not the lustre that once they had and this doth open a door to much mischiefe 8. In a word not walking with God according to the gospel provoketh the Lord to give them up to themselves for a time We come now to the Third particular which is to show How Chist is life to the poor soul in this case And for the clearing of this consider 1. That Christ is the author and finisher of faith Heb 12 2. and so as He did rebuke unbeleef at the first he can rebuke it againe 2. That He is the great Prophet clearing up the gospel and every thing that is necessary for us to know bringing life and immortality to light by the gospel 2 Tim. 1 11. and so manifesting the lustre and beauty of the gospel 3. He bringeth the promises home to the soul in their reality excellency and truth being the faithful witness and the Amen Revel 3 14. and the confirmer of the promises so that they are all yea and Amen in him 2 Cor. 1 20. And this serveth to establish the soul in the faith and to shoot-out thoughts of unbeleefe 4. So doth He by his Spirit dispel the mists clouds which Satan through unbeleef had raised in the soul. 5. And thereby also rebuketh those mistakes of God and prejudices at Him and his wayes which Satan hath wrought there through corruption 6. He discovereth himself to be a ready help in time of trouble the hope and anchor of salvation Heb. 6 19 and a Priest living for ever to make intercession for poor sinners Heb. 7 25. 7. And hereby he cleareth up to the poor soul a possibility of helpe and reliefe and thus rebuketh dispaire or preventeth it 8. He manifesteth himself to be the maâ—…ow and substance of the gospel and this maketh every line thereof pleasant and beautiful to the soul and so freeth them from the prejudices that they had at it 2. So in manifesting himself in the gospel he revealeth the Father that the soul cometh to the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4 6. and this saveth the soul from atheisme 10. When the soul cannot grippe Him nor look to Him yet He can look to the soul and by his look quicken and revive the soul and warme the heart with love to Him and at length move and incline it sweetly to open to Him And thus grippe and hold fast a lost sheep yea and bring it home againe But what should a soul do in such a case To this which is the Fourth particular to be spoken to I answere 1. They would strive against those evils formerly mentioned which procured or occasioned this distemper a stop should be put to these malignant humors 2. They would be careful to lay againe the foundation of solide knowledge of God and of his glorious truthes revealed in the gospel and labour for the faith of God's truth and veracity for till this be nothing can be right in the soul. 3. They would be throughly convinced of the treacherie deceitfulnesse and wickednesse of their hearts that they may see it is not worthie to be trusted and that they may be jealous of it and not hearken so readyly to it as they have done especially seing Satan can prompt it to speak for his advantage 4. They would remember also that it is divine helpe that can recover them and cause them grippe to the promises and lay hold on them of new againe as well as at the first and that of themselves they can do nothing 5. In useing of the meanes for the recovery of life they would eye Christ and because this eyeing of Christ is faith and their disease lyeth most there they would do as the Israelits did who were stung in the eye with the serpents they looked to the brazen serpent with the wounded and stung eye so would they do with a sickly and almost dead faith grip Him and with an eye almost put out and made blinde look to Him knowing how ready He is to help and what a tender heart He hath 6. And to confirme them in this resolution they would take a new vieu of all the notable encouragements to beleeve wherewith the whole gospel aboundeth 7. And withal fix on Him as the only author and finisher of faith 8. And in a word They would cast a wonderderfully unbeleeving and atheistical soul on Him who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working and is wonderful in mercy and grace and in all his wayes And thus may He at length in his own time and in the way that will most glorify Himself raise up that poor soul out of the grave of infidelity wherein it was stincking and so provâ—… Himself to be indeed the resurrection and the life to the praise of the glory of his grace We come now to speak to another case which is CHAP. XXV How Christ is to be made use of as the life by one that is so dead and senselesse as he cannot know what to judge of himself or his own case except that it is naught WE spoke something to this very case upon the matter when we spoke of Christ as the Truth Yet we shall speak alittle to it here but shall not enlarge particulars formerly mentioned and therefore we shall speak alittle to those five particulars and so 1. Shew what this distemper is 2. Shew whence it proceedeth and how the soul cometh to fall into it 3. Shew how Christ as the life bringeth about a recovery out of it 4. Shew how the soul is to be exercised that it may obtaine a recovery and 5. Answere some Questions or Objections As to the first Beleevers many times may be so dead as not only not to see and know that they have an interest in Christ and to be uncertaine what to judge of themselvs but also be so carried away with prejudices and mistakes as that they will judge no otherwayes of themselves than that their case is naught yea and not only will'deny or mis-call the good that God hath wrought in them by his Spirit but also reason themselves to be out of the state of grace and a stranger to faith and to the workings of the Spirit and hereupon will come to call
To teach them to walk more circumspectly afterward and to guaird more watchfully against Satans temptations and to imploy Christ more as their Strength Light and Guide 5. To cause them see their great obligation to Jesus Christ for delivering them from that state of wrath wherein they were by nature as well as others and would have lyen-in to all eternity had not He redeemed them 6. To exercise their Faith Patience and Hope to see if in hope they will beleeve against hope and lay hold on the strength of the Lord that they may make peace with him Esai 27 5. 7. To give a fresh proof of his wonderful Mercy Grace Love and Compassion upholding the soul in the meane time at length pardoning them and speaking peace to their souls through the blood of Jesus But as to the third particular We may look on Christ as the Life to the soul in this case upon those accounts 1. He hath satisfied justice and so hath borne the pure wrath of God due for their sinnes He hath troden the winepresse alone Esai 63 3. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our sins Esai 53 5 10. And therefore they drink not of this cup which would make them drunk and to stagger and fall and never rise againe 2. Yea He hath procured that mercy and love shall accompany all those sharpe dispensations and that they shall flow from mercy yea and that they shall be as a covenanted blessing promised in he covenant Psal. 89 30 31 32 33. 3. And sometimes He is pleased to let them see this clear difference betwixt the strokes they lye under and the judgments of pure wrath which attend the wicked and this supporteth the soul for then he seeth that those dispensations how sharpe so ever they be shall work together for good to him and come from the hand of a gracious and loving Father reconciled in the blood of Christ. 4. He is a Prince exalted to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel Act. 5 31. Yea He hath procured such a clause in the covenant which is wel ordered in all things and sure that upon their renewing of faith and repentance their after sin shall be pardoned and besides the promises of faith and repentance in the covenant His being â—… Prince exalted to give both giveth assurance oâ—… their receiving of both 5. He cleareth to them their interest in the Covenant and their right to the promises of the Covenant and through their closeing with Christ bâ—… faith He raiseth up their heart in hope causeâ—… them to exspect an outgate even remission of theâ—… sins and turning a way of the displeasure in due timâ—… through Him and this is a great part of their life 6. Being the author and finisher of faith 〈◊〉 â—… Prince to give repentance He by His Spirit worketh up the soul to a renewing of its grips oâ—… Himself by faith and to a â—…uning to the death and blood of Christ for pardon and washing and worketh godly sorrow in the heart whereupon followeth Pardon according to the gospel constitution though the beleever as yet perceiveth it not And sin being pardoned before God conforme to the tenor of the covenant of grace the man is a living man whatever feares of death he may be keeped under for a time 7. He helpeth also the soul to a justifying of God and to a holy submissive frame of Spirit under that dispensation so that they are willing to beare the indignation of the Lord because they have sinned against Him Micah 7 9. and to waite for an outgate in God's own time and to kisse the rod and accept of the punishment of their sin 8. When He seeth it fit for his own glory and their advantage He speaketh peace at length to the soul and sayeth Son or daughter be of good cheer thy sinnes are forgiven thee And then is the soul restored to life As to the fourth particular The soul that is wreastling with an angry God for sin and would make use of Christ as the life would do those things 1. He would look to Christ as standing under God's curse in our room and as satisfying justice for all the elect and for all their sinnes 2. He would eye the covenant wherein new pardon is promised upon the renewing of faith and repentance 3. He would eye Christ as the great Lord dispensator of both Faith and Repentance and hing on Him for both and thus beleeve that he may beleeve and repent or lay his soul open to Him that He may work in him both Repentance and Faith 4. He would flee to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than the blood of Abel that he may be washen and sprinkled with hysope as David did Psal. 51 7. 5. He would eye Christ as a prince to pardon and give remission of sins and as exalted for this end and would fix his eye upon Him as now exalted in glory for this end 6. He would close with Christ of new as his only alsufficient mediator and having done this and repented of his sins whereby God hath been provoked he would conclude through faith that a pardon is past in the court of heaven conforme to the tenor of the gospel and waite on Christ until the intimation come As for the cautions which I promised to speak to in the last place take those few 1. Do not conclude there is no pardon because there is no intimation thereof made to thy soul as yet According to the dispensation of grace condescended upon in the gospel pardon is had immediatly upon a souls beleeving and repenting But the intimation sense and feeling of pardon is a distinct thing and may for several ends be long â—…eeped-up from the soul Sure they go not alwayes together 2. Do not conclude there is no pardon because the rode that was inflicted for sin is not as yet taken off God pardoned Davids sin and did intimate the same to Him by Nathan and yet the sword did not depart from his house till he died God can forgive and yet take vengeance on their in venâ—…ions Psal. 99 8. 3. Do not upon this ground question God's Faithfulnesse or conclude that God's covenant doth not stand fast He is the same and the covenant abideth fast and firme but the change is in thee 4. Do not think that because thou hast once received Christ that therefore without any new act of faith on Him or of repentance towards God thou should immediatly be pardoned of thy sinnes as soon as they are committed for the gospel methode must be followed and it should satisfie us CHAP. XXVIII No man cometh to the Father but by me THis being added for furder confirmation of what was formerly said will pointe out unto us several necessary truthes as First That it is most necessary to be sound and cleare in this fundamental point of coming to God only in and through Christ for 1. It is the whole
Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life OR A Short Discourse Pointing forth the way of making use of Christ for justification and especially and more particularly for Sanctification in all its parts from JOHAN XIV Vers. VI. Wherein several cases of conscience are briefly answered chiefly touching Sanctification By JOHN BROWN Preacher of the Gospel ROTTERDAM Printed by H. G. for Iohn Cairns book seller in Edinburgh and are to be sold there 1677. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY TO The Right Honourable and Religious Lady The Lady STRATHNAVER MADAM IEsus Christ himself being the cheife corner stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord as it ought to be the principal concearne of all who have not sitten down on this side of Iordan to satisfy their souls once created for and in their owne nature requireing in order to satifaction Spiritual immortal and incorruptible substance with husks prepared for beasts to be built in and upon this corner stone for an habitation of God through the Spirit So it ought to be the maine designe and work of such as would be approven of God as faithful labourers and co-workers with God to be following the example of him who determined not to know any thing among those he wrote unto save Iesus Christ and him crucified O! this noble heart-ravishing soul-satisfying mysterious theme Iesus Christ crucified the short compend of that uncontrovertibly great mysterie of godliness God manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles beleeved on in the world received up into glory wherein are things the Angels desire to look into or with vehement desire bend as it were their necks and bow down their heads to look and peep into as the word used 1 Pet. 1 12. importeth is a Subject for angelical heads to prie into for the most indefatigable industrious Spirits to be occupyed about The searching into and studying of this one Truth in reference to a closeing with it as our life is an infallible mark of a soul divinely enlightened and endued with spiritual and heavenly wisdom for though it be unto the jewes a stumbling block unto the Greeks foolishness yet unto them who are called it is Christ the power of God the wisdom of God because the foolishness of God is wiser then men the weakness of God is stronger then men O! what depths of the manifold wisdom of God are there in this mysterie The more it is preached known beleeved aright the more is it understood to be beyond understanding to be what it is a mysterie Did ever any Preacher or beleever get a broad look of this boundless ocean wherein infinite Wisdom Love that passeth all understanding Grace without all dimensions justice that is admirable and tremenduous and God in his glorious Properties Condescensions high and noble Designes and in all his Perfections and Vertues flow over all banks or were they ever admitted to a prospect hereof in the face of Iesus Christ were not made to cry out O the depth and height the breadth and length O the inconceivable and incomprehensible boundlesness of all infinitly transcendent perfections Did ever any with serious diligence as knowing their life lay in it study this mysterious Theme and were not in full conviction of soul made to say the more they promoved in this study and the more they descended in their diveings into this depth or soared upward in their mounting speculations in this height they found it the more an unsearchable mystery The study of other Themes which Alas many who think it below them to be happy are too much occupyed in when it hath wasted the spirits wearyed the minde worne the body and rarified the braine to the next degree unto a distraction what satisfaction can it give as to what is attained or encouragement as to future attainments And when as to both these something is had and the poor soul puft up with an aery and fancyful apprehension of having obtained some great thing but in truth a great Nothing or a Nothing pregnant with Vanity and vexation of Spirit foolish twines causing no gladness to the Father for he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow Eccles. 1 18. what peace can all yeeld to a soul reflecting on posting-away time now near the last point and looking forward to endless Eternity Oh! the thoughts of time wasted with and faire opportunities of good lost by the vehement pursueings and huntings after shadowes and vanities will torment the soul by assaulting it with pierceing convictions of madness and folly in forsaking All to overtake Nothing with dreadful and soul-terrifying discoveries of the saddest of disappointments and with the horrour of an everlastingly irrecoverable losse And what hath the laborious Spirit than reaped of all the travail of his soul when he hath lost it But on the other hand O with what calmness of minde serenity of soul and peace of conscience because of the peace of God which passeth all understanding will that poor soul look back when standing on the border of Eternity on the bygone dayes oâ—… houres it spent in sâ—…eking after praying â—…seing all appointed meanes for some saying acquantance with and interest in this only soul up making and soul satisfying Mystery and upon its yeelding up it self through the efficaâ—…ious operations of the Spirit of grace wholly without disputing unto the powerful workings of this mystery within and in becoming crucified with Christ and living throughâ—… crucified Christ's living in it by his Spirit and power and with what rejoyceing of heart and gloriou singing of soul will it look forward to Eternity and its everlasting abode in the prepared mansions remembering that there it s begun study will be everlastingly continued its capacity to understand that unsearchable mystery will be inconceivably greater and the spiritual heavenly and glorious joy which it will have in that practical reading its divinity without book of ordinances will be its life and felicity for ever And what peace joy in the holy Ghost what inward and inexpressible quiet and contentment of minde will the soul enjoy in dwelling on these thoughts when it shall have withall the inward and well grounded perswasion of its right through Jesus Christ to the full possession of that All which now it cannot conceive let be comprehend the foretastes whereof filleth it with joy unspeakable and full of glory and the hope of shortly landing there where it shall see and enjoy wonder praise and rest in this endless and restless felicitating work making it to sing while passing thorow the valley of the shadow of death O if this were beleeved O that we were not drunk to a distraction and madness with the adulterous love of vaine and aery speculations to the postponing if not utter neglecting of this maine and only upmaking work of getting real acquaintance with and a begun possession of this
themselves of their own weakness and convinced of the insufficiency of all things vvithin them in Godly fear hide themselves under the wings of the Almighty and get in into this Strong hold resolving there to abide and there to be secured from all their Adversaries vvithin or vvithout These humble fearers may expect a saife noble outgate vvhen more strong-like more confident adventurers shall being left to themselves because trusting in themselves shamefully fall and be triumphed over by the Enemie to the griefe of the Godly and for a snare to others The best vvay then to keep the faith of Christ vvhich many are novv seeking to shake and to loose us from is to be exerciseing the faith of Christ. The serious and upright practiseing of the Gospel is the only best mean to keep thee firme in the profession of the Gospel vvhen the Gospel vvith thee is not a fevv fine notions in the braine but is heavenly and necessary Truth sunck into the heart and living and acting there it vvill keep thee and thou will owne it more firmly and steadfastly in a day of tryal Thy walking in Christ and working and living by Him living in thee will so root thee in the Gospel truth that enemies will pull in vaine when seeking to overthrow thee The Gospel of the grace of God received and entertained in thy soul in love and constant sutable improvement will fortifie thee and secure it self in thee so that vehement blasts shall but contribute to its more fixed abode and more fruteful actings in thee Live up then to the Gospel and so be sure of it and be saife in it I mean let Christ live in thee as thy all and cast all thy care and cumber on Him lay all thy difficulties before Him lean all thy weight upon Him draw all thy necessities out of Him undertake all thy duties in Him be strong in Him and in the power of His might let Him by thy Counseler Conductor Leader Teacher Captain Commander Light Life Strengh and all so shall thou stand and have cause to glory even in thy infirmities for thou shalt finde the power of Christ resting upon thee and thou shalt have cause to say Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake for when I am weak then am I strong Remember that great word Phil. 4 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me It hath bin the usual and ordinary question of Beleevers How shall we make use of Christ for Sanctification To this great and important question I though the meanest and most unfit for such a work of all that God hath sent to feed his flock have adventured or endeavoured at least to give such as truely desire to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God some satisfation herein laying before them some plaine directions framed to their capacities and suited to some of their most ordinary and usual cases some whereof are more comprehensive others more particular may be looked upon as exemplary instances serving for other cases of the like nature for hardly could every particular circumstanâ—…iat case be particularly spoken to and some might judge that to be superfluous If thou in the light strength of Christ shalt really practise what is here pointed forth I may be confident to say thy labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord thou shalt attaine to another sort of holiness than that which Proud pretenders boast of shalt be far without the reach of that snare which unstable souls are too readily entangled with I meane the plausible pretension of more than ordinary sanctity which yet is but forced feigned constrained mostly external framed to cause some admiration in beholders whom they intend to make a prey of This shall be no temptation to thee who by experience findeth a more saife satisfying full free easy pleasant heartsome way of mortifying lusts growing in grace in the knowledg of Jesus Christ so perfecting holiness by runing immediatly to Christ by living in upon Him who is mad of God to us Wisdom Righteousnes Sanctification Redemption That the Lord may blesse the same to thee for this end shall â—…e and is the desire and prayer of Him who is thy servant in the work of the Gospel I. B. CHRIST The Way the Truth the Life Or A discovery of the right way of making use of Christ for Sanctification From IOHN XIV 6. Iesus sayeth unto them I am the Way the Truth the Life No man cometh unto the Father but by Me. CHAP. I. The introduction with some generall observations from the cohesion DOubtlesse it is alwayes usefull yea necessary for the children of God to know the right way of making use of Christ who is made all things to them which they need even Wisdome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1 30. But it is never more necessarie for beleevers to be cleare distinct in this matter than when Satan by all meanes is seeking to pervert the right wayes of the Lord and one way or other to lead souls away and draw them of Christ knowing that if he prevail here he hath gained his poynt and therefore he endeavoureth not only to darken it by error either more grosse or more subtile but also to darken it by mistakes and prejudices whence it cometh to passe that not only Strangers are made to wander out of the way but oftentimes many of his owne people are walking in the darknesse of ignorance and mistakes and remaine leane through want of the reall exercise of the Life of faith which would make them fat flourishing because it would make them strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and to grow up in Christ in all things The clearing up then of this truth cannot but be most seasonable now when Satan is prevailing with many whom he cannot get tempted to loosenesse and profanitie to sit downe upon some thing which is not Christ and to rest upon something within themselves distinct from him both in the matter of Iustification and Sanctification This subtile Adversary is now setting some a work to cry up by preaching speaking and printing a way to heaven which is not Christ a kinde of morality civility and outward holinesse whereupon the soul is to rest and this holinesse not wrought and effectuated through the strength of Iesus by faith sucking life and furniture from him but through our owne art and skill which in effect is nothing but an extract of refined Popery Socinianisme and Arminianisme devised and broached of purpose to draw the soul off Christ that he may stand upon his owne legs and walk by his owne power and thank himself at least in part for the crown at length Further through the great goodnesse of God the true way of a soul's justification
c. 8. A waiting with patience on Him who never said to the house of Iacob seek me in vaine Esai 45 19. still crying and looking to Him who hath commanded the ends of the earth to look to him and waiting for him who waiteth to be gracious Esai 30 18. remembering that they are all blessed that waite for him Ibid. and that there is much good prepared for them that waite for Him Esai 64 4. 8. The sinner would essay this beleeving and closeing with Christ and set about it as he can seriously heartily willingly yea and resolutely over the belly of much opposition and many discouragements looking to Him who must helpe yea and worke the whole work for God worketh in and with Man as a rationall creature The soul then would set the willingnesse it findeth on work waite for more and as the Lord is pleased to commend by his Spirit the way of grace more unto the soul and to warme the heart with love to it and a desire after it strick the yron while it is hote and looking to Him for help gripe to Christ in the covenant and so set to its seal though with a tembling hand and subscribe its name though with fear and much doubting remembring that He who worketh to will must work the deed also Phil. 2 13. and He that beginneth a good work will perfect it Phil. 1 6. 9. The soul essaying thus to beleeve in Christ's strength and to creep when it can not walk or run would hold fast what it hath attained and resolve never to recall any consent or half consent it hath given to the bargane but still look forward hold on wreastle against unbeleefe and unwillingnesse intertaine every good motion of the Spirit for this end and never admit of any thing that may quench its longings desires or exspectation Nay 10. If the sinner be come this length that with the bit willingnesse he hath he consenteth to the bargane is not satisfied with any thing in himself that draweth back or consenteth not with the little skill or strength he hath is writing downe his name and saying even so I take Him and is holding at this peremptorily resolving never to goe bake or unsay what he hath said but on the contrare is firmly purposed to adhere as he groweth in strength to grippe more firmly and adhere to Him he may conclude that the bargan is closed already and that he hath faith already for here ther is an accepting of Christ on his owne tearmes a reall consenting unto the covenant of grace though weak and not so discernable as the soul would wish The soul dar not say but it loveth the bargane and is satisfied with it and longeth for it and desireth nothing more than that it might partake thereof and enjoy Him whom it loveth hungereth for panteth after or breatheth as it is able that it may live in Him be saved through Him But Some will say If I had any evidence of God's approbation of this act of my soul any testimony of his Spirit I could then with confidence say that I had beleeved accepted of the covenant and of Christ offered therein but so long as I perceive nothing of this how can I suppose that any motion of this kinde in my soul is real faith For answere 1. We would know that our beleeving and God's sealing to our sense are two distinct acts and separable and oft separated our beleeving is one thing and God's sealing with the holy Spirit of promise to our sense is another thing and this followeth though not inseparably the other Eph. 1 13. In whom also after that yee beleeved yee were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise And so 2. We would know that Many a man may beleeve yet not know that he doth beleeve He may set to his seal that God is true in his offer of life through Iesus and accept of that offer as a truth and close with it and yet live under darknesse doubtings of his faith long many aday partly through not discerning the true nature of faith partly through the great sense and feeling of his owne corruption and unbeleefe partly through a mistake of the operations of the spirit within or the want of a clear distinct uptaking of the motions of his owne soul Partly because he findeth so much doubting and feare as if there could be no faith where there were doubting or fear contrare to Mark 9 24. Mat. 8 26. 14 31. Partly because he hath not that perswasion that others have had as if there were not various degrees of faith as there is of other graces the like Therefore 3. We would know that many may really beleeve and yet misse this sensible sealing of the Spirit which they would be at God may think it not yet seasonable to grant them that lest they forget themselves and become too proud and to traine them up more to the life of faith whereby He may be glorified and for other holy ends He may suspend the giving of this for a time 4. Yet we would know that all that beleeve have the seal within them 1. Iohn 5 10. He that beleeveth on the Son of God hath the witnesse in himself that is He hath that which really is a seal though he see it not nor perceive it not even the work of God's spirit in his soul inclining and determineing him unto the accepting of this bargan to a likeing of endeavouring after holinesse and the whole gospel clearing up what faith is is a seal confirmation of the businesse So that the matter is sealed and confirmed by the word though the soul want those sensible breathings of the Spirit sheding abroad his love in the heart and filling the soul with a full assurance by hushing all doubts and feares to the door yea though they should be a stranger unto the Spirits witnessing thus with their spirits that they are the children of God and clearning up distinctly the reall wotâ—… of grace within their soul and so saying in effect that they have in truth beleeved But enough of this seing all this and much more is abundantly held forth and explained inthat excellent usefull treatise of Mr. Guthries intituled The Christians great interest CHAP. V. How Christ is to be made use of as the VVay for Sanctification in generall HAving shown how a poor soul lying under the burden of sin wrath is to make use of Iesus Christ for righteousnesse justification and so to make use of Him goe out to Him and apply Him as He is made of God to us righteousnesse 1. Cor. 1 v. 30. and that but briefly this whole great businesse being more fully and satisfactoryly handled in thâ—…t fore mentioned great though small Treatise vix The Christians great Interest We shall now come and show how a beleever or a justified soul shall furder make use of Christ for Sanctification
this being a particular about which they are ofttimes much exercised and perplexed That we may therefore in some weak measure through the helpe of His light and grace propose some things to cleare up this great and necessary truth we shall first speak a little to it in the generall and then come to cleare up the matter more particularly Before we speak of the matter in generall it would be remembered first That the person who only is in case to make use of Christ for Sanctification is one that hath made use of Him already for Righteousnesse justification for one who is a stranger to Christ and is living in nature hath no accesse to Christ for sanctification He must be a beleever and within the covenant ere he can make use of the grounds of sanctification laid down in the covenant One must first be united to Christ and justified by faith in Him before he can draw any vertue from Him for perfecting holinesse He must first be in Him before he can grow up in Him or bring forth fruit in Him And therefore the first thing that souls would goe about should be to get an union made up with Christ and be cloathed with his righteousnesse by faith and then they have a right to all his benefites first they should labour to get their state changed from enmity to peace reconciliation with God through faith in Jesus Yet next it would be observed That when it is said that one must be a beleever before he can go to Christ make use of Him for holinesse sanctification it is not so understood or said That one must know that indeed he is justified by faith before he can make any use of Christ for sanctification One may be justified and a beleever yea and growing in grace through Iesus Christ and so actually improving the grounds of sanctification and making use of Christ for this end and allowed thereunto and yet win to no certainty oâ—… his union with Christ of his justification through faith in Him noâ—… of his faith But thirdly if it be said How can a soul with confidence approach to Christ for usemaking of Him in reference to sanctification that is still doubting of his state and regeneration I answere It is true a clear fight of our interest in Christ by faith would be a great encouragement to our confident approaching to and usemaking of Him in all things and this consideration should moâ—…e all to a more earnest search study of the marks evidences of their Interest a good help whereunto they will finde in the forementioned book I shall only say this here That if the soul have an earnest desire tâ—… be sanctified wholly and to have on the image of God that he may glorifie Him and panteth after holinesse as for life that he may look like Him who is holy maketh this his work and study sorrowing at nothing more than at his short coming crying out and longing for the day when he shall be delivered from a body of death and have the old man wholly crucified he needeth not question his interest in Christ warrant to make use of Him for every part of sanctification for this longing desire after conformity to Gods law and panting after this spiritual life to the end God may be exalted Christ glorified otherâ—… edified will not be readyly found in one that 〈◊〉 yet in nature It is true I grant some who designe to establish their owne righteousnesse and to be justified by their owne works inherent holinesse may wish that they might be more holy and lesse guilty and for some other corrupt ends they may desire to be free of the power of some lust which they finde noxious troublsome and yeâ—… retaine with love and desire some other beloved lusts and so have a heart still cleaving to the heart of some detestable thing or other But gracious souls as they have respect to all the commands of God so they have not that designe of being justified before God by their works nor do they study mortification or sanctification for any such end nay they no sooner discover any by as of their false deceitfull hearts unto any such end but as soon they disowne it and abhore it So that hence believers may get some discovery of the reality of their faith and interest in Christ and of their warrand yea duty to make use of Christ for sanctification Tâ—…s premised we come to speak some thing in the generall of beleevers usemaking of Christ as made of God to us Sanctification and for this end we shall only speak a little to two things first we shall show upon what account it is that Christ is called our sanctification or made of God to us sanctification as the Apostle's phrase is 1. Cor. 1 30. or what Christ hath done as Mediator to beginne carry on to perfection the work of sanctification in the soul. And secondly How the soul is to demeane it self in this matter or how the soul is to make use of improve what Christ hath done for this end that it may grow in grace and perfect holinesse in the fear of God As to the first we would know that though the work of sanctification be formally ours yet it is wrought by another hand as the principal efficient cause even by the Father Son and Holy Ghost The Father is said to purge the branches that they may bring forth more fruit Iohn 15 1. 2. hence we are said to be sanctified by God the Father Iud. vers 1. The Son is also called the sanctifier Heb. 2 21. He sanctifieth cleanseth the Church with the washing of water by the word Ephes. 5. â—…6 The Spirit is also said to sanctifie 2. Thes 2 13. 1 Pet. 1 2. Rom. 15 16. Hence we are said to be washed sanctified by the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 6 11. But more particularly we are said to be sanctified in Christ. 1. Cor. 1. 2. and He is made of God to us sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30. let us then see in what sense this may be true and 1 He hath by his death blood procuâ—… that this work of sanctification shall be wrought carryed on for he suffered without the gate that He might Sanctifie the people with his owne blood Heb. 13 12. we are saved by the washing of regeneration renewing of the holy ghost which He shed on us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour Tit. 3 5 6. He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2 14. Thus our sanctification is the fruit of his death purchased by his bloodâ—… He gave himself for his church that he might sanctifie it Ephes. 5 25 26. â—… He dying as a cautioner publick person beleevers are accounted in law to be dead to sin in Him Hence the Apostle tells us Rom. 6 3 4
further confirme the hope and faith of the beleever to look to Christ hinging on the crosse and there vanquishing and evercomeing this 〈◊〉 as a publick person representing the elect who died in him and virtually and legally did in him overcome that Jailour and break his fetters and the soul now beleeving may yea should reckon it self in Christ dying as it were upon the crosse and there overcomeing all those spirituall enemies likewise sayeth the Apostle Rom. 6 11. Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin From hence even while fighting the beleever may account himself a conquerour yea more then a conquerour through Him that loved him Rom. 8 37. Now faith acting thus on Christ as a publick person dying and overcomeing death and sin the beleever may not only inferte the certainty of victory knowing that our old man is crucified with Christ Rom 6 6. but also from the crosse of Christ draw strength to stand fight against the struglings of this vanquished and killed enemy They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections lusts Gal. 5 24. But how even by the crosse of Christ for thereby is the world crucified unto me sayeth the Apostle Gal. 6 14. I unto the world your old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed Rom. 6 6. 13. The beleever being dead indeed unto sin through the crosse of Christ is to look upon himself as legally freed from that yock of bondage under sin death The law hath dominion over a man so long as he liveth Rom. 7 1. but by the body of Christ beleevers are become dead to the law vers â—… That law of sin death which hath dominion over a man that liveth still in nature and is not yet by faiâ—…h planted in the likenesse of Christs death noâ—… buryed with him by baptisme into death Rom. 6 4 5. hath not that dominion over beleevers it had once for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made them free from the law of sin death Rom. 8 2. So that now the beleever is free from that tyranny and that tyrant can exerce no lawfull jurisdiction or authority over him and therefore he may with the greater courage repell the insolencies of that tyrant that contrare to all right and equity seeketh to Lord it over him still They are no lawfull subjects to that cruell and rageing Prince or to that spirituall wickednesse 14. So that the beleever renunceing that jurisdiction under which he was formerly and being under a new husband and under a new law even the law of the Spirit of liâ—…e in Christ Iesus is to look upon all the motions of sin as illegall and as treasonable acts of a tyrant The old man being crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed the beleever is not any more to serve sin Rom. 6 6. And being now dead they are freed from sin vers 7. and are married to another even to Him who is raised from the dead so they should not serve sin but bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7 4. therefore look upon all motions of the flesh and all the inclinations and stirrings of the old law of sin as acts of treachery and rebellion against the right and jurisdiction of the beleevers new Lord Husband and are therefore obliged to lay hold on this old man this body of death and all the members of it as traitours to the rightfull King Husband and to take them prisoners to the King that He may give out sentence and execute the same against them as enemies to his kingdome and interest in the soul They being now no more servants of sin but of righteousnesse Rom. 6 18. they ought no more to yeeld their members servants to uncleannesse iniquity unâ—…o iniquity vers 19. and being debters no more to the flesh to live after the flesh Rom. 8 12. they are to mortifie the deeds of the body through the Spirit vers 13. and to crucify the flesh with the affections lusts Gal. 5 24. that is by bringing them to the crosse of Christ where first they were condemned and crucified in their full body and power that a new sentence as it were may goe out against them as parts of that condemned Tyrant and as belonging to that crucified body 15. So that the beleever that would carry faithfully in this matter and fight lawfully in this warfare and hope to obtaine the victory through Jesus Christ must bring these Traitours that appeare in their sinfull motions and lusts in the soul working rebellion against the lust authority and equitable lawes of the lawfull Prince Iesus before the tribunal of Him who hath now gote all power and authority in heaven and earth Mat. 28 18. and hath all judgment committed to Him Ioh. 5 22. And to this end both died and rose revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Rom. 14 9. that He may execute justice upon the Tâ—…aitor head and members that He may trâ—…mple these devils under and bruise the head of these serpents within us The beleever then is by faith in prayer to carry these open enemies to Christ and declare and witnesse against them as Traitours by what mischief they have done in the soul by their hindering the righteous lawes of the king to be obeyed and constraining forceing what by arguments or allurements and what by forceable inclinations and pousings to disobedience and a counteracting of Christ and he should urge and plead upon the fundamentall lawes of the land viz the articles of agreement betwixt the Father and the Son and the faithfull promises of the Covenant of grace and upon Christs office as King and Governour and his undertaking as Mediator upon the merites of his death and sufferings upon his dying as a common person upon the constitution of the gospell whereby they are in law repute as dying in him and so free from the law of sin and death and upon their relation to Him as their new Lord Head Husband King Commander c. Upon these arguments I say to plead for justice against the rebell that is now brought to the barre and so by faith leave the prisoner in His hand that He may in his own time and way give a second blow unto the neck of this implacable and rageing enemy that he may noâ—… rise up to disturbe the peace of the soul as before or to trouble impede and molest the soul in paying the homage and obedience due to his lawfull Master and Soveraigne King Jesus Cautions Directions For furder clearing of the premises I would propose a few particulars for caution direction as 1. This work of laying the burthen of this businesse on Christ by faith would be gone about with much singlenesse of heart aimeing at the glory of God and the carying on of his work in the soul and not for
the body of death The objecter would consider that having subjected his consent to Christ he is delivered really from that naturall state of bondage under sin as a lawfull Lord how be it the 〈◊〉 now wanting a tittle is making 〈◊〉 vâ—…sions to trouble the peace and quiet of the soul. Fourthly It may be said But what can then in the meane time keep up the heart of a poor soul from siâ—…king Answer Severall things if rightly considered might helpe to support the soul in this â—…ase as 1. That they are helped to wreastle against this body of death in all the members of it so soon as they discover themselves were it their right eye and right hand 2. That those lusts gaine not ground upon them or if they do seem to gaine ground yet they attaine not to a full dominion not 〈◊〉 their consent 3. That God is faithfull and therefore the promised victory shall be had in due time and Satans head shall certanely be bruised 4. That the wreastling soul is about his duty carrying as a good souldier of Jesus Christ fighting the battels of the Lord and waiting on Him in faith and hope But further Fiftly some may say If I were keeped from yeelding my wrestling and standing would yeeld me some comfort but when lust so stirreth as that it conceiveth and bringeth forth sin Iames 1 15. what can support or comfort me then Answer 1. Corruption can not stirre in us but therein we sinne for the very first rise the motus primo-primi as they are called are sinfull being contrare to the holy law of God and the very inbeeing of that Old man is our sin for it is sinfull and rebellious against God yea it is very enmity rebellion it self when Satan cometh with a temptation from without he findeth alwayes much in us to intertaine the temptation So that the very stirring of corruption which is occasioned by the temptation from without is ouâ—… guilt 2. It is true it is our duty â—…o set against the first riseings and motions of corruption when it first enticeth before it hath conceived of brought forth sin and it will argue grace in life and in action to be able to hinder the motions of lust so farr that it shall not conceive and bring forth sin Yet we may not say that there is no grace in the soul or no measure of Mortification attained where lust sometimes not only enticeth but conceiveth and bringeth forth sin The sad experience of many of God's worthies registrated in the word cleareth this abundantly We must not say Such an one is fallen Therefore he is dead Paul reasoneth otherwayes Rom. 7. 3. Yet even then when lust conceiveth and bringeth forth sin this may comfort and bear up the heart of a poor beleever 1. That though corruption prevail so farr as to bear down all opposition run downe all that standeth in its way yet it getteth not the full consent of the soul there is still a party for God in the soul that opposeth so farr as to protest against it or at least to dissent from it and not to will that which yet is done and positively to will that which cannot be gotten effectuated 2. And farther this may bear up the poor soul that there is a party within which though for a time dureing the violent overruning of corruption can do little more than sigh groan in a corner yet is waiting longing for an opportunity when it may appear more for God and against that wicked usurper 3. So also this may comfort the pooâ—… soul that as it perceiveth corruption stirring and the old man moving one member oâ—… other it runeth away to the king and when it is not able to apprehend the Treator take him captive to the court of justice doth there discover the Taitour and tell the king that there is such or such a traitouâ—… acting such and such rebellion against Him and his lawes and compleâ—… and sâ—…k help to take the rebell prisoner and bring him bound hand and foot to the King that He may give out sentence against him that is when he can do no more against that rageing enemie maketh his complaint to the Lord lyeth before Him â—…ghing groaning for help strength to withstand and oppose more this enemy Lastly some may yet Object say if it were not worse with me than it is with others I could then be satisfied but I see some mightily prevailing over corruption and I am still at under and can get no victory and can I choose but be sad at this I Answere 1. Dost thou know for a certanâ—…ty that those persons whose condition thou judgest happy are altogether free of the inward stirrings of those lusts that thou art brought under by Or dost thou know for a certainty that they are not under the power of some other corruption as thou thinkest thy self under the power of that corruption whereof thou compleanest What knowest thou then but they may be as much complaining on other accounts as thou dost on that 2. But be it so as thou supposeth that thereis a difference betwixt thy condition and the condition of others knowest thou not that all the members of the body are not alike great and strong as not being equally to be imployed in works requireing strength Are there not some young strong men in Christs family some that are but babeâ—… May not a Captane send some of his souldiers to one post where they shall possibly not see the enemy all the day long and some others to another post where they shall have no rest all the day And why I pray may not God dispose of his souldiers as He will He knoweth what He is doing It is not saife that every one of the souldiers know what are the designes of the Commander or Generall noâ—… is it alwayes fit for us to know or to enquire what may be the designes of God with us and what He may be about to do He may intend to imploy one in greater works than another and so exercise them otherwayes for that warfare and work It may suffice that the prevailing of others may encourage thee to hope that at last thy strong corruptions shall also fall by the hand of the same grace of God 3. If thy sadnesse â—…avoure not of envy fâ—…etting thou should blesse Him that hereby thou art put to the exercise of spirituall sorrow 4. It is well of this bring thee to blesse God for the successe of others because hereby his grace is glorified 1 Cor. 12 26. Therefore 5. Let this satisfie us that He is the Lord who doth what He will in heaven and in earth and may dispose of us as He will and make of us what He will for his owne glory And that we are to minde our duty and be faithfull at our post standing and fighting in the strength of the Lord resolving never to comply with the enemy and
out hope and exspectation in God alone and to look above the ordinances for our help 4. Albeit it be true that the power and grace of God alone doth beginne and carry on this work of sanctification in the soul yet though he might did He but see it for his glory carry on and finish this work in the soâ—…l without the intervention of second causes or meanes he hath notwithstanding thought it fit forth â—… glory of his name to worke this work by meanes and particulary by beleevers setting about the work He worketh not in man as if he were a block or a stone but useth him as a rationall creature endued with a rationall soul having useful and necessary facultyes and having a body fitted by organs to be â—…ubservient to the soul in its actions Therefore the beleever must not think to lye by and do nothing for he is commanded to worke out his owne salvation and that because it is God that worketh in him both to will and to do Because God worketh all therefore he should worke so reasoneth the Apostle so that God's working is an argument and motive to man to worke and not an argument to him to lye by idle and do nothing And here is the holy art divine skill requisite in this businesse to wit for the believer to be as diligent and active as if he could bring forth fruit in his own strength and by his owne working and yet to be as abstracted from himself his owne grace ability knowledge and experience in his working as if he were lying by like a meeâ—… block only moving as moved by externall force 5. The soul that would make progresse in Christianity and grow in grace would remember that Christ is proposed to us as a copy which we are to imitate and that therefore we should set Christ continually before us as our patterne that we may follow his steps 1. Pet. 1 15. and 2 â—…1 But with all it would be remembered that He is not like other ensamples or copies that can helpe the man that imitateth them no other way than by their objective prospect for looking by faith on this copy will bring vertue to the man that studyeth to imitate whereby he shall be inabled to follow his copie the better O 〈◊〉 we knew in experience what this were to take a look of Chrâ—…'s Love Patience Long suffering Meeknesse Hatred of sin Zeal c. and by 〈◊〉 to pore-in till by vertue proceeding from that copie we found our hearts in some measure framed into the same disposition or at least more inclined to be cast into the same mould 6. The beleever would act faith on Christ aâ—… the Head of the body and as the stock in which the branches are engrafted and thereby suck sap and life and strength from Him that he may work walk and grow as becometh a Christian. The beleever must grow up in Him being a branch in Him and must bring forth fruit in Him as the forementioned places clear Now Christ himselfe tells us that the branches cannot bring forth fruit except they abide in the vine and that no more can his disciples bring forth fruit except they abide in Him Iohn 15. Therefore as it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith that the soul as a branch is united to Christ as the vine and as it is by faith that they abide in Him so is it by faith that they must bring forth fruit and this faith must grippe Christ as the Vine and the Stock or Root from which cometh sap life and strength faith then must look to Christ as the fountain of 〈◊〉 as the head â—…om whence cometh all the in â—…ces of strength and motion Christ 〈◊〉 strength and life enough to give out for the fulnesse of the God head dwelleth in Him bodyly and he is also willing enough to communicate of his fulnesse as the relations He hath taken on do witnesse Thâ—… head will not grudge to give to the members of the body spirits for action and motion 〈◊〉 will a vine grudge to give sap unto the branches â—…ay life strength and furniture will as it were natively flow out of Christ unto beleevers except they through unbeleef and other distempers cause obstructions as life and sap doth natively and kindely flow from the root to the branches of from the head to the members unlesse obstructions stoppe the passage It is necessary therefore that beleevers eye Christ under these and the like relations and look upon Him as standing to speak so obliged by his place and relation to grant strength and influences of life whereby they may become fruitful in every good work and so with holy humble and allowed boldnesse presse in faith for new communications of grace vertue strength courage activity and what else they need for from the head all the body by joints bands having nourishment ministred increaseth with the increase of God Col. 2 19. Ephes. 4 16. 7. For this cause beleevers would lye open unto the influences of Christ and guaird against the puting of obstructions in the way through grieving of the Spirit by which He conveyeth communicateth those influences unto the soul and through questioning misbeleeving Christ's faithfulnesse and unchangable willingnesse which as a violent humore stoppeth the passage So then beleevers would lye open by looking and waiting drawing seeking from Him what they need and by guarding against every thing that may provoke the Lord to angerâ—… whether in omission or commission Here is requisite â—…n holy humble sober and watchfull walk an earnest serious and hungry looking out to Him and a patient waiting for supply and furniture from Him This is to open the mouth wide that He may fill it to lie before the sun of righteousnesse that the beames thereof may beat upon them warme revive them and to waite as a beggar at this kings gate till he give the almes 8. For the strengthening of their hope faith in this they would lay hold upon Christ dying and by his death purchaseing all those influences of life and strength which are requisite for carrying on of the work of grace and sanctification in the soul for we must be blessed in Christ with all spiritual blessings Eph. 1â—… 3. The beleever then would look on these influences as purchased at a deare rate by the blood of Jesus Christ so that the divine power giveth unto us all things that pertaine unto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory virtue 2 Pet. 1 3. And this will encourage the soul to wait on and expect the flowing down of influences and spiritual blessings and showres of grace to cause the soul to flourish and become fruitfull and to urge and presse more earnestly by faith the bestowing of the purchased benefites 9. Moreover the beleever would look on Jesus as standing engaged and obliged to carry on this work both as receiving them for this end from the Father
with clouds and doubteth of its interest in Christ it would then put it out of doubt by fleeing to Him for refuge from the storme of God's indignation and lay hold on Him as He is offered in the gospel and thus renew its grips of Him as the offered alsufficient Mediator and frequent direct acts of faith will helpe at length to a reflex act The soul that is daylie running to Christ according to the covenant with all its necessities and laying hold on Him as only able to helpe will at length come to see that it hath beleeved on Him and is made welcome by Him and accepted through Him So that rëterated acts of faith on an offered Cautioner and Salvation will dispel at length those clouds of darknesse that trouble the soul. 7. Such souls would beware of making their bands stronger and their darkness greater by their â—…olly and unwise carriage for this cause they would beware 1. To cry out in despondency of Spirit as if there were no hope and to conclude peremptorily that they are cut off and it is in vaine to waite any longer for this course will but darken them more and multiply the clouds over their head 2. To run away from Christ through unbeleef and dispaire for that will make their case yet worse 3. To walk untenderly and not circumspectly for the moe sins appear the lesse light will be had O but souls would be tender in all their conversation at that time and guaird against the least sin or appearance of evill 4. To fret and repine against God because of that dispensation for that will but entangle the soul more and wreath the yock straiter about its neck and put it self furder out of case to be relieved and to receive light 8. Lastly such would do well not to limite the holy one of Israel but to waite with patience till his time come to speak-in light to the soul knowing that such as waite upon Him shall never be ashamed Esai 49 23. because He waiteth to be gracious and therefore blessed are they all that waite upon him Esai 30 18. Quest. But what if for all this I get no outgate but my distress and darkness rather grow upon my hand Ans. That such a thing may be I grant the Lord thinking it fit 1. To exercise their faith dependence patience hope and desire more 2. And to discover more unto them their own weakness faintings faithlesness 3. To shew his absolute power and soveraignity 4. To make his grace and mercy more conspicuous remarkeable at length and. 5. To traine them up in away of dependence on him in the dark and of leaning to him when walking in darknesse yea and in a way of beleeving when they think they have no faith at all and for other holy ends Yet the soul would not despond for there are several things that may serve to support and beare up the heart even in that case as 1. This is not their case alone Others have been in the like before and many have had the like complaints in all ages as is known to such as have been acquanted with exercised souls 2. It may yeeld peace and comfort to know that they are about duty when looking to Him and depending upon Him and waiting for his light 3. The promises made to such as waite for Him may support the soul and yeeld comfort 4. The distinct knowledge and uptaking of their condition though it be comfortable and refreshing yet itis not absolutely necessary A soul may be a saved soul though those clouds should continue to its dying day and though as long as they lived they should never get a clear discovery of their gracious state but spend their dayes in mourning complaineing and crying out of darknesse c. 5. Such a soul should think that its much that he is keeped out of hell so long and sure the thoughts of what he is and of what he doserveth may make him sober and not to think much though he reach not so high as to see his name written in the book of life 6. They would know that full assurance of hope and of faith is but rare and even such as have it do nor ordinarily keep it long So that it should not much trouble them if after all their paines they cannot win at it 7. If they win to any real ground of hope how small so ever they should think much of that for many dear to Christ live long and never know what so much is 8. It is no small matter that they are not sincking in the gulfe of inconsideration and plagued with an indifferency in these matters but are made to value Christ and an interest in Him at such a rate 9. Their going to Christ with all their wants laying all on Him and their making that their daylie exercise may keep up their hearts from fainting yea and fill their souls with joy for that is really the exercise of faith And the great and gracious promises are made to such as beleeve and not to such only as know they do beleeve I grant such as know not that they do beleeve cannot draw comfort from these promises yet it is as true that one may by reflecting on the actings of his own soul see and know that really he is going out to Christ forsaking himself casting his burden on Him waiting and depending upon Him when yet he will not say that he doth beleeve and when he seeth this working of soul toward Christ he is obliged to beleeve that he beleeveth and thereupon rejoyce in the hope of the great promises And however the very sight and knowledge of this acting and motion of soul may give them some comfort though they shall not take it for faith because it is the way of duty and it is the thing which the gospel calleth for and because they cannot show an instance of any one soul that did so and perished But the truth is the right understanding of the nature of faith would cleare many doubts and prevent many questions I come to speak a little to the last case which I shall handle which is CHAP. XVIII How we shall make use of Christ as the Truth that we may win to right and suteable thoughts of God This is a case that much troubleth the people of God They cannot get right and sutable thoughts of God which they earnestly desire to have nor know not how to win at them And certane it is He only who is the Truth and came out of the bosome of the Father can helpe here Therefore for our use making of Him for this end It would be remembered 1. That the minde of man through the fall is nothing but a masse of ignorance and blindenesse that the understanding is darkned Ephes. 4 17 18. And naturally we are in darknesse 1 Iohn 2 9 11. Yea under the power of darknesse Col. 1 13. And which is more our mindes naturally are filled with prejudice
mystery in our souls Christ the grand mystery formed within us living and working within us by his Spirit and working us up unto a conformity unto and an heart-closeing with God manifested in the flesh that we may finde in experience or at least in truth and reality have a true transumpte of that Gospel mystery in our souls Oh when shall we take pleasure in pursueing after this happiness that will not flee from us but is rather pursueing us when shall we receive with joy and triumph this King of glory that is courting us dayly and is seeking accesse and entry into our souls Oh why cry we not out in the hieght of the passion of spiritual longing desire O come Lord Iesus King of glory with thine owne key and open the door and enlarge dilate the chambers of the soul that thou may enter and be entertained as the King of glory with all thy glorious retinue to the ennobling of my soul satisfying of all the desires of that immortal spark Why do we not covet after this knowledge which hath a true and firme connexion with all the best and truely divine gifts O happy soul that is wasted and worne to a shadow if that could be in this study and exercise which at length will enliven and as it were bring in a new heavenly spiritual soul into the soul so that it shall look no more like a dead disspirited thing out of its native soile and element but as a free elevated and spiritualized Spirit expatiating it self fleeing abroad in the open aire of its owne element and country O happy day O happy houre that is really and effectually spent in this imployment what would souls sweeming in this ocean of all pleasures and delights care for yea with what abhorrency would they look upon the bewitehing allurements of the purest kinde of carnal delights which flow from the mindes satisfaction in feeding on the poor apprehensions groundlesly expected comprehensions of objects suited to its natural genius and capacity O! what a more hyperbolically exceeding and glorious satisfaction hath a soul in its very pursueings after when it misseth cannot reach that which is truely desireabâ—…e How doth the least glimpse through the smallest cranie of this glorious and glorifying knowledge of God in Christ apprehended by faith raise up the soul to that pitch of joy and satisfaction which the knowledge of natural things in its purest perfection shall never be able to cause and to what a surmounting measure of this joy and contentation will the experienceing feeling by spiritual sense the sweet and spiritual relish of this capivating and transcendently excellent knowledge raise the soul unto O! must not this be the very suburbs of heaven to the soul When the soul thus seeth apprehendeth God in Christ and that as its owne God through Christ for as all saving knowledge draweth out the soul unto an imbraceing closeing with the object so it bringeth in the object to the making up of the recâ—…procal union and in-being it cannot but admire with exultation and exult with admiration at that condescendence of free grace that hath made it in any measure capable of this begun glory and will furâ—…her mak it meet by this begun glory to be a 〈◊〉 of the inheritance of the Saints in light and what will a soul that hath tasted of the pure delights of this river of gospel manifestations hath seen with soul-ravâ—…shing delight in some measure the manifold wisdome of God wrapped up therein and the compleâ—…t and perfect â—…ymmetrie of all the parts of that noble contexture and also the pure designe of that contrâ—…vance to abase Man and to extoll the riches of the free grace of God that the sinner when possessed of all designed for him and effectuated in him thereby may know who alone should weare the crown and have all the glory what I say will such a soul see in another gospelâ—… calculated to the meridian of the natural crooked and corrupted temper of proud man who is soon made vaâ—…ne of nothing which in stead of bringing a sinner fallâ—…n from God through pride back againe to the enjoyment of Him through a Mediator doth but foster that innate plague and rebellion which caused and procured his first excommunication from the favour and banishment out of the paradice of God that shall attract its heart to it and move it to â—… compliance with it When the poor sinner that hath bin made to pant after a Saviour and hath bin pursued to the very ports of the city of refuge by the aveâ—…ger of blood the justice of God hath tasted and seen how good God is and felt the sweetness of free love in a crucified Christ and seen the beauty and glory of the mystery of free grace sutably answeringâ—… and overcoming the mystery of its sin and misery O what a complacency hath he therein and in the way of gospel salvation wherein free grace is seen to overflow all banks to the eternal praise of the God of all grace How saltless and unsavoury will the most cunningly devised and patch together mode of salvation be that men studying the perversion of the gospel and seeking the ruine of souls with all their skill indusery and learning are setting off with forced rhetorick and the artifice of words of mans wisdom and with the plausible advantages of a pretended sanctity and of strong grounds and motives unto diligence and painfulness to a very denying and renunceing of Christian liberty when once itis observed how it entrencheth upon and darkneth the lustre or diminisheth the glory of free grace and hath the least tendency to the setting of the crown on the creatures head in whole or in part The least perception that hereby the sinners song ascribeing blessing honour glory and power unto him that was sâ—…ain hath redeemed them to God by his blood out of every kinâ—…ed and tongue and people and nation and hath made them unto their God kings and prieâ—…ts shall be marred will be enough to render that device detestable and convince the soul that itis not the gospel of the grace of God nor that mystery of God and of Christ but rather the mystery of â—…niquity What a peculiar savouriness doth the humbled beleever finde in the doctrine of the true gospel grace and the more that he be thereby made Nothing and Christ made All that he in his highest atainments be debaised and Christ exalted that his most lovely peacoke feathers be laid the crown flourish on Christ's head that he be laid flat without one foot to stand upon and Christ the only supporter and carryer of him to glory that he be as dead without life and Christ live in him the more lovely the more beautiful the more desireable and acceptable is it unto him O what a complacency hath the graced soul in that contrivance of infinite wisdom wherein the mystery of the grace of God
and the basis of mans blessednesse advanceing him both to a conformity to God and qualifying him for the fruition of Him by the generality of those called to be saints that they may be haved is not onely upon deliberation and choice laid aside as having nothing in it to recommend and endeare it to the souls of men but hated floured fled from and forsaken as if it came on purpose to marre mens tranquillity and torment them before the time While I say it is thus some faithful Servants who make conscience to carry on His work who came to destroy the works of the Devil and went about while in the world healing all that were oppressed of him set themselves to pray preach and perswad the things concerning the Kingdome of God yea to write and warne and weep men into a compliance with their own happipinesse they endeavour solicitously to informe mens minds that they may reforme their manners and rescue them with feare who are runing upon their own ruine but alas with so little successe that they doe the work of the Lord with grief and have much sorrow of those of whom they ought to have joy and after all their beseechings obtestings requestings and cryings this is the way walke yee in it turne you turne oh why will you dye have this as the last returne to all their importunities Nay there is no hope speake no more to us of that matter do not offer to perswade us to relinquish the old road or disswade us from following our lovers for when ye have done all after these we will go we resolve to abide what we have been children of imperswasion But if his Servants in following their work closly seem to have gained a little ground upon men and almost perswaded them to be Christians Satan to the end he may make all miscarry and counter worke these workers together with God and poison poor souls by a perversion of the Gospel beyond the power of an antidot hath raised up instigat and set on work a race of proud Rationalists for they are wiser then to classe themselves amongst those poor fools those base things those nothings to whom Christ is made all things to whom Christ is made wisdome that he may be righteousnesse sanctification and redemption to them nay they must be wise men after the flesh wise above what is written a crucified Christ is really unto them foolishnesse and weaknesse though the power of God and the wisdome of God they will needs go to work another way they will needs glory in his presence and have a heaven of their own hand-wind O my soul enter not into their secrets and O sweet Jesus let thy name be to me the Lord my righteousness thou hast wone it weare it and gather not my soul with such who make mention of any other righteousness but of thine onely to bring-in another Gospel amongst men then the Gospel of the grace of God as they determine to know some other thing then Christ and him crucified so with the inticeing words of mans wisdom they bewitch men into a disobedience to the truth setting somewhat else before them then a crucified Christ And this they do that they may remove men from those who call them into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel A Christ it is true they speake of but it is not the Christ of God for all they drive at O cursed and truely Antichristian designe is that he may profite them nothing while they model all Religion according to this novel project of their magnified morality This is that which gives both life and lustre to that image they adore to the Dagon after whom they would have the world wonder and Worship That there is such a moralizeing or muddizeing if I may be for once admitted to coine a new word to give these men their due of Christianity now introduced and comeing in fashion many of the late pieces in request do evince Now that Christianity should moralize men above all things I both give and grante for he who is partaker of the divine nature and hath obtained precious faith must adde vertue to his faith But that it should be only conceived and conceited as an elevation of nature to a more cleare light in the matter of morality wherein our Lord is onely respected as an heavenly teacher and perfect paterne proposed for imitation is but a proud pleasing fansie of self conceited darkened and deluded dreamers robing God of the glory of his mercy and goodnesse our Lord Jesus Christ of the glory of his grace and merit The Spirit of the efficacy of his glorious and mighty operations and themselves and their pilgrimes who give them the hand as guids of the comfort and frute of all This is the pilgrimage we are perswaded to undertake to the holy Land this is that reasonablenesse of Christianitie which with great swelling words of vanitie is ventilat to the allureing and ensnareing of such who had almost escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust and the pollutions of the flesh through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ This is the way which they who undertake to publish to the world the true causes of the decay of pietie take to revive and introduce that pietie which they complain is wanting O impious invention not only encroaching upon the unsearchable mysterie of the Gospel but subversive of the whole method and blessed and beautiful contrivance of salvation and rendering salvation impossible to the greatest proficients in this studie and the grand patrons and practitioners in this new art the greatest opposers of that grace of God which bâ—…ingeth salvation unto all men It is true they will not plainly plead for profanitie Nay they may and do make a great noise about the practise of pietie as if they were the only patrons thereof that with lesse observation and greater facility they may beguile themselves and their followers of the reward they may possibly perswade even to a pinching of the body that they may puffe up and pamper their fleshly minde and while they overdrive men to the practise of will worship and performance of those things which have a shew of wisdome it is that they may withdraw them from holding that blessed head from which all the body by joints bands having nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the encrease of God yet the grace of God that onely liveing principle of all true pietie which they dispute out of the souls of men that they may debauch them into a contempt of the Spirits working in men to will and to do takes frequent vengance on this their invention by leaving them not onely to play the Devil in disguise that they may be known by their fruits but also to lay aside that garbe of external godlinesse for the Devil nor his Domesticks cannot long weare a strait doublet that it may appeare how it is verified in them from
short of infinitnesse in this respect that it can be swallowed up of infinit mercy But whence hath the soul all this light It owes all this and owns it self as debtor for it to him who opens the eyes of the blind it is he who commands the light to shine out of darkenesse who hath made these blessed discoveries and hath given the poor benighted soul the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ These irradiations are from the Spirits illumination it is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that hath made day light in the darkened soul the man who had the heart of a beast as to any saveing or solid knowledge of God or himself hath now got an understanding to know him that is true now is Christ become the poor mans wisdome he is now renewed in knowledge after the image of him that oreated him he might well bable of spiritual things but till now he understood nothing of the beauty excellency of God and his wayes Nay he knew not what he knew he was ignorant as a beast of the life and lustre of those things which he knew in the letter nothing seemed more despicable to him in the world then true godlinesse but now he judgeth otherwise because he hath the mind of Christ the things which in his darkenesse he did undervalue as trifles to be mocked at he now can onely minde and admire since he became a child of light now being delivered from that blindnesse and brutishnesse of Spirit which possesseth the world and possessed himself till he was transformed by the renewing of his minde who esteem basely of spiritual things and set them at nought he prizeth as alone precious the world wonders what pleasure or content can be in the service of God because they see not by tasteing how good he is to be pryeing into and poreing upon invisible things is to them visible madnesse but to the enlightened minde the things that are not seen are onely worth seeing and while they appeare not to be they onely are whereas the things that are seen appeare but to be and are not Though the surpassing sweetnesse of spiritual things should be spoke of to them who cannot savour the things of God in such a manner as the giorious light of them did surround men yet they can perceive no such thing all is to them cuningly devised fables let be spoke what will they see no forme no comelinesse no beauâ—…y in this glorious object God in Christ reconcileing sinners to himself Alas the mind is blindâ—…d the dungeon is within and till Christ open the eyes aswell as reveal his light the foul abideâ—… in its blindnefse and is buryed in midnight darkenesse but when the Spirit of God opens the mans eyes and he is translated by an act of omnipotency out of the kingdome of darkenâ—…sse into the kingdome of his dear son which is a kingdom of marvellous light O! what matchlesse beauty doth he now see in these things which appeared despicable and â—…ke rothings to him till he got the unction the eye salve which teacheth all things now he sees what none without the Spirit can see the things which God hath prepared for them that love him and are freely given them of God and these though seen at a distance reflect such rayes of beauty into his soul that he beholds and is ravished he sees and is swallowed up in wonder But then in the next place this is not a Spiritlesse inefficacious speculation about these things to know no evil but sin and separation from God and no blessednesse but in the fruition of him it is not such a knowledge of them as doth not principle motion to pursue after them This I grant is part of the image of God when the sun of righteousnesse by ariseing upon the man hath made day light in his soul and by these divine discoveries hath â—…aught him to make the true parallel betwixt things that differ and to put a just value upon them according to their intrinsick worth But this divine illumination doth not consist in a meer notion of such things in the head nor doth it subsist in enlightening the mind but in such an impression of God upon the soul as transformes and changes the heart into his likenesse by love knowledge is but one line one draught or lineament of the souls likenesse to him that alone doth not make up the image but knowledge rooted in the heart and engraven on the soul shineing shewing it self forth in a gospel adorneing conversation that makes a comely proportion when the same hand that touched the eye and turned the man from darkenesse to light and give an heart to know him that he is the Lord doth also circumcise the mans heart to love the Lord his God with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his minde and this love manifesting its livelinesse in its constraining power to live to him and for him light without heat is but wild fire but light in the mind begetting heat in the heart making it burne Godward Christward and Heavenward light in the understanding setting on fire and enflameing the affections and these shining out in a heavenly conversation makes up the lively image of God both in feature stature both in proportion and colour faith begins this image and drawes the lineaments and love bringing forth obedience finishes and gives it the lively lustre the burneings of love in obedience to God is that which illuminats the whole and maks a man look indeed like him to whose image he is predestinat to be conforme and then maks him who is ravished with the charmes of that beauty say as in a manner overcome thereby how fair is thy love my Sister my spouse How much better is thy love then wine and the smell of thine ointments then all spices But consider that as these beames which irradiat the soul are from the Spirit of Christ so that spiritual heat and warmth come out of the same airth and proceed from the same Author for our fire burnes as he blowes our lampe shines as he snuffes and furnisheth oile men therefore would not indulge themselves in this delusion to think that that which will passe for pure Religion and undefiled before God consists either in an outward blamelesse conversation or in putting on and weareing an external garbe of profession no as the top of it reacheth higher so the root of it lies deepâ—…r it is rooted in the heart this seed being sowen in an honest heart or makeing the heart honest in which it is sowen takes root downe ward and brings forth fruit upward as trees that gâ—…ow as far under ground as above so these trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord that he may be glorified grow as far and as fast under ground as above godlinesse growes as far downward in self emptying self denyal and self abaseing in hungring and thirsting
after more of righteousness in the secrete engagements of the heart to God in Christ in these burstings of heart and bleedings of soul to which God alone is witnesse because of shortcomeing in holinesse because of a body of death within and because of that law in the members warring against the law of the mind and bringing often into captivity to the law of sin as it growes upward in a profession and this is that pure Religion and undefiled before God which is both most pleasant to him and profitable to the soul. But to make the difference betwixt dead morality in its best dress and true godlinesse more cleare and obvious that the loveliness of the one may engage men into a loathing of the other this dead caâ—…ion and stinking carcaâ—…e of rotten morality which still stinks in the nostrills of God even when embalmed with the most costly ointments of its miserably misled patrons we say that true godlinesse which in quality and kinde differs from this much pleaded for and applauded morality a blake heathen by a â—…el kinde of Christians baptized of late with the namâ—… of Christianity and brought into the temple of the Lord concerning which he hath commanded hat it should never in that shape and for that end it is introduced enter into his congregation and the bringers for their pains are like to seclude themselves for ever from his presence It respects Jesus Christ. 1. As its Principle 2. As its Paterne 3. As its Altar and. 4. As its end First I say true holinesse in its being and operation respects Jesus Christ as its principle I live said that shineing saint yet not I but Christ liveth in me as that which gives religion its first being is the religation of the soul to God so that which gives it motion and drawes forth that life into action is the same God's working all their works in them and for them so that in all they do they are workers together with God every act of holinesse is an act of the soul made alive unto God through Jesus Christ and quickened to each action by the supervenience of new life and influence therefore says Christ without me you can do nothing it is not being out of me you can do nothing for he spoke it to those who were in him but if ye leave me out in doing all ye do will be nothing It s Jesus Christ who gives life and leggs so that our runings are according to his drawings my soul followeth hard after thee said that holy man but whence is all this life and vigour Thy right hand upholdeth me O it is the upholdings and helpings of this right hand enlargeing the mans heart that makes a runing in the way of his commandâ—…ents it is he who while the saints worke-out the work of their own salvation workâ—…th in them â—…th to will and to do It is he who giveth power to the faint and who to them that have no might encreaseth stâ—…ength so that the poor lifelesse languishing ly by is made to mount-up with Eagles wings and suâ—…mount all these difficulties with a holy facility which were simply insuperable and pure impossibilities now the man runs and doth not weary because Christ drawes and he walks and doth not faint because Christ in whom dwels the fulnesse of the God-head bodily dwels in him and walks in him and dwels in him for that very end that he may have a compleatnesse and competency of strength for duety all grace is made to abound unto him that he alwayes having all sufficiency in all things may abound unto every good work he is able of himself to do nothing no not to think any thing as he ought but he hath a sufficiency of God whereby he is thorowly furnished unto every good work so that he may say I am able for all things it is more then I am able to do all things as we read it its just import is I am able to do all things and to endure all things and that which keeps it from vain boasting is what is ad led through Christ which strengtheneth me or putting power in me or rather impowering me which is by a supervenient act drawing forth life into a livelinesse of excercise according to the present exigent There is a power in a saint because Christ is in him that over powers all the powers of darknesse with out and all the power of indwelling corruption within so that when the poor weak creature is ready to despond within sight of his duty and say because of difficulty what is my strength that I should hope Christ saith despond not my grace is sufficient forthee and my power shall rest upon thee to a reviveing thee and raising thee up and putting thee in case to say when I am weake then am I strong his strength who impowers me is made perfect in my weakenesse so that I will glory in my infirmities and be glade in being graces debtor But what power is that which raiseth the dead finner and carries the soul in its actings so far without the line and above the sphere of all natural activity when stretched to its utmost O it is an exceading great power which is to them ward who beleive that must make all things how difficult so ever easie when he works in them to will and to do according to the working of his mighty power or as it is upon the margent more emphatick of the might of his power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand c. he that raised up the Lord Jesus from the dead raiseth up beleevers also by Jesus and being raised and revived by him to walk in new nesse of life the life of Jesus in its communications of strength is manifest in their mortal flesh according to that of the same Apostle the life that I live in the flesh sais he I live by the faith of the Son of God faith brings in Christ in my soul and Christ being my life carries out my soul in all the acts of obedience wherein though I be the formal agent yet the efficiency and the power by which I operat is from him so that I can give no better account of it then this I not I. But who then if not you The grace of God sais he which was with me But this mystery to our bold because blind moralists of an indwelling Christ working mightily in the soul is plain madnesse and melancholy however we understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ who said the life I live in the flesh c. and from what we understand of his knowledge in that mystery which he had by revelation we understand our moralists to be men of corrupt minds who concerning the faith have made shipwrack but what is that the life I live in the flesh c The â—…port of it seems to be this if not more while I have
in me a soul animating my body as the principle of all my vital and natural actions I have Jesus Christ animating my soul and by the impulse and communicat vertue and strength of an indwelling Christ I am made to run the wayes of his commandements wherein I take so great delight that I am found of no duty as of my enemy Secondly This gospel holinesse respects Jesus Christ as its patern It proposeth no lower patern for imitation then to be conforme to his image he that is begotten againe unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead girds up the loins of his minde wh◅ch are the affections of his soul lest by falling flat upon the earth he be hindered in runing the race set before him as looking to the foreruner his patern in this girdle of hope that he may be holy in all manner of conversation keeping his eye upon the precept and paterne that his practice may be conforme It is written saith he Be ye holy for I am holy the hope of seeing God and being ever with him imposeth a necessity upon him who hath it to look no lower then at him who is glorious in holinesse and therefore he is said to purify himself even as he is pure and knowing that this is the end of their being quickened together with Christ that they may walk even as he walked they in their working and walking aime at no lesse then to be like him and therefore never sit down upon any attained measure as if they were already perfect the spotlesse purity of God expressed in his laws is that whereto they study assimilation therefore they are still in motion towards this mark and are changed from one degree of glorious grace into another into the same image even as by the Spirit of the Lord who never gives over his putting them to cleanse from all filthinesse of the flesh and of the Spirit till that be true in the truest sense thou art all fair my love there is no spot in thee And knowing that perfect fruition of him cannot be without perfect conformity to him herein do they exercise themselves to grow in grace and to be still advanceing towards some more likenesse to his image forgetting all their attainments as things that are behind and by their reachings forth unto that which is before make it evident that they make every begun degree of grace and conformity to God a prevenient capacity for a new degree which yet they have not attained I know our maralists look upon themselves as matchlesse in talkeing of following his steps as he hath left us an example in this they make a flourish with flanting effrontry but for all their boasting of wisdom such a poor simple man as I am made to wonder at their folly who proposeing as they say the purity of Christ for their paterne are not even thence convinced that in order to a conformity thereto there is a simple absolute necessity of the mighty operations of that Spirit of God whereby this end can be reached but while they flout at the Spirits working as a melancholy fancy whereby the soul is garnished with the beauty of holinesse and made an habitation for God I doubt not to say of these great sayers that they understand neither what they say nor whereof they affirme nay doth not their talking of the one not only without seeing the necessity of the other but speaking against it say in the heart of every one who hath not the heart of a beast that they have never yet got a sight of the holinesse of that paterne nor of their own pollutions and impotency for if they had they would give themselves up to Jesus Christ to be washed by him without which they can have no part with him O there will be a ◅ast difference at the latter day betwixt them who have given their blake souls to Jesus Christ to bletch when he shall present them without spot not onely cloathed with wrought gold but all glorious within and these who have never dipped yea who have despised to dip their defiled souls in any other fountain save in the impure pudle of their own performances this will make them loathsome in his sight and cause his soul abhorre those whō have done this despite unto the Spirit of grace as to slight that bl◅ssed fountaine opened for sin for uncleannesse let them pretend as high as they will to look to him as a paterne while because the plague sore i◅ got up in their eye they look not to him as a price no◅ to the grace of Jesus Christ as that which can onely principle any acceptable performance of duety he will plunge them in the ditch and it Will cost them their souls for rejecting the counsel of God against themselves in not making use of him who came by water as well as by blood Thirdly This gospel holinesse respects Christ as the Altar It is in him and for him that his soul is well pleased with our performance this is the Altar upon which thou must lay thy gift leave it without which thy labour is lost and whatsoever thou dost is loathed as a corrupt thing As beleevers draw all their strength from him so they expect acceptation onely through him and for him they do not look for it but in the beloved they dare not draw near to God in duty but by him this is the new and liveing way which is consecrat for them and if such who offer to come to God do no enter in hereat in stead of being admitted to a familiar converse with God they shall finde him a consumeing fire when the saints have greatest liberty in prayer and so of all other performances when their hearts are most lifted up in the wayes of the Lord they abhorre at thinking their prayer can any otherwise be set forth before him as incense or the lifting up of their hands as the evening sacrifice but as presented by the great intercessor and perfumed by the merit of his oblation If they could weep out the marrow of their bones and the moisture of their body in mourning over sin yet they durst not think of having what comes from so impure a spring and runs thorow so polluted a channel presented to God but by Jesus Christ in order to acceptation for as they look to the exalted Saviour to get their repentance from him so when by the pourings out upon them the Spirit of grace and supplication he hath made them pour out their hearts before him and hath melted them into true tendernesse so that their mourning is a great mourning they carry backe these teares to be washen and bathed in his blood as knowing without this of how little worth and value with God their salt water is but when they are thus washed he puts them in his bottle and then pours them out again to them in the wine of strong consolation thus are they made
might compend the account to be given shortly and give it most exactly yet trueln in these few words As the most undoubted deviation from and perfect opposition unto the whole contriveance of salvation and the conveyance of it unto the souls of men as revealed in this gospel which brings life and immortality to light that fighters against the grace of God in its value and vertue can forge stretching their blind reason to the overthrow of true religion and ruine of the souls of men for to this height these Masters of reason have in their blind rage risen up against the Lord and against his Anointed this is the dreadful period of that path wherein we are perswaded to walk yea Hectored if we would not forfeit the repute of men by these grand Sophies who arrogat to themselves the name and thing of knowledge as if wisdome were to dy with them The deep mysteries of salvation which Angels desire to look into and onely satisfy themselves with admiration at must appeare as respondents at their bar and if they decline the judge and court as incompetent they flee out and flout at subjecting this blinde mole mans reason to the revelation of faith in a mystery The manifold wisdome of God and the manifold grace of God must either condescend to their unfoldings and be content to speak in their dialect or else these wits these Athenian dictators will give the deep things of God because beyond their diveings the same entertainment which that great gospel preacher Paul met with from men of the same mould kidney and complexion because he preached unto them Jesus what would this babler say said they The Spirit of wisdom and revelation they know not they have not they acknowledge not nay they despise him in his saveing and soul ascertaining illuminations and the workings of that mighty power to them ward who beleeve is to the men of this new mould because they have not found it an insufferable fansy to be exploded with a disdain and indignation which discovers what Spirit acts them in this opposition But what do they say that will found this charge and free us from casting iniquity upon them They are of age and can speake for themselves when they have vomit out their gall against the imputed righteousnesse of Christ and the new birth and that holinesse which is imparted to the real members of Christ with a scoffeing petulancy they then make a great noise of holinesse as who but tâ—…ey the thing they plead for and perswade unto is a kinde of holinesse educed out of natural abilities wherein Christ the Spirit and the Gospel of the grace of God is permitted no greater interest nor allowed a more effectual adjuvancy then to concurre by way of precept motive and example Thiâ—… is now that admired and applauded Diana morality It is true they will sometime chirt thorow their teeth for what ever Christ the Spirit and Gospel gets of our Moralists it is against the hair and they are hard put to it ere they give it a tepid acknowledgement that the gospel doth afford men some special help and is of singular use and advantage in shewing the way and rule with greater clearnesse and guiding and directing how to walk in it with a plain perspicuity and exciting by noble examples and some do also adde some faint and frigid motions of the holy ghost in the dispensation of this truth put forth to make men more foreward but all this salvo jure of the great Diana so much and no more is yeelded to the gospel then to shew men with clearnesse how they may exert and put forth their proper and innat power it affords them some special help in holding the candle or rather snufing it that so they may with more promptitud see how to operat and by the motives it adduceth and examples it brings have a special provocation to the exercise of these vertues commanded the gospel with all it brings and doth does no more but hold the candle till these artists weave their web shape and shew their garment and then let them see how to put it on and being put on perswade them to weare it as the highest beauty and chief ornament of the soul this is all the provision they lay up for eternity and in this dresse and garb of guilded morality they mind to addresse themselves to God and appeare before his tribunal with confidence of acceptation they will beare their own charges to heaven and carry a summe with them to purchase the possession of the saints in light with a little abatement which a mercy of their own moulding for God mercy it is not must make and thus they make all sure But what is all this noise that these vain talkers make about holinesse they heap up words which weep to be so abused about vertue love to God mortification c. But they have really taken away our Lord Jesus Christ and will not tell us where they have laid him for feare we should go seek him and foresake them What are these rotten and loathsome raggs where with they would cloath us that the shame of our nakednesse may not appeare to that holinesse whereto we are predestinat before the foundation of the world and whereto in order to the obtaining of that salvation even the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ to which we are chosen we are created againe in Christ Jesus and made meet to be possessed of by sanctification of the Spirit and beleife of the truth What is all this tattle of theirs to the new birth the saveing work of regeneration without which a man cannot enter into the kingdome of God the new creature the new heart haveing the law written in it the Spirit which he puts within us causeing us to walk in his wayes that noble principle of spiritual life whereby we are quickened raised from the dead made alive unto God through Christ Jesus disposed enclined and enabled to live to God and walk before him to all pleasing Nay according to the imposeings of these new dogmatists beware of dogs says the Apostle of the same size and sort of men in stead of that principle implanted and that power produced in us by the effectual operation of the H. G. working in us mightily according to the workings of that mighty power which was wrought in Christ when raised from the dead we must be content with some what which was liveing though lazie and dormant in the natural powers of our own soul now awakened out of its sopor and educed into act by the meer application of external means in a word in stead of all that which is purchased and procured unto us by the death of Jesus Christ wrought in us by his Spirit who takes of his and shews it unto us whereby our conformity to Jesus Christ is begun and carried on we must be content with this morality good Lord prevent such madnesse whose Principle is natural
But to close this short account of that new gospel that other gospel introduced and obtruded upon us with a foameing flourish of words and to say it before thee in its pure and perfect opposition to the gospel of the grace of God take a short compend of it in the words of one of its great patrons they are set down in that new piece called Claustrum animae Pag. 114. where the Author haveing cited some scriptures which do indeed press and perswade to the practice of pure religion and undefiled lest his morality should suffer loss and be found reprobat mettal if tried by such a touchstone he guards his Reader from falling into such a mistake a dangerous one it is indeed to his designe for if thou fall in it thy soul is escaped out of his cloister he loses his prey and he will not be able to carâ—…y thee hood-winked to the pit as if he meant or were pressing that holiness which for its foundation hath peace with God through Christ Jesus and for its working principle hath the life of God whereby the dead is quickened and for its progress the renewed influences of the Spirit no by no means he cleares himself that he is of a far other minde and therefore to make his Reader of his minde too he adds Here is nothing to countenance these frightful fanatical pangs of the new birth which proceed from Enthusiasme or Melancholy nothing to countenance the 〈◊〉 applications of a barrowed or rather snatcht away righteousnesse why not The change says he that our religion requires the scripture supposeth it in all that have embraced Christianity Pag. 113. And again to the same purpose Pag 114. in opposition to the new creature which he mocks and murthers the real change in our affections is supposed and recommended Pelagius redivivus which is this upon the matter it is frightful fanatical melancholy mad fansy to talk and tell people of being borne againe of quickening the dead no the soul is alive itis not dead itis but at worst a little drowsy or a sleep there needs no more but knock at the door and the man will rise and run in the way of commanded duties and acquire more liveliness and agility by a frequent and reiterat eduction of his innare power into act let objective grace be but given and to these great wits every stone and brute is a bible on which they can read what will regulat them in their walk so that there is no simple necessity of the scriptures to them for makeing them wise to salvation these concurre onely ad bene esse and are given ex superabundante there is subjective grace enough one needs not go without the powers of his own soul to seek a sufficiency he can will and he can do without a dependence upon any real life-giving power or supervenient influence working in him to will and do And then in opposition to that fansieful borrowed and snatched away righteousnesse to him an odde and new devised doctrine do and live is substitute at the close of the Paragraph and that to him is the onely way how the offered salvation is obtained Now Reader if thou be not an utter stranger to the work of God upon the souls of his people the poison dropped from this impure and impious pen is so hell-blake and bitter that it needs not my antidot and it is so palpable and plain a perversion of the gospel as will vindicat and acquite any thing which hath been said of these perverters of the right wayes of the Lord and layers of another foundation besides Jesus Christ from the imputation of severity Christ had told us that the way to heaven is strait and narrow and few finde it but out comes one out of the Cloister I suspect hell is broke loose against us and having laid aside Christ who is the door and the way and the light and the life showes us an easy plaine and pleasant way to heaven Well before thou follow such a guid I desire thee to take notice how well the all of what is contained in this cursed claustrum doth agree unto and is a just commentar upon what is prefixed in his frontispeece wherein he hath Christ drawn upon the crosse but not satisfied to crucify him in effigie he through the whole of his discourse doth really crucify him againe and put him to an open shame the sense and soul of every line as it lies in his book is levelled to his designe is away with him away with him he calls him self the Lord our righteousnesse take away that name from him we owne him not we acknowledge him not as our righteousnesse we will not beg nor borrow a rob from him our owne mantle of morality must be to us in stead of this Mediator and for the two theevs that must be crucified with him the one is the new birth the other is the all of that gospel obedience performed by vertue of supervenient influences communicat from that sole spring of spiritual life Christ dwelling in the soul of the regenerat person two in their account as great theeves as ever run for they have stole away mistresse morality her plumash and stript her of her ornaments so that it is impossible to hide the shame of her nakednesse but in their death and for this must they be taken and crucified with their Master that morality having what these took from her restored may bewitch the world with her beauty and ravish them with her charmes And for his title to his book The love of Iesus I judge considering how he explaines it in his book and how true he is to his undertaking this question is a suteable returne to it betrayest thou the son of man with a kisse O he is killing kind it is not enough that he act Pilaâ—…'s part unlesse he act Iudas his part also But why did he not speake more modestly of the new birth lest men should remember that it was Jesus his own doctrine Why the man goes not mad without reason first because in prejudice to morality and its merite he had delivered this doctrine with such a severe certification that there is no seeing the kingdome of God without it But secondly lest any thing of the solemnity that attended the crucifieing of Christ should be wanting after he hath nailed him upon the crosse and thrust a speare in his side falls a mocking to encrease his pangs for having taught so frightful fanatical enthusiastick and melancholy a doctrine as the necessity of being in pangs of the new birth if ever men would be in heaven However I perceive some are now upon a reformation good newes if true for the world will beare them witness of its necessity But is this it is this the mode of the Religion to be introduced with such a pomp and parad Is this the reformation that the reformed Church must be taken away and thrown down to make way for the
perish O Lord. How to make the whole more useful for thee for whose advantage it s mainly intended I leave to the Author 's own direction onely this I must say his method and mould wherein he casts this sweet matter and his way of handling this so seasonable a subject it so accommodat to each case and brought home to the conscience and down to the capacity of the meanest Christian which was his aim that the feeble in this day might be as David that howbeit many worthy men have not onely hinted but enlarged upon the same matter yet thou canst not but see some heart-endeareing singularity in his way of improveing and handleing this great gospel truth Next I must tell thee that as I my self read it with much satisfaction though Alas I dar not say I have by reading reaped the designed advantage so that thou mayest be blushed into a peruseal thereof and profiting thereby I must likewise tell thee I say it hath been turned into dutch and that it hath not onely met with great acceptation amongst all the serious and Godly in these parts who have seen it but is much sought after and they professe themselves singularly thereby edified and set a going after God by its efficatious perswasivenesse with a singing alacrity and if it have not the same effect upon thee and me they and it will rise up against us in judgment Up therefore Christians and be doing listen to such a teacher who lest thou tire in thy race or turne bake teacheth thee a certaine and sweet way of singular proficiency and progresse in the wayes of God It may be it is not thy work nor mine to writ books against these soul murthering however magnified methods of takeing men off Jesus Christ but our peâ—…ury of parts for that should 1. Put us to seek plenty of teares that we may weep to see our Master so wounded by the piercing pens of those who to patronize their mock religion wrest the Scriptures and with wicked hands wring the word of the Lord till it weep blood this I say should provoke thee and me to weep upon Him till He appeare and beat the pens of such deceivers out of their hand by a blow of his 2. It should provoke us to know the truth that we may contend earnestly for the faith delivered to the saints and to have these contradicted truths so impressed in their life upon our souls that the pen of the most subtile pleader for this perversion of the gospel may neither delet thâ—…se nor be able to stagger us but we may from the efficacious workings of these have the witnesse in our selves and know the men who teach otherwayes not to be of God 3. It should be our ambition when the all of religion is cryed down and a painted shadow a putrid however perfumed nothing put in its place to make it appeare by our practise that Religion is an elevation of the soul above the sphere and activity of dead morality and that it is no lesse or lower principle that acts us than Christ dwelling in us and walking in us how can the love of God of Christ of the Spirit be in us if these perverse pratters against the power of godlinesse provoke us not to emit a practical declaration to the world extort a Testimony to his grace by our way from the enemies thereof Improve therefore this his special help to that purpose which in a most sensonable time is brought to thy hand But to sum up all shortly there are but three things which make religion an heavy burden First the blindnesse of the minde here thou art taught to make use of that eye-salve whereby the eyes of the blind see out of obscurity and out of darkenesse he who formerly erred in Spirit by the light held forth in these lines may see a surpasseing beauty in the wayes of God Secondly That aversion and unwillingnesse which is in the minde whereby the sweet easy yoke of his commands iâ—… spurned at as heavy in order to the removing thereof that thou mayest be among his willing people here thou hast Christ held forth in his conquering beauty displaying his banner of love over souls so that thou canst not look upon him as held forth but â—…ith will bow thy neck to take on his yoke because it sees it is lined with the love of Christ then this love that line the yoke shed abroad in the heart will constraine to a bearing of it O it must be an easy yoke because itis love tender love that imposeth it and it must be easy delightful to the bearer because itis the nature of love to think the greatest difficulties easy if thereby an evidence of loves reality may be given to the party beloved now if Christ thought the greatest burden easy even that which with its weight wrung these words from him now is my soul troubled c. to perswade souls of the reality and riches of his love to them Then the soul can think nothing heavy that he imposeth since he will interpret the bearing of it an evidence of its love to him none of his commandments can be grievous to the man now since he hath saide This is the love of God that yee keep his commandments Now there is a readinesse of minde to do all things without disputings murmurings as love knowes no lyon in its way so it is no murmuring disputant when this question is cleared Lord what wilt thou have me to do then love hath no moe questions its greatest difficulty is solved But Thirdly when the Spirit is willing there remains yet much weaknesse love kindled in the heart conquers the mind into a compliance with his will and a complacency in his commands but it s greatest strength is often to weep over a withered hand now that thy hands which fall down may be made strong for labour and thou mayest be girded with strength and have grace for grace yea all grace to make thee abound unto every good word and work The Author leads thee up unto the sull fountaine of all Gospel furniture and strength and teacheth thee how to make use of Jesus Christ as thy sufficiency for working all thy works in thee and for thee Take heart therefore unto thee when thy looking unto duâ—…y may make thee dispair of performance lift up thine eyes to him who is here set before thee look till every new look upward bring light and life inward and capacitat thee for makeing a new louse foreward in the power of 〈◊〉 might â—…he was but a wicked servant who said I 〈◊〉 thou art a hard master No it is false That religion which gives ease must be an easy religion and truely such 〈◊〉 Gospel holinesse not onely in regaird that it is the liberation of the soul from the basest bondage but in regaird that he who is thy Master will be served of his own the allowed supplies for all
that many are so busied about is such as Pelagians Arminians Papists Socinians Quakers yea Turks and moral Hâ—…athens Yea and all who are enemies to and not reconcileable with the true grace of God held forth in the Gospel will willingly admit of and harmoniously agree in A way which complyeth so well with proud self and with the Corrupt Nature of Man that it is little wonder if it have many abettors and admirers I shall say no more of this seing my beloved Brother hath said so much to it already to very good purpose in the foregoing Epistle but only inferre That sure the consideration of this should move all in whom is any thing of the zeal of God and love to souls their owne and others to appear in the defence of the Gospel of our Salvation by all meanes incumbent to them and possible for them for if this Citadel strong hold wherein our All and the all of pure and true Religion lyeth be blown up we are gone and indeed no less is intended by this Antichristian and antievangelick enemy than the utter subversion of True Christian Religion VVho would not then be hereby alarmed and upon their guaird when matters are at this passe Should not all vvho have any love to their ovvn souls any zeal for the glory of Christ anointed of the Father to be our Prophet Priest King any desire to see the crown flourishing upon his Head and to have the Gospel preserved pure and uncorrupted be pleading vvith God by prayer in the behalfe of His Son's Kingdom Crown and Glory and vvrestling vvith Him till He vvere pleased to dispel these clouds prevent this blake day Especially should they not be labouring to be acquanted in truth and reality vvith the Gospel of Iesus Christ that having the mysterious truths thereof imprinted on their souls and their hearts casl into its mould they may be preserved from the hurt of this deadly poison for this vvith a constant dependence upon and use making of Christ in all His offices vvill prove the best preservative against this infection The persvvasion vvhereof did induce me to publish the follovving heads of some sermons after they had been translated into dutch and published here knovving that they might be of no lesse use to the people of God in Britane and Ireland I knovv not a more effectual mean to keep unstable souls from sideing with and imbraceing every new notion from being carryed about with every winde of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in waite to deceive than to put them upon the real exercise of Gospel godliness and to the dayly practice of the maine and fundamental gospel work of living by faith in Jesus Christ and of growing up into Him in all things who is the Head from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Such I am sure as have thus learned the Truth as it is in Iesus and are practiseing the same accordingly will have an Antidot within them against the strongest poison of these Seducers and a real answere to and confutation of all their subtile sophismes The soul exerciseing it self unto Gospel godliness will finde work enough to take it wholly up and finde such a solide ground to stand upon and see such a satisfying fulness answering all its necessities and wants such a sure heart-quieting ground of Peace Hope and Consolation in Iesus Christ as that it will have no leasure and small temptation to listen to Seduceing perverters and no inclination to seek after empty Cisterns I know much may be desiderated in this following Treatise and many may have exceptions not without ground against it Some may think it arrogancy and too great confidence in me to attempt the handling of such a mysterious necessary part of Christian practice wherein few if any so far as I know have gone before in direct handling of this matter at least in this methode order I meane that part which is about Sanctification others may be displeased with the meane low stile with my multiplying of particulars vvhich might have been better more handsomly couched under fevver heads and vvith my uncessary contracting of the vvhole into such narrovv bounds and other things of that kinde for vvhich many other failings of the like nature import vvhich may vvithout any diligent search be found in it even by ordinary unprejudiced Readers I shall not industriously laboure to apologize knovving that my very apology in this case vvill need an apology Only I shall say this That considering hovv the snare vvhich the vigilant active enemie of our Salvation the Devil vvas laying by an unholy morality did nearly concearne all especially the meanest for parts experience and less fixed Christians I thought a discourse on such a subject as I judged most necessary at all times especially in such a day of hazard should be framed to the capacity of one as well as another the most understanding can receive benefite by that which is calculat to the capacity of children when these can reap little edification by what is suited to the palate of those the less experienced or such as are of lower understanding will be less able to draw a General to a Particular or to improve so fully to comprehend one particular touched as to be able thereby to understand take in a like particular not mentioned than such as have their senses more exercised and are thereby in case to make a better improvement of what is but compendiously declared when those must have the bread brocken to their hand or they shall receive but small edification thereby and yet I suppose the judicious will observe some variety smaller or greater even where Particulars seem to be at the first view most unnecessarily multiplied I know and willingly grant for it is obvious enough that a discourse of this Subject and matter might have required a faâ—… larger volume But then how should such have profited thereby whom Poverty might possibly have scarred from bâ—…ying or the necessary affaires of their ordinary callings would have keeped from a diligent perusal of it And I thought that neither of these should have been overlooked in this special or general designe which I had before mine eyes One thing as my answere to all I shall but add If hereby Others whom the Lord hath more enabled with all necessaries for such a work shall be hereby either instigated or encouraged to write upon this Subject I meane mainly the last part thereof touching the usemaking of Christ in Sanctification for blessed be the Lord many have been employed of the Lord to speak soundly and edifyingly unto the usemaking of Christ as to Righteousness and Justification and give a Full Plaine
strong Mediator Moreover as to the acting of faith on Christ's death and sacrifice for stopping the mouth of Conscience Law Satan and for opposeing to the pursueing Justice of God because of sin It may some times be strong distinct clear and resolute At other times againe be weak mixed or accompanyed with much feare perplexity doubting and distrust because of their owne seen unworthinesse many failings doubtings of the sincerity of their repentance and the like This is a maine businesse and of great concearnment yet many are not much troubled about it nor exercised at the heart hereabout as they ought deceiving themselves with foolish imaginations for 1. They think they were beleevers all their dayes they never doubted of Gods grace and goodwill they had alwayes a good heart for God though they never knew what a wakened conscience or sense of the wrath of God meaned 2. Or they think because God is mercifull he will not be so severe as to stand upon all those things that Ministers require forgetting that He is a just God and a God of truth that wil do according to what He hath said 3. Or they suppose it is an easie matter to beleeve not such a difficult thing as it is called not considering or beleeving that no lesse power than that which raised Christ againe from the dead will worke up the heart unto faith 4. Or they resolve that they will do it afterward at some more convenient season not perceiving the cunning slight of Satan in this nor considering that faith is not in their power but the gift of God and that if they lay not hold on the call of God but harden their heart in their day God may judicially blinde them so that these things shall be hid from their eyes and so that occasion they pretend to waite for never come Oh if such whom this mainely concearneth could be induced to enter into this way considering 1 That except they enter into this way they cannot be false the wrath of God will pursue them the avenger of blood will overtake them no Salvation but here 2 That in this way is certaine Salvation this way will infallibly lead to the Father for he keepeth in the way and bringeth saife home Exod. 23 20. 2 It s the old path and the good way Ier. 6 16. all the saints have the experience of this who are already come to glory and. 4. It is a high way and a way of righteousnesse wherein if very fools walk they shall not wandâ—…r Esai 35 8 9 and if the weak walk in it they shall not fainte Esai 40 31. 5. That except this be done there is no advantage to be had by Him His death all his sufferings as to those persons that will not beleeve and enter into him as the way to the Father are in vaine 6. Yea such as will not beleeve in Him say in effect either that Christ hath not died nor consecrated away through the veile of his flesh or that all that He hath done suffered is not sufficient for bringing a soul home to God or that they can do their owne businesse without him and that it was a foolish and vaine thing for Christ to die the death for that end or lastly that they care not for salvation they are indifferent whether they perish or be saved 7. That as to them the whole gospel is in vaine all the ordinances all the administration of ordinances all the paines of Ministers are in vaine 8. That as to them all Christs intreaties motives allurements patience and long suffering his standing at the door and knocking till his locks be wet with the dew c. are in vaine yea they are contemptuously rejected despised slighted undervalued 9. That all the great promises are by such rejected as untrue or as not worthy the seeking or having and that all the threatnings on the other hand are not to be regairded or feared 10. In a word That heaven and the fellowshipe of God is not worth the seeking and that hell and the fellowshipe of devils is not worth the fearing Or that there is neither a heaven nor a hell and that all are but fictions and that there is no such thing as the wrath of God against sinners oâ—… that it is not much to be feared If it be asked what warrand have poor sinners to lay hold on Christ and grippe to him as made of God righteousnesse I answere Our absolute necessity of him is a ground to presse us to go and seek help and reliefe we see we are gone in ourselves and therefore are we allowed to seek out for help elsewhere 2 Christ's alsufficient furniture whereby he is a qualified mediator fitted with all necessaries for our case condition having laid downe a price to the satisfaction of justice is a sufficient invitation for us to look toward him for helpe and to waite at that door 3. His being appointed of the Father to be mediator of the covenant and particularly to lay down his life a ransome for sin and Christs undertaking all his offices and performeing all the duties thereof conforme to the covenant of redemption is a strong encouragement to poor sinners to come to Him because He cannot deny himself and he will be true to his trust 4. The Fathers offering of him to us in the gospell and Christs inviteing us who are weary and heavy loaden yea calling and commanding such to come to him in his owne and in his Fathers name under the paine of his and his Fathers wrath and everlasting displeasure exhorting further and requesting upon tearms of love pressing earnestly by many motives sending out his ambassadours to beseech in his stead poor sinners to be reconciled and to turne in to him for life and salvation yea upbraiding such as will not come to him all these are a sufficient warrant for a poor necessitous sinner to lay hold on his offer And further to encourage poor souls to come unto him all things are so well ordered in the gospel as that nothing occurreth that can in the least prove a stumbling block or a just ground of excuse for their forbearing to beleeve and to accept of his offer all objections possible are obviated to such as are but willing the way is cast up and all stones of stumbling cast out of it so that such as will not come can pretend no excuse They cannot object the greatnesse of their sins for the greater their sins be they have the greater need of one who is sent to take away sin and whose blood purgeth from all sin 1 Joh 1 7. what great sinner did he ever refuse that came to him and was willing to be saved by him Is ther any clause in all the gospel excludâ—…ing great sinners Nor need they object their great unworthinesse for â—…e doth all freely for the glory of his free grace 〈◊〉 got any good of him for their worth for no man ever had any
is pardoned but even sense of God's displeasure may continue after pardon as appeareth by that penitential Psalm 51. penned by David after Nathan had spoken to him concearning his sin Quaestions or Objections answered 1. What course shall we take with secret sins â—… I answer This same course must be followed with them There is an implicite repentance of sins that have not been distinctly seen and observed as who can see and observe all their failings And so there may be an implicite faith acting that is the beleever being perswaded that he is guilty of moâ—… sins than he hath yet got a clear sight of as he would bewail his condition before God because of these and sorrow for them after a godly manner so he would take them together in a heape oâ—… as a closed bag full and by faith nail them to the crosse of Christ as if they were all distinctly seen and known who can understand his errours said David Psal. 19 12. yet sayes he moreover cleanse thou me from secret faults 2. But what if after all this I finde no intimation of pardon to my soul Ans. As this should serve to keep thee humble so it should excite to more diligence in this duty of going with thy sins to Christ and to plye him and his crosse more in and through the promises and keep thy soul constant in this duty of runing to Christ as an alsufficient Mediator and as an intercessour with the Father and thus waite on Him who waiteth to be gracious even in this particular of intimating pardon to thy soul. He knoweth when it is fittest for thee to know that thy sins are forgiven 3. But what can yeeld me any ground of peace while itis so that I see no pardon or remission granted to me Answere This may yeeld thee peace that following this course which hath been explained thou art about thy duty Thou art not at peace with sin nor harbouring that viper in thy soul thou art mourning and sorrowing over it and runing to Christ the Prince of pardons through his blood and intercession conforme to the covenant of redemption and after the encouragement given in the many and precious promises of the covenant of grace and having these promises and rolling thy guilt on Christ as thy cautioner conforme to the manner expressed in the gospel thou art allowed to beleeve that thy sins are pardoned and that thou art accepted in the beloved and so quiet thy soul through faith God abideing faithfull and true and his promises being all yea and amen in Christ. 4. But so long as I finde not intimation of pardon I cannot think that I have taken the right gospel way of bringing my sins to Christ. Answere Though that will not follow as we cleared above for a soul may take the right gospel way of getting the guilt of their sins taken away in Christ and God may pardon thereupon and for all that not think it fit to give intimation of that pardon as yet for wise and holy ends yet the soul may humble it self for its shortcoming and still goe about the duty amending in Christ what it supposeth is amisse and renewing its acts of repentance and faith and beg of Christ understanding in this matter and so continue carrying sin al way to Christ's crosse and eyeing his intercession and waite for a full clearing of the matter in his good time 5. But what shall I do with the guilt of my weak Repentance and weak faith Answer When with a weak and defective repentance and faith thou art carrying thy sins away to Christ and nailing them to his crosse let the imperfections of thy faith and repentance go with the rest and leave all there 6. What shall I do with my conscience that still accuseth me of guilt notwithstanding of my taking and following this course Answer Despise not the accusations of conscience but let these humble thee the more and keep thee closser at this duty yet know that conscience is but an under servant and God's deputy and must accuse according to law I speak not here of the irregular furious and turbulent motions of Satan casting-in granads in the soul and conscience to raise a combustion and put all in a fire its mouth most be stopped by law and so the soul would stay and answere the accusations of conscience with this that he hath fled to Christ the only Mediator and Cautioner and cast his burden on him and leaneth to his merites alone and hath put those sins in his hand as his advocat and intercessour with the Father and that the gospel requireth no more of him and if conscience should say that both faith and repentance are imperfect and defective and that guilt is thereby rather increased then taken away He must answere againe True but I have done with the guilt of my faith and repentance as with the rest taken all to Christ and left all on him and herein only do I acquiesce I look not for pardon for my imperfect faith and repentance yea nor would I look for pardon of my sins for my faith and repentance were they never so perfect but only in and through Jesus Christ the only Cautioner Redeemer and Advocat But further this deputy would be brought to his master who can only command him to silence that is to say the Beleever would goe to Christ with the accuseing conscience and desire Him to command it silence that he may have peace of conscience and freedome from those accusations that are bitter and troublesome Remember withall that if these accusations drive thee to Christ and indear Him more to thy soul they will do no harme because they drive thee to thy only resting place and to the grand peace maker But if otherwise they discourage or forâ—…stow thee in thy motion Christ ward then be sure conscience speaketh without warrand and its accusations ought not in so far and as to that end be regairded CHAP. IX How to make use of Christ for cleansing of us from our dayly spots HAving spoken of the way of making use of Christ for removing of the guilt of our dayly transgressions we come to speak of the way of making use of Christ for taking away the filth that cleaveth to the soul through dayly transgressions for every sin defileth the man Mat 15 20 and the best are said to have their spots and to need washing which presupposeth filthinesse and defilement Ephes. 5 27. Iohn 13 8 10. Hence we are so oft called to this duty of washing and making us clean Esai 1 16. Ier. 4 14. Act. 22 16. David prayes for this washing Psal. 51 2 7. And it is Christ's work to wash 1 Cor. 6 11. Revel 1 5. Ephes. 5 26. See Tit. 3 5. Now in speaking to this we shall observe the same method and first shew what Christ hath done to take away this filth and next what way we are to make use of Him for this end to get our spots
will not be mocked 6. Of holy Hatred loathing and abhorrence of sin which maketh us so filthy and odious in the eyes of the Lord. 2. This course would be followed for the purging away of the least sins for till they be purged away we remaine in our filth and cannot exspect God's favourable countenance nor his warme imbracements nor the hearty intimations of his love and kindnesse And a small inconsiderable like spot may grow greater and provoke God to let the accuser of the brethren Satan who alwayes waits for his opportunity losse upon us and a conscience wakened may make much of a little defilement to keep the soul from approaching to God 3. This course would be followed with every sin quickly without delay for the longer those spots continue it will be the more difficult to get them taken away the soul will after some time become the lesse troubled about them and possibly forget them and so they will remaine and this may occasion at last a sad distance and provoke God to hide his face which will cause more bitternesse and sorrow It were good then to keep up a Spirit of tendernesse and feare 4. Let this be our Dayly work and exercise for we are daylie contracting new filth yesterdayes cleansing will not save us from new filth to day nor will our runing to the fountaine to day serve to take away new spots tomorrow new spots call for new washing so that this must be our very life and exercise to be dayly and continually runing to the fountaine with our foule souls and giving Christ the great purger much to do 5. We must not think to be perfectly Washen so long as we are here for we will be contracting new filth dayly our feet will still be to wash Iohn 13 10. We will not be without spote or wrinckle till we come home to that place wherein entereth nothing that defileth 6. Let the beleevers recourse in this matter be wholly to Iesus Christ and his blood and lay no weight on their sorrow repentance or teares or on any outward meane which they are commanded to use yet would they not lay aside these meanes but goe through them to the fountaine to Jesus there and there only to be cleansed 7. They would not be discouraged or dispaire when their spots appear great and not like the spots of his children for Christ's blood can purge from all sin and wash away all their filth of how deep so ever a dye it be Christ's blood is so deep an ocean that a mountain will be sunck out of sight in it as wel as a small peeble stone 8. Though Christ's blood be strong enough to purge from all sin even the greatest yet they would know that scandalous spots or a deep staine may cost them more frequent runing to the fountaine through humiliation godly sorrow prayer and supplication David's scandalous blot cost him more trouble and paines before he got it purged away than many others as we see Psal. 51. 9. When all this is done we must think of having on another righteousnesse as our cloathing and covering in the day of our appearance before our judge even the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ which only is perfect and able to save us from the wrath of God Let us be never so washen in the matter of sanctification and cleansed from our spots we cannot for all that be accounted righteous before God nor will that satisfie justice or take away the guilt so much as of one transgression before God Christ's righteousnesse will be ouâ—… upper-garment for all eternitie Ut his is the fine linning wherewith his bride is busked in heaven 10. At every time we run to the fountaine with our dayly contracted filth we would not forget to carry alongs with us the mother corruption which is the sinck and puddle of all filthinesse I meane our naturall corrupted rottennesse and pollution from whence flow all our other actuall pollutions We would do well to carry mother and daughter both together to the fountaine David prayeth to be washen and purged as well from his originall filthinesse wherein he was conceived and borne as from his bloudguiltinesse Psal. 51 5 7. 11. Let not this occasion our carelesnesse in watching against sin for that would be to turne his grace into wantonness but rather let it sharpen our diligence in watching against all occasions of sin lest we againe defile our soul. 12. Not only must we have our bodyes or our outward conversation washen but our soul within the frame of our heart our understanding will affections and conscience sprinkled with that blood The blood of Christ who through the eternall Spirit offered himself without spot â—…o God must purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9 14. And we must have our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience Heb. 10 22. Finally If the beleever feare that he shall not be able to remember all these particular duties let him remember this to wit To put a â—…oule soul defiled with originall and actuall pollutions in Christ's hand dayly and leave it with him to wash by his blood and Spirit And yet remember to lay the weight of his acceptance before God upon the imputed righteousnesse of Iesus Christ and not upon his own cleannesse when thus sanctified and washen which is but imperfect Questions or objections answered But alas some may Object and say That their very faith which must carry the rest of their filth to the fountaine of Christ's blood is defiled How then can they expect to be made clean An. The blood of Iesus Christ is sufficiently able to wash all our filth away and the filth of faith as well as of other actions Therefore when faith as a hand is carrying the filth of the soul away to Christ to be washen in his blood let the foule hand go with the foule hand full give Christ faith and all to wash 2. But what shall I do when notwithstanding of all this my conscience shall still accuse me of uncleannesse and cry out against me as filthy and abominable Ans. Take it away also to the blood of Iesus that there it may be purged Heb. 9 14. and here alone will we get our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience Heb. 10 22. The conscience must be steeped to speak so in the blood of Iesus and so it shall be cleane and taking our filthy hearts to this cleansing fountaine to be washen we will get them delivered and sprinkled from an evil conscience that it shall no more have ground of accusation against us when we have it to say that we have put our filthy souls in the hands of the great cleanser Jesus Christ and brought all our pollutions to his blood what can conscience say to us The Lord it is true may suffer our consciences still to bark upon us and cast up our filthinesse to us that we may be the more humbled and be put to lye
of salvation for 1. There is no salvation now by the law of works that covenant being once broken â—…annot any more save The law cannot now do it in that it is weak through the flesh Rom. 8 3. 2. There is no salvation by the law of Moses without Christ hence Israel which followed after the law of righteousnesse did not attaine to the law of righteousnesse because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the law Rom. 9 31 32. They went about to establish their own righteousnesse and did not submit themselves unto the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10 3. 3. There is no salvation by any thing mixed in with Christ as the Apostle fully cleareth in his Epistle to the Galatians 4. There is no salvation by any other way or medium which man can invent or fall upon whereof there are not a few as we shewed above for there is not another name given under heaven by which we can be saved but the name of Iesus Act. 4 12. No religion will save but this So that He is the true savation and He only is the true salvation and He is the sure and saife salvation such as make use of Him shall not be mistaken nor disappointed Esai 35 8. Ninthly He is the Truth In respect of his leading and guideing his people in the truth Hence He is called a Teacher come from God Iohn 3 2. and one that teacheth the way of God in truth Maâ—… 22 16. A Prophet mighty in deed and word Luk. 24 19. And in this respect He is the truth upon severall accounts 1. Of his personal teaching God spoke by Him Heb. 1 2. He revealed the Father's minde Mat. 11 27. Iohn 1 18. 2. Of his messengers sent by Him as Prophets of old Apostles and ministers of late whom he sendeth forth to make disciples Mat. 28 18. and to open the eyes of the blinde Act. 26 18. 3. Of his word which He hath left as our rule and which is a sure word of prophecy more sure than a voice from heâ—…ven 2 Pet. 1 19. 4. Of his ordinances which He hath established as meanes to guide us in the way of truth 5. Of his Spirit whereby He maketh the word cleare Iohn 14 26. This Spirit is sent to teach all truth and to lead and guide in all truth Ioh. 16 13. 1 Iohn 2 27. and sent by Him and by the Father in his name Iohn 14 26 15 16 16 14 6. Of his dispensations of providence within us without us by which likewise he instructeth in the way of truth Tenthly He is the Truth in respect of his bearing witnesse to truth and this He doth 1. By Himself who was given for a witnesse Esa. 55 4. and came to beare witnesse to the truth Iohn 3 10. 18 37. and was a faithfull witnesse Revel 1 5. 3 14. 2. By his Ministers who witnesse the trâ—…th of the gospel by publishing and proclaiming the same 3. By his Martyrs who seal the truth with their blood and so beare witnesse to it Revel 2 13. 17 6. Act. 22 20. 4. By his Spirit sealing the truth of grace in a beleever and his interest in God through Christ and his right to all the benefites of the new covenant In whom also after ye beleeved ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance Ephes. 1 13 14. Eleventhly He is the Truth in respect that He carryeth towards poor sinners in all things according to the tenor of the gospel and the offers thereof He offers himself to all freely and promiseth to put none away that come to Him and this He doth in truth for no man can say that he had a sincere and true desire to come to Jesus Christ and that He rejected him and would not look upon him He giveth encouragement to all sinners to come that will be content to quite their sins and promiseth to upbrâ—…id none that cometh and is there any that in their own experience can witnesse the contrary He offers all freely and did He ever reject any upon the want of a price in their hand Nay hath not the cause of their getting no admittence been that they thought to commend themselves to Christ by their worth and would not take all freely for the glory of his grace Let beleevers and others speak here out of their owne experience in truth and in uprightnesse and it shall be found that He was and is the Truth Twelvely He is the Truth in that in all his dispensations of the gospell and in all his works and actions in and about his own people He is true and upright all his offers all his promises all his dispensations are done in truth and uprightnesse yea all are done out of truth and uprightnesse of love true tendernesse and affection to them whatever the corruption of jealousie and misbeleefe think and say to the contrary He is the Truth And so alwayes the same unchangeable in his love whatever his dispensations seem to say And the beleever may rest assured hereof that He being the Truth Shall be to him whatever his word holdeth him forth to be and that constantly and unchangeably CAP. XII Some general uses from this usefull truth that Christ is the Truth HAving thus cleared up this truth we should come to speak of the way of beleevers making use of Him as the Truth in several cases wherein they will stand in need of Him as the Truth But ere we come to the particulars we shall first propose some general uses of this usefull point First This point of truth serveth to discover to us the wofull condition of such as are strangers to Christ the Truth and oh if it were beleeved for 1. They are not yet delivered from that dreadful plague of blindenesse errour ignorance mistakes under which all are by nature a condition that if rightly seen would cause the soul lie low in the dust 2. Whatever course they take till they come to Christ and while they remaine in that condition is a lie and a false erroneous and deceitful way for still they are turning aside to lies Psal. 40 4. and seeking after them Psal. 4 2. 3. Whatever hopes and confidence they may have that their way shall carry them thorow yet in end they will be found to inherite lies Ier. 16 19 and meet with the sadest disappointment that can be for in stead of the followshipe of God Christ angels and glorified spirits they shall take up their lodging with devils and damned souls and that because they have made no acquantance with the way of truth and the way wherein they are is but a lie and a falshood and so of necessity must deceive them 4. All their literal and speculative knowledge shall not avail them so long as they are strangers unto Him who is the Trâ—…th Their knowledge is but ignorance because it is not a knowledge of
Him who is the Truth 5. They have none to go to for help and light in the day of their darknesse confusion and perplexity for they are not reconciled unto the Truth which alone can prove steadable and comfortable in that day 6. They can do nothing to helpe themselves out of that state of darknesse and ignorance and whatever they do to helpe themselves shall but increase their darknesse and misery because there is no truth there and Truth even the Truth alone can dispell these clouds of errour mistakes ignorance c. Secondly Hence we see the happy and blessed condition of beleevers who have imbraced this Truth and gotten their souls opened to Him who is the Truth for 1. They are in part delivered from that masse of lies mistakes misapprehensions errours deceitfulnesse and ignorance under which they lay formerly and all the unregenerate do yet lye and though they be not fully delivered therefrom yet the day is comeing when that shall be and the begun work of grace and truth in them is a certane pledge thereof and at present they have ground to beleeve that that evil shall not againe have dominion over them they being now under grace and under the guidance of Truth 2. Howbeit they have many perplexing thoughts doubts and feares of their state and condition and think many a time that they shall one day or other perish by the way and all their hopes and confidence shall evaniâ—…h yet having given up themselves to Truth and to the Truth they shall not be disappointed in end The Truth shall land them saife on the other side The Truth shall prove no lie 3. They have a fast and steadable friend to go to in a day of darknesse clouds doubts when falshood and lies are like to prevail even the Truth who alone can help them in that day 4. Howbeit the knowledge they have of God and of the mysteries of the gospell be but small yet that small measure being taught by Him who is the Truth and flowing from Truth shall prove sanctifying and saving 5. They have ground to hope for more freedome from errours and deceitfull lies than others for they have chosen the way of truth and given themselves up to the leading of Truth Object But do not even such drink-in and receive and plead for errours as well as others and is it not sometime found that they even live and die in some mistakes and errours Answere I grant the Lord may suffer even some of his own to fall into and to continue for some time in errors yea and it may be all their dayes as to some errours that hereby all may learne to tremble and feare and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling 2. Some may be tryed thereby Dan. 11 35. 3. Others may break their neck thereupon 4. To punish themselves for not making that use of Truth and of the Truth that they should have done yet we would consider these few things 1. That there are many moe unregenerat persons that fall into errour 2. If his people fall into errour at any time they do not alwayes continue therein to the end God for his own glory maketh some time or other truth shine in upon their soul which discovereth that mistake and presently the grace of God in their soul maketh them to abhore the same 3 Or if some continue in it to their dieing day yet they repent of it by an implicite repentance as they do of other unknown and unseen evils that lye in their soul so that that errour doth not destroy their soul. 4 There are some grosse errours which a regenerat soul cannot readyly imbrace or if through a mistake or the power of a temptation they do imbrace them yet they cannot heartyly close with them whatever for a time through corruption and pride they may seem outwardly to do and that because the very dayly exercise of grace will discover them and so they will be found to be against their dayly experience as some opinions of the Papists Arminians and Socinians together with the abominable Quakers which a gracious soul when not carryed away with the torrent of corruption and with the tempest of a temptation cannot but observe to contradict the dayly workings of grace in their soul and the motions of their sanctified soul in prayer and other holy dutyes and so such as they cannot but finde to be false by their own experience Thirdly Here is ground of a sharpe reproof of the wicked who continue in unbeleef and I Will not beleeve nor give any credite to his promises wherewith He seeketh to allure poor souls to come to Him for life 2 Nor will they beleeve His threatnings wherewith He useth to alarme souls and to pouse them forward to their duty 3 Nor will they beleeve and receive His offers as true 4 Nor will they beleeve that He is the true Prophet Priest and king that must save souls from hell and death and therefore they will not give Him imployment in his offices All which cannot but be an high provocation for in effect it is to say that He is not the Truth nor worthy to be beleeved Let them consider this and â—…ee how they think he shall take this off their hands No man will take it well that another should either call or account Him a liar and can they think that Christ shall take it well at their hands to be accounted by them a liar What will they think to be challenged for this in the great day Now the truth is all unbeleevers as they make God a liar o horrid and abominable crime Whose haire would not stand on end to hear this 1 Iohn 5 10 11 He that beleeveth not God hath made him a liar because he beleeveth not the record that God gave of his Son and this is the record that God hath given to us eternall life and this life is in his Son So do they make the Son of God a liar in all his sayings in all his Offices and in all his works And they make the holy ghost a liar in not beleeving that truth that He hath sealed as a firme truth They make the covenant of surtyshipe betwixt the Father and the Son a mere lie and a forgery o dreadfull They make the word of truth a lie and they make all the saints liars and all the officers of Iesus Christ who declare this truth and the saints who beleeve it and test upon it liars Fourthly Hence is there ground of reproof to the godly in that 1. They do not firmely enough beleeve his sayings neither his promises nor his threatnings as appeareth too oft upon the one hand by their faintings and feares and upon the other hand by their carelesnesse and loose walk 2. They make not use of Him in all cases as they ought his offices lye by and are not improven noâ—… is He gone to as the Truth in cases requireing his helpe as the Truth that is
that there is no grouth in knowledge because possibly he perceiveth it not or is not satisfied as to the measure thereof yea though possibly he perceive more ignorance than ever he did before If he grow in the knowledge of his own ignorance it is a grouth of knowledge not to be despised and in a manner what can we else know of God but that He farr transcendeth all our knowledge and that He is an incomprehensible one in all his wayes 4. Let him not think that there is no grouth in knowledge because he perceiveth not a grouth in the knowledge of such or such a particular which he desireth most for if there be a grouth in the knowledge of other particulars necessary to be known there is no reason to compleane If one grow not as he supposeth in the knowledge of God and of the mysteries of the gospel yet if he grow in the discovery of the treachery and wickednesse of his own heart he cannot say that he groweth not in knowledge 5. Let him not measure his grouth in knowledge by his grouth in the faculty of speaking and discoursing of such or such points of Religion many measure their knowledge by their tongue and think they know little because they can expresse little and so they think they attaine to no increase or grouth in knowledge because they perceive no grouth or increase in this faculty of discoursing and talking of such or such points of truth It is saifer to measure their knowledge by the impression that the truth hath on their spirits and the effects of it on all their carriage than by their ability or skill to talk and disput of it 6. Let them beware to imagine that they shall be able to search out the almighty unto perfection canst thou said Zophar Iob. 11 7 8 9. by searching find out God canst thou finde out the almighty unto perfection He is as high as heaven what canst thou do deeper then hell what canst thou know The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader than the sea Or that they shall be able ever to win to the bottome of their own false deceitful heart which as Ieremiah sayeth Cap. 17 9. is deceitful above all things and desperatly wicked who can know it And which is God's prerogative alone to search and try vers 10. Neither let them think so long as they are here to win to an exact and perfect knowledge of the mysteries of God wherein is the manifold wisdom of God Ephes. 3 10. which very Principalities and powers in heavenly places are learning and which the Angels are poreing and looking into with desire 1. Pet. 1 12. There is no perfection in knowledge to be had here for here the best but knoweth in part and Prophecyeth in part 1 Cor. 13 4. 7. Let them not think that every one shall have the same measure of knowledge Every one hath not the like use for it or the like capacity for it There is a measure proportioned to every one They should not then complean because they have not such a measure of knowledge as they perceive in some others It may be the Lord hath some harder piece of service which calleth for more knowledge to put others to Let every one then minde his duty faithfully and conscientiously and let him not quarrel with God that he attaineth not to such a measure of knowledge as he seeth others attaine unto 8. Neither let them think that the same measure is required of all for more is required of some by reason of their office and charge in the house of God being called to teach and instruct others than of others and so more is required of such as have larger capacities and a better faculty of understanding than others who naturally are but of a narrow reach and of a shallow capacity more also is required of such as live under plaine powerfull and lively ordinances and under a more powerful and spiritual dispensation of the grace of God than of others that want such advantages So likewise more is required of old Christians than of new beginners Old men of much and long experience should know more than such as are but babes in Christ and of yesterday 9. Let their desires run out after that knowledge not which puffeth up for there is a knowledge which puffeth up 1 Cor. 8. 1. but which humbleth and driveth the soul further from it self and nearer to Christ. 10. They would carefully distinguish betwixt the gift of knowledge and the grace of knowledge That ordinarily puffeth up This humbleth That bringeth not the soul to Iesus This doth That is but a forme Rom. 2 20. and doth not retaine God Rom. 1 28. This is a real thing laying hold on God and holdeth him fast having the feare of the Lord for its principle for this fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome Iob. 28 28. Psal. 111 10. Prov. 1 7. and 9 10. That lyeth most in the head and venteth most in discourses words yea and sometime evanisheth into vaine notions But this goeth down to the heart and lodgeth there and appeareth in the mans walk conversation as these two would be distinguished so the one should not be measured by the other 11 When they do not profite indeed let them beware of quarrelling with Christ or of blameing Him in any manner of way but let them lay the blame of their shortcoming on themselves for not making more use of Him by faith and single dependence upon Him It is true none will be so bold as in words to quarrell with or blame Him yet the heart is deceitful and tacitely may raise foment such thoughts of Him and his dispensations as can passe under no other notion than a quarrelling with Him Now these would be guairded against 12. Beware of urgeing for or expecting of immediat revelations or extraordinary manifestations for we should not tempt the Lord nor set limites to Him neither should we prescribe meanes and wayes to Him we must be satisfied with the ordinary meanes which He hath appointed and waite at wisdomes doors with our eares nailed to his posts 13. Whatever point of truth they learne or whatever measure of knowledge they get they would do well to give that back againe to Christ to keep for them against a time of need and waite on Him for grace to improve it for his glory 14. Let them beware of mindeing things too high Psal. 131 1. It is better to feare and stand in awe and to seek to lay the foundations well to get the saving knowledge of things necessary to salvation This will yeeld most peace and satisfaction CHAP. XIV How to make use of Christ as Truth for comfort when truth is oppressed and borne down THere is another difficulty wherein beleeving souls will stand in need of Christ as the Truth to helpe them and that is when his work is overturned his cause borne down truth condemned and enemies in
truth should no more be mentioned are promoveing his work His wheel is the great wheel that ordereth all the lesser and subordinate wheels whatever contrary motions they may have the one to the other and all or many of them may seem to have to this great wheel So that do they what they will the work of our Lord goeth on Their opposition is setting his work forward though they intend the contrary However their faces look they row to the port He would be at This is an undoubted truth and confirmed in all ages and yet is not firmly beleeved and a truth it is which if beleeved would do much to settle our staggering souls in a stormy day 10 That at last He shall come to be glorifyed in his saints 2 Thes. 1 10 when He shall be revealed from heaven with all his mighty angels vers 7. Then shall it be seen whose shall counsel stand His or mens and whose work shall prosper His or Satans Cautions Yet let me adde a few words for caution and direction here 1. The consideration of those things mentioned should not make us slacken our diligence in prayer and other duties and when they are a right considered they will rather prove a spurre and a goad in our side to set us forward than a bridle to hold us aback 2. We would not think that Christ's work and interest is going backward alwayes when it seemeth so to us Even when He is casting downe what He hath built up and plucking up what He hath planted his work is prospering for all that is in order to the laying of a better foundation and to the carrying on of a more glorious work when He shall lay all the stones with faire colours the foundations with saphires and make the windowes of crystal c. Esai 5 4 11 12. 3. Though his work be alwayes going on and his truth prospering yet we would not think that it will alwayes prosper alike in our apprehensions many times we judge by rules of our own making and not by the rule of truth and hence it is that we mistake oftentimes We walk little by faith and too much by sense and hence we judge too much by sense and so passe a wrong judgement to his dishonour and the sadning of our own hearts 4. Nor would we think that His Truth and interest is ruined and gone because it is sore oppressed in this or that particular place of the world as if his work were not of an universal extent and in all the churches If his truth thrive and prosper in some other place of the world shall we not say that his kingdome is coming Or shall we limite all his work and interest to one small part of the world 5. We would not think the worse of his work because it is carryed on with so many stops and doth meet with so many Impediments in its way We are not acquanted with the depths of his infinite wisdome and counsel and so we see not what noble ends He hath before Him in suffering those impediments to lie in the way of his chariot We think He should ride so triumphantly all alongs that none should once dar to cast the least block in his way but we judge carnally as unacquanted with the many noble and glorious designes which He hath in ordering matters As Himself was for a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence so will he have the way of the carrying on of his work prove in his holy and spotlesse justice a stumbling stone to many that shall stumble thereat and fall and never rise any more 6. We would beware to think that Christ-hath forgotten his work because He seemeth to take no notice of our prayers which we are putting up now and then for his work He may be doing that which we are desireing in the general and yet not let us know that He is answering our prayers that for wise and holy ends to keep us humble diligent He may seem to misregaird our suites and yet be carrying on his work and granting us our desires upon the matter 7. Hence we â—…ould beware of desponding and growing heartlesse and fainte when we see few owneing truth Or standing upon Christ's side for He needeth not mans help to carry on his work though He sometimes thinketh good to condescend so far as to honour some to be instrumental in setting of it forward who yet have nothing but as He giveth let us not then think that his work cannot prosper because great ones and meane ones oppose it and such as should stand for it and owne it are few and fainting without strength courage or Zeal CHAP. XV. How to make use of Christ for stedfastness in a time when truth is oppressed and borne downe WHen enemies are prevailing and the way of truth is evil spoken of many fainte and many turne aside and do not plead for truth not stand up for the interest of Christ in their houre and power of darknesse many are overcome with base feare and either side with the workers of iniquity or are not valient for the truth But being faint-hearted turne back Now the thoughts of this may put some who desire to stand fast and to owne Him and his cause in a day of tryall to enquire how they shall make use of Christ who is the Truth so as to be inabled to stand in the day of temptation and to keep fast by Truth when it is loaded with reproaches and buryed under an hâ—…pe of obloquy For satisfaction to this question I shall shortly point out those directions which if followed may prove helpful to keep the soul from fainting misbeleeving doubting quarrelling at the Lord's dispensations and from yeelding to the temptatitions in such a day 1. The beleever would live in the conviction of his hazard through the slight of Satan the strength of the temptation the wickednesse and treachery of the heart the evil example of others and the want of sanctified courage Zeal and resolution and this will keep the soul humble and farr from boasting of its own strength which was Peter's fault 2. They would live in the faith and perswasion of this That it is Christ alone who is the Truth who can help them to stand for truth in a day of temptation and that all their former purposes vowes resolutions solemne professions and the like will prove but weak cables to hold them fast in a day of storme and that only the rock of ages must save them and their being a ley ward of Him and partaking of his warme and saife protection will do their businesse That all their stock of grace and knowledge and that confirmed with resolutions and sincere purposes will helpe but little in that day and that new influences of grace and truth from the fountaine that is full of grace and truth will only prove establishing to the soul and confirme it in the truth in that day 3. Therefore they
as that thereby it may be as a distracted person as we see it was with Heman Psal. 88 15. who said while I suffer thy terrours I am distracted The wrath of God lay hard upon Him and he said that he was afflicted with all God's waves vers 7. hence he cryed out vers 16 17. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrours have cutt me off they came round about me dayly or all the day like water they compassed me about together And yet for all this the first word of his complaint was faith vers 1. Many such complaints hear we our of Iob's mouth to whom God notwithstanding was that gracious that he never came to question his state before God or to conclude his hypocrisic or his being still in the state of nature But it is not so with every one that is so exercised 4. Yea further with those inward strokes upon the soul they may have sin and guilt charged home upon their consciences and this will make their life yet more bitter put a sharper edge upon the rods Thus was Iob made to possesse the sinnes of his youth Iob 13 26. and made to say My transgression is sealed up in a bag and thou sowest up mine iniquity Iob. 14 17. 5. Moreover they may be in such a condition a long time and all the while have no light of comfort as we see in Iob and Heman They may even walk in darknesse and have no light of comforâ—… Esai 50 10. 6. Yea and also be without the hope of a delivery or outgate Hence cryeth Heman Psal. 88 4 5. I am counted with them that go downe into the pit free among the deed like the slaine that lye in the grave whom thou rememberest no more and they are cut off from thine hand Yea they may be driven to the very border of despaire and conclude that there is no hope as the Church did Ezek. 37 11. Our bones are dryed and our hope is lost and we are cut off for our pairts and as Iob Chap. 7 6. My dayes are swifter then a weavers shuttle and are spent without hope and Chap. 19 10. He hath destroyed me on every side and I am gone mine hope hath he removed like a tree Now though sometimes as we see in Iob and in Heman too a soul may be under such a sad and sharpe dispensation and yet not brought to question their state or to conclude themselves children of wrath lyeing still in blacke nature yet it is not so with all who are so exercised but many under such a dispensation may at least be in the dark as to their state before God and if they do not positively assert their state to be bad yet they do much question if they be in the state of grace and would be comforted under all their pressures and afflictions if they could win to the least well grounded apprehension of their interest in Christ. In such a case as this is there is ground fot a poor soul to make use of Christ for outgate and an outgate may be had in God's time and as He seeth sit by a right use-making of and going out to Him who is the Truth So then the soul that would have its state and condition cleared up and a discovery of its being reconciled to God through Jesus and in a state of grace and would make use of Christ as the Truth for this end would 1. Look out to Christ as a feeling Highpriest faithful and mercyful who being like us in all things except sin doth sympathize with and succure such as are tempted Heb. 2 17 18. And as a Priest that is touched with the feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4 15. Albeit Christ in the deepest of his darknesse was never made to question his soneshipe but avouched God to be his God even when he was forsaken Psal. 22 1 Mat. 27 46. Mark 15 34. Yet He knew what it was to be tempted to question his sonshipe when the devil said unto Him Mat. 4. if thou be the Son of God and He knowes what such a distresse as He himself was into wreastling with an angry God hideing himself and forsaking will worke in a poor sinner and being a mercyful and sympathizeing Highpriest he cannot but pity such as are under such a distemper and as a gracious Head sympathize with them Now the beleever would look out to Him as such an one and upon this ground go to Him with confidence and boldnesse and lay out their case before Him that He may helpe and send reliefe 2. They would also eye Christ as able to save out of that condition and to command light to shine out of darknesse and so as one able to save to the uttermost all that come to God through Him Heb. 7 25. 3. And not only so but eye Him also as given sent and commissioned of the Father to be a light to such as sit in darknesse even to the Gentiles Esa. 42 6. 49 6. Luk. 2 32. Act. 13 47. 26 23. Iohn 8 12. and this will encourage the poor Souls to go out to him with their darknesse when they see that He is sent as a Light and as the Truth to clear up poor souls that walk in darknesse and have no light when they see that it is his place and office to helpe them and consider that He is true to his trust and true and faithful in all that was committed to Him it not only will embolden them to come forward to Him but it will strengthen their hope and encourage them to waite on 4. They would stay themselves on Him as an alsufficient helper renunceing all other crying out that they will have no light but His light and that they will seek no where else for light but waite at His door till He who is the Sun of righteousnesse arise in their soul and come with hailing light in his wings 5. They would by faith roll and cast their darkened souls their confused case their over whelmed hearts on Him and leave them there for He is the only physitian and the blinde soul must be put in his hand who can take away the filme and cause the scales fall off and make light break in to the soul and discover to it its condition 6. It would be useful and very steadable in such a time of darknesse for the beleever to be frequent in acting direct acts of faith on Christ that is be frequent in going to Him as an alsufficient Mediator as the only refuge and shadow for a poâ—…r weary scoarched soul Esai 4. last 32 2. And a man shall be as an hideing place from the winde and a covert from the tempest as rivers of water in a drye place as the shadow of a great rock in a â—…eary land as one who is a strength to the needy in his distresse a refuge from the storme a shadow from the heat c. Esa. 25 4. When the soul is thus overwhelmed
rebelliousnesse in the will irregularity disorder in the affections whereby the soul is unfit for any thing that is good prone to every thing that is evil Rom. 3 10 20. Ephes. 2 1 2 3. Rom. 5 6. 8 7 8 whence proceedeth all our actual transgressions Iam 1 14 15. And moreover sometimes the soul is given up to a reprobat minde Rom. 1 28. to strong delusions 2 Thes. 2 2. to hardnesse of heart Rom. 2 5. horror of conscience Esa. 33 14. to vile affections Rom. 1 26 and the like spiritual plagues which though the Lord inflict on some only yet all are obnoxious to the same by nature can exspect no lesse if the Lord should enter with them into judgment And finally as to what is future of this kinde they are being fuel for Tophet obnoxious to that malignant sinful blasphemous and desperat rebellion against God in hell for ever more O how lamentable upon this consideration must the condition of such be as are yet in the state of nature Oh if it were but seen and felt But alas there is this addition to all that people know noâ—… this they consider it not they beleeve it not they feel it not they see it not and hence it cometh to passe that 1. They cannot bewail and lament their condition nor be humbled therefore 2. They cannot nor will not seek after a remedie for the whole will not trouble themselves to seek after a physician And sure upon this account their case calleth for pity and compassion from all that know what a dreadful thing it is to be in such a condition and should stirre up all to pray for them and to do all they can to helpe them out of that state of sin and misery which is dreadful to think upon Should not the thoughts and consideration of this put us all to try and search if we be yet translated from death to life and delivered out of that terrible and dreadful state and made partakers of the first resurrection It not being my purpose to handle this point at large I shall not here insist in giving marks whereby this may be known and which are obvious in Paul's Epistles to be found handled at large in several practical pieces chiefly in Mr. Guthries Great interest I shall only desire every one to consider and examine 1. Whether or not the voice of Christ which quickeneth the dead hath been heard and welcomed in their soul This is effectual calling 2. Whether or not there be a through change wrought in their soul a change in the whole Man so as all things are become new 2 Cor. 5 vers 17 3. Whether or not there be a Principle of life within And they be led by the Spirit 4. Whether or not there be a living to the glory of the Lord Redeemer And when by impartial tryal a discovery is made of the badness of our condition should we not be alarmed to look about us and to laboure by all meanes for an outgate considering 1. How doâ—…lful and lamentable this condition is 2. How sad and dreadful the consequents of it are 3. How happy a thing itis to be delivered from this miserable and sinful condition and. 4. How there is a possibility of outgate Finally It may break a heart of stone to think how people that are in such a condition are so unwilling to come out of it for 1. How unwilling are they once to suspect their condition or to suppose that it may be bad and that they may be yet unconverted 2. How unwilling are they to sit down seriously to try and 〈◊〉 the matter and to lay their case to the touch-stone of the word 3. Yea how unwilling are they to heare any thing that may tend to awaken them or to discover unto them the badness of their condition 4. How ready to stiffle challenges of conscience or any common motion of the Spirit which tendeth to alarme their soul 5. How great enemies are they to such ordinances as serve to awaken sleeping consciences 6. And how do they hate such ministers as preach such doctrine as may serve to rouz thâ—…m up and set them a work about their own salvation Secondly We learne hence That without Christ there is no imaginable way of delivery out of this natural state of death No other name is given under heaven whereby we can be saved Act. 4 12. and angels can make no help here nor can one of us deliver another the redemption of the soul is more precious then so Psal. 49 7 8. Not is there any thing we can do for ourselves that will availe here all our prayers teares whipeings fastings voâ—…es almes deeds purposes promises resolutions abstenance from some evils outward amendements good morality and civility outward religiousnesse yea and if it were possible our keeping of the whole law will not helpe us out of this pit And we may weary ourselves in such exercises in vaine for they will prove but bodylie exercises that profite little And when in this way we have spent all our time parts spirits and labour we shall at length see and say that we have spent our money for that which is not bread This should put all of us to try what itis which we leane to for life and what it is the consideration whereof giveth us peace and quietnesse when the thoughts of death judgment hell and the wrath of God come upon us and trouble us for if it be any thing beside Christ that our soul leaneth to and that we are comforted by and found all our hopes upon we will meet with a lamentable oh for ever lamentable disappointment Be sure then that our hearts renunce all other wayes and meanes of outgate out of this death beside Jesus the Resurrection and the Life else it will not be well with us Thirdly We see here That delivery out of this natural state of death is only had by Christ for He alone is the Life and the life that is in Him is suiteable and excellent Hence he is called the bread of life Iohn 6 35 48. The resurrection and the life Iohn 11 25. The water of life Revel 21 6. 22 17. The tree of life Revel 22 2 14. The Prince of life Act. 3 15. our life Col. 3 4. The word of life and life it self 1 Iohn 1 1 2. And as He is a suitable and excellent life so is He an alsufficient and perfect life able every way to helpe us and to deliver us from all the parts of our death For 1. He delivereth from the sentence of the law Rom. 5 17 18. undergoing the curse of the law and becomeing a curse for us 2 Cor. 5. last 2. He taketh away the curse and sting of all temporal plagues yea and of death it self causeing all work together for good to such as love Him Rom. 8 28. He hath killed Him that had the power of death that is the devil Heb. 2 14.
a stout couragious Spirit and resolution of heart avail If He who is the Life breathâ—… not all that will melt away and evanish 4. Nor will the stock of habitual grace which remaineth in the soul be sufficient to quicken and revive the sick soul if the Life breath not on these habites and if new influences of life and strength flow not in upon the soul and new rayes come not down from this sun of righteousnesse to warme the frozen soul the habites will lye by as dead 5. Far lesse will their great gifts and enduements helpe them out of that dead condition all their light and knowledge without the influences of this Life will prove weak and insufficient for this end and purpose 6. Nor will sound pure and lively like ordinances work out this effect for till He look down all those ordinances may prove dead and deadning to them It were good if beleevers were living under the conviction of this daylie and by their practice and carriage declareing that they believe that Christ only is the Life and that they must live in Him and be quickened and revived through Him alone Thirdly We see hence That Christ is the Life that is one that sufficiently yea and abundantly can helpe the beleever while under those fits of deadnesse which have been mentioned and the like There is in him a rich supply of all things that tend to revive encourage strengthen and enliven soul under spiritual deadnesse and fainting Therefore is He called the Life as having in Him all that which is necessary for and answereable to souls under spiritual sicknesses distempers desertions fainting swooning fiâ—…es c. for with Him is the fountaine of life Psal. 36 9. and He itis that upholdeth the soul in life Psal. 66 9. and can command the blessing even life for evermore Psal. 13 3 vers 3. For further clearing of this we would consider those things 1. That He is God equal with the Father in power and glory and thereby hath life in himself Iohn 5 26. and can quicken whom He will vers 21. By this He proveth there his own godhead equality with the Father So Iohn 1 4. Itis said that in Him was life and that life was the light of men whereby also his Godhead is confirmed This should be firmly beleeved and rooted in our hearts as being the ground of all our hope comfort and life for were it not so that our Mediator were the true God all our hopes were gone our comforts could not be long lived and our life were extinct 2. As mediator God-man He is fully and througly fournished to quicken and enliven his members and followers first and last and all alongs their life must be hid with Christ in God for in Him dwelleth the fulnesse of the godhead bodyly Col. 2 9. as mediator he is called a tree of life Prov. 3 18. quickening and enlivening all that feed upon Him and the bread of life Iohn 6 35 48. Yea because of power and authoritie to commmand life to the dead soul He is called the Prince of life Act. 3 15. and as a living quickening stone he giveth life to all that are built upon Him 1 Pet. 2 4. Yea as being fully fitted and fournished for this work He calleth himself the resurrection and the life Iohn 11 25. This should be riveted in our hearts as a comfortable and encouraging truth 3. Of this stock of life and quickening and reviveing grace which He hath gote and is furnished withal as Mediator and Redeemer of his people He is communicative of his fulnesse do we receive and grace for grace Iohn 1 16. He gote it that He might give it out and that from Him as an head it might flow out unto his members and therefore He is the bread that came downe from heaven and giveth life to the world Iohn 6 35. Yea He giveth eternal life to all his sheep Ioh. 10 28. and He is come for this end that his sheep might have life Iohn 10 10 Therefore hath he taken on such relations as may give ground of confirmation of this as of an head of a stock or root and the like This consideration is strengthening and reviveing 4. He communicateth of this stock of life and of reviveing strength which He hath most sweetly and on most easie tearmes So that 1. Such as seek him shall finde life by Him Psal. 69 32. 2. Yea such as know Him shall not misse life Iohn 17 3. 1 Iohn 5 20. 3. If we will beleeve on Him and rest upon him we have life first and last Iohn 3 15 16 36. 6 40 47. 1 Tim. 1 16. 4. If we will come to Him Iohn 5 vers 40. and cast our dead soul upon him we shall live 5. If we will heare his voce Esai 55 3. and receive his instructions we shall live for they are the instructions of life 6. Nay if the soul be so dead that it can neither walk nor hear if it can but look to Him he will give life Esai 45 22. 7. And if the soul be so weak that it cannot look nor lift up its eyes yet if it be willing He will come with life Revel 22 17. Oh! if this were beleeved 5. As he is communicative of that life which he hath goten as Head and that upon easie tearmes so He giveth out of that life liberally largely abundantly yea more abundantly Iohn 10 10. The water of life which He giveth is a well of water springing up to everlasting life Iohn 4 14. Therefore he alloweth his friends to drink abundantly Cant. 5 1. 6. Yet it would be remembered that He is Lord and master thereof and Prince of this life and so may dispense it and give it out in what measure He seeth fit and He is wise to measure out best for his own glory and to their advantage 7. All this life is sure in Him none of his shall be disappointed thereof His offices which He hath taken on and his commission which he hath of the Father abundantly cleare this and love to his will not suffer him to keep up any thing that iâ—… for their advantage He is faithful in his house as a Son and will do all that was committed unto Him to do The whole transaction of the covenant of Redemption and Surety-shâ—…pe and all the promiseâ—… oâ—… the new Covenant of grace confirme this to be a sure truth so that they that have Him have life 1 Iohn 5 12. Prov. 8 35. 8. Yea all that is in Christ contributeth to this life and quickening His Words and Doctrine are the words of eternal life Iohn 6 63 68. Phil. 2 16. His Works and Wayes are the wayes of life Act 2 28 His Natures Offices Sufferings Actings and all He did as Mediator concurre to the quickening and enlivening of a poor dead soul. 9. This fulness of life which He hath is fully suited to the beleevers condition in all points as we shall
master usher to the poor soul to lead him in to the Father so that by him we have accesse Ephes. 2 18. yea boldnesse and accesse through faith in Him Ephes. 3 12. and He is our advocate 1. Iohn 2 1. and as our atturnay is gone to heaven before us and there liveth for ever to make intercession Heb. 6 20 7 25. And what is there more to be done to procure us accesse or to move encourage us to come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtaine mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of need Heb. 4 14 16. 6. As to that want of freedome and liberty in prayer He helpeth that also for He maketh the dumb to sing Esa. 35 6. and maketh the tongue of the stammerers to be ready to speak elegantly Esai 32 4. He can enlairge the heart and help the soul to pour-out its heart before God 7. As to outward persecution He can easily take that discouragement away by giving the hundereth fold with it by supporting under it and bringing saife thorow it when his presence is with them through fire and water Esa. 43 2. what can trouble them and when he maketh their consolations abound 2 Cor. 1 5. what can discourage them Have not his sung in the very fires and rejoyced in all their afflictions The resting of the Spirit of God and of glory which Peter speaketh of 1 Pet. 4 14. is comfortable enough 8. As for all those sharpe dispensations mentioned in the last place He having taken the sting of all even of death away by taking away sin and purchased the blessing and love of the Father having made reconciliation through his blood all those dispensations flow from love even such as seem sharpest being inflicted for sin as we see Heb. 12 6. So that there is no cause here of fainting or of being so discouraged as to give over the matter But for helpe in this case there should be an use making of Jesus as the Life and that is The third thing which we shall speak a little to viz How the soul should make use of Christ as the Life to the end it may be delivered from this fainting occasioned through manifold discouragements 1. The beleever in this case would minde the covenant of Redemption wherein Christ hath promised and so standeth obliged and engaged to carry on his own through all discouragements to the end so that if any one beleever miscarry Christ loseth more than they can lose for the beleever can but lose his soul but Christ shall lose his glory and this is more worth than all the souls that ever were created And further not only shall Christ lose his glory as Redeemer But the Father shall also lose his glory in not making good his promise to Christ his Son for by the same covenant He standeth engaged to carry thorow all the seed that Christ hath died for And his appointing Christ to be his servant for this end and chooseing Him from among all the folk and his upholding of Him concurring with him delighting in Him and promiseing that He shall bring forth judgment to the gentiles and that to victory or to truth speak out His engadgment to see all true beleevers brought home See Esai 42 1 2 3 4. Mat. 12 17 18 19 20 21. Psal. 89 19 20 21 28 29 35 36 37. Sâ—…re the faith of this would support the poor beleever under all those discouragements 2. They would minde likewise the covenant of Grace wherein all things are contrived and laid downe so as that the beleever may have abundant consolation and comfort in all cases and wherein there is enough to take away all cause of fainting discouragement as might fully be made to appeare if any did questione it 3. They would remember how richly Christ is furnished with all qualifications suiteing even that case wherein they are like to be overwhelmed with discouragements and could the beleever but think upon and beleeve those three things he might be keeped-up under all discouragements first That Christ is a compassionate tender-hearted mediator having bowels more tender than the bowels of any mother so that He will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax Esai 42 3. He had compassion on the very bodies of the multitude that followed him and would not let them go away fasting lest they should fainte in the way Mat. 15 32. Mark 8 3. and will He not have compassion on the soules of his followers when like to faint through spiritual discouragements Secondly That He hath power and authority to command all things that can serve to carray-on a poor beleever for all power in Heaven and Earth is given to Him all things are made subject to Him Thirdly That He hath a great readinesse and willingnesse upon many accounts to helpe his followers in their necessities Sure were these three firmly believed the beleever could not â—…aint having Christ who is tender and loving willing to helpe and withall able to do what he will to look to and to run to for supply 4. They would take up Christ under all his heart-strengthening and soul comforting relations as a tender Brother a careful Shepherd a fellow-feeling Highpriest a loving Husband a sympathizing Head a life-communicating Root an alsufficient King c. any one of which is enough to beare up the head and comfort the heart of a drouping discouraged and fainting soul much more may all of them yeeld strong consolation to support revive a soul staggering and fainting through discouragement Oh! if wee could but rightly improve and dwell upon the thoughts of these comforting and heart-quickening relations our hearts would not fail us so much as they do 5. They would eye Him as now in glory who as Head and Captaine of salvation hath wreastled through and overcome all difficulties and discouragments that were in his way and in name and behalf of all beleevers that are his followers and members of his body is now possessed of glory and thence draw an heart-comforting and soul-strengthening conclusion thus Is He entered into glory as Head than such a poor faint hearted heart-brocken discouraged worme as I am may at length come there as a little bit of his body especially since He said that seing He liveth all his shall live also Ioh. 14 19. 6. They would remember how Christ who was alwayes heard of his Father Iohn 11 41 42. did supplicat for this as Mediator and Intercessor for his people Iohn 17 24. saying Father I will thâ—… they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am c. May not the poor faint-hearted believer that is looking to Iesus draw an heart-reviveing soul encouraging conclusion out of this say Though my prayers be shote out and when I cry for reliefe under my discouragements I get no hearing but on the contrary my discouragements grow and my heart fainteth the more yet Christ alwayes was heard and
sin This was Elihu's advice to Iob Cap. 34 vers 31 32. Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have borne chastisement I will not offend That which I see not teach thou me is I have done iniquity I will do no more 6. He would grip to Christ in the Covenant and â—…est there with joy and satisfaction he would hold that fast that he may ride out the storme in a darke night Though he make not mine house to grow said David 2 Sam. 23 vers 5. Yet this was all his salvation and all his desire that He had made with him an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure The Spouse took this course when he could not get a sight of Him whom her soul loved Cant. 6 vers 3. and asserted her interest in Him I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine 7. He would be intertaining high and loving thoughts of God commending Him highly let His dispensations be what they will So did the Spouse Cant. 5 vers 10 16. 8. He would earnestly seek after Him The Spouse did so Cant. 5 vers 6. the discouragement she met with at the hands of the watch men did not put her off her pursuite Vers. 7. but she continued yea was sick of love Vers. 8. and here looks had a prevailing power with him as we see Cant. 6 vers 5. where the Bridgroom uttered that most astonishing word Turn away thine eyes from me for they have overcome me 9. This new manifestation which he is seeking for must be expected in and through Jesus who is the true Tabernacle and he who was represented by the Mercy seat He is the only trysting place in Him alone will the Father be seen 10 He would also look to Him for strength and support in the meane time and for grace that he may be keeped from fainting and may be helped to waite til he come who knoweth the fittest season wherein to appeare But it will be said what if after all this we get no outgate but He hideth his face still from us I answere Such would know that life is one thing and comfort is another thing Grace is one thing and warme blainks of Gods face is another The one is necessary to the very being of a Christian the other not but only necessary to his comfortable being and therefore they should be content if God give them grace though they â—…isse comfort for a time 2. They would lairne to commit that matter to Christ who knoweth how to give that which is good and what is best for them 3. They would be hanging on Him for strength for duty and in his strength seting about every commanded duty and be exercising Faith Love Patience Hope Desire c. 4. Let the well ordered covenant be all their salvation and all their desire and though they should not get a comfortable blaink of God's face so long as they were here yet holding fast this covenant they should at length be saved souls and what would they have more and when they get this what will they misse CHAP. XXVII How shall one make use of Christ as the Life when wreastling with an angry God because of sin THat we may give some satisfaction to this question we shall 1. Shew what are the ingredients in this case or what useth to concurre in this distemper 2. Shew some reasons why the Lord is pleased to dispense thus with his people 3. Shew how Christ is life to the soul in this case 4. Shew the beleevers duty for a recovery and 5. Adde a word or two of caution As to the first There may be those parts of or 〈◊〉 in this distemper 1. God presenting their sins unto their vieu so as they shall cry out our sin is ever before us Psal. 51 3. and say as it is Psal. 90 8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance and so cause them see the Lord contending for sin as the Church did Esai 59 we roare all like bears and mourn sore like doves we look for judgment but there is none for salvation but it is far off from us for our transgressions are multiplied before thee and our sins testifie against us for our transgressions are with us and as for our iniquities we know them c. 2. Yea God may bring upon them the iniquities of their youth as Iob speaketh Cap. 13 26. and so bring upon them or suffer conscience to charge them with their old sins formerly repented of and pardoned And this is more terrible David is made to remember his original sin Psal. 51. 3. And as Iob speaketh Cap. 15 17. God may seem to be sealing up all their sins in a bag that none of them may be lost or fall by without being taken notice of and as it were be gathering them together in a heape 4. He may pursue sore with signes of wrath displeasure because of those sinnes as we see in David Psal. 4. 38. 51. and in several others of his people chastened of the Lord because of their trangressions whereof there are many instances in scripture 5. Yea and that for a considerable time together and cause them cry out with David Psal. 4 3. but thou O Lord how long 6. And that not only with outward but also with inward plagues And strokes as David's case cleareth in the forecited Psalmes 7. Yea and not only themselves but even their posterity as Davids childe was smiten with death and the posterity of Manasses who found mercy himself 2 Chron. 33 13. was caryed into captivity for his sin 2 Kings 23 26 27. 8. Further the Lord may deprive them of all their former joy and comfort which made David cry out Psal. 51 12. restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and grant me thy free Spirit 9. And which is yet more terrible write their sin upon their judgment as when He caused the sword and whoredom follow Davids house 10. And finally He may cause them feare utter offcasting as Psal. 51 11. cast me not away said he from thy presence And this the Lord thinketh good to do that we may speak a word to the second particular for those and the like reasons 1. To discover to them and to all the world how Just Holy and Righteous a God He is that cannot approve of or beare with sin even in his own children 2. To make all fear and tremble before this great and holy God who is terrible in his judgements even when they come from a Fathers hand that is not pursueing in pure anger and wrath but chastening in love Sure all must think that his dispensations with the wicked will be much more fearful and horrible seing they are not yet reconciled unto Him through the blood of â—…esus 3. To presse Believers more earnestly in to Christ that they may get a new extract of their pardon and their souls washen in the blood of Iesus 4.