work he addes therefore after all his Seale to confirme us which Seale is not faith for the Apostle saith After you beleeved you were sealed where we see the work of faith and sealing distinguished first the soul is set in a good estate and then followes assurance and stablishment But what needs confirmation when we beleeve Is not faith confirmation enough when a man may know by a private reflect act of the soule that he is in the state of grace This act of ours in beleeving is oft terribly shaken and God is wondrous desirous that we should bee secure of his love hee knowes hee can have no glory nor we any solid peace else therfore when we by faith have sealed to his truth he sees that wee need further sealing that our faith be currant and good for all is little enough in the time of temptation the single witnesse of our soul is not strong enough in great assaults For sometimes the Spirit is so tossed and disquieted with temptations that we cannot reflect aright on our selves nor discerne what is in our own brests without much adoe therefore God first workes faith to apply the promise Whosoever beleeves in Christ shall be saved I beleeve in Christ therefore I shall be saved and then sealeth this beleefe with an addition of his holy Spirit for this sealing is a work upon beleeving an honouring of faith with a superadded confirmation How shall wee know that there is such a spirituall sealing in us I answer when we truly beleeve the Spirit of adoption reveales unto us that we are the sonnes of God by a secret whispering and intimation to the soule which the beleeving heart feeles better than I am able to expresse saying be of good comfort thy sins are forgiven there is a sweet kisse vouchsafed to the soule the Lord refresheth it with the light of his countenance and assures it that all enmity is now slaine I am thy salvation thou art for ever mine and I am thine because thou beleevest behold thou art honoured to be my child Againe the Spirit of adoption quickens and fils the soule with heavenly ejaculations to God it stirs up servent supplications to cry Abba Father The soule when it truly beleeves hath a bold and familiar speech to God There are two things in the prayer of a Christian that are incompetible with a carnall man there is first an inward confidence and secondly an carnestnesse in the soule whereby he goes to God as a Child to his loving Father not considering his owne worthinesse or meanes but the constant love that is bore to him This spirituall speech of God to the soule and of the soule to God is an evident demonstration of our truth in grace because we can do that which no Hypocrite in the world can attaine to Thirdly this sealing of the Spirit after wee beleeve is knowne by the worke of Sanctification which it effecteth in us the holy Spirit seales our spirits by stamping the likenesse of Christ upon us so as when a man finds in his soule some lineaments of the heavenly Image he may know therby that hee is translated from death to life when he finds his heart subdued to humility and obedience to such a holy and gratious frame as Christs was he may cleerely discerne that he hath something more than the Old man in him when a man can say naturally I am proud but now I can abase my selfe naturally I am full of malice now I can love and pray heartily for my enemies naturally I am lumpish dead-hearted now I can joy in the Holy Ghost naturally I am apt to distrust the Lord and be discontented with my condition now I can rest securely upon his Promise and Providence sin hath been my delight now it is my sorrow and heart-breaking I finde somewhat contrary to corruption in me I carry the Image of the second Adam about me now I say whosoever hath this blessed change may rest assured of his right to happinesse Know you not that Christ is in you except you be reprobates saith the Apostle A Christian that upon a through search finds something of Christ alwayes in his soule can never want a sweet evidence that he is sealed to the day of redemption The fourth way is by the joy of the Spirit which is the beginning of Heaven as it were and a possessing of glory before our time there are few of Gods children but in the cours of their pilgrimage first or last have this divine impression wrought in them enlarging and ravishing their soules to joy in the Almighty Yet this is especially seene after conflict when the soule hath combated with some strong corruption or temptation To him that overcomes wll I give of the hidden Mannah saith Christ and a white stone which none can reade but he that hath it that is hee shall have assurance that he is in the state of grace and the sweet savour of goodnesse it selfe shall be his portion usually God gives comfort after wee have conflicted with some sinfull disposition and have got the victory as we see in Iob after God had exercised that Champion a long time at the last hee discovered himself in a glorious manner to him In the midst of afflictions when a Christian is under great crosses and God sees hee must bee supported with spirituall strength or else he sinks then he puts in with supply from above when the creature cannot help us the Creator of all things will Thus Paul in the midst of the Dungeon being sealed with the Spirit sang at midnight when he was in the Stocks and so David in the midst of persecution Daniel in a Lions Den the three Children in the fiery furnace c. God doth as Parents smile on their little ones when they are sick and dejected hee reserves his choisest comforts for the greatest exigents when God hath a great worke for his children to doe or some sharpe suffering for them to undergoe as an incouragement before-hand hee oft enlargeth their spirits that they may be able to go through all As our Saviour Christ had Iames and Iohn with him upon the Mountaine to strengthen thē against his ensuing suffering Let us then examine our selves by that which hath beene delivered hath God spoken to thy soule and said I am thy salvation thy sinnes are remitted and thy person received into my favour doth God stirre up thy spirit to call upon him especially in extremity and to go with boldnesse and earrestnesse to his Throne Surely this is an evidence of the seale of the Spirit for who ever wants this cannot look God in the face when distresse is upon him Saul in this case goes to the Witch and Achitophel to desperate conclusions Iudas in extremity we see what becomes of him So every one that hath not this sealing of the Spirit to whom God speakes not peace by shedding abroad the love of Christ in his heart must needs
beneath can never accoÌ„plish Wee see that the heavens continue and the earth without any other foundation hangs in the midst of the world by the bare word of the Almighty therefore well may the soule stay it selfe on that when it hath nothing else in sight to rely upon In this case Christians should look 1. That their principles and foundations be good And secondly builded strongly upon them for the soule is as that which it relies on if upon empty things it selfe becomes poore and empty which the Devil knowing strives to unloose our hearts from our Maker and draw us to rely upon false objects Hee sees full well that whilest our soules cleave close to God there is no prevailing against us by any malice or subtilty of men or devils The Saints in him are bold and undaunted in the midst of troubles and torments Indeed the sweetest coÌ„munion with God is when we are beaten off from other helps Though misery upon misery encounters us below yet there is still succour issuing from above to a beleeving soule If God hath it in heaven faith will fetch it downe and enjoy the sweetnesse of it here That man can never doe amisse that hath his dependancie upon the Almighty there being no communion like that of a faithfull heart with the Lord. It is the office of faith to quiet our soules in all distresses for it relies upon God for heaven it self and all necessary provision till we come thither strengthen faith therefore and you strengthen all what can daunt that soul which in the sorest affliction hath the great God for his friend Such a spirit dares bid defiance to all the powers of darknes Sathan may for a time exercise but hee can never wholly depresse a gracious heart True beleevers can triumph over that which others are slaves unto they can set upon spirituall conflicts and endure fiery tryalls which others tremble to think of they can put off themselves and be content to be nothing so their God may appeare the greater and dare undertake or undergoe any thing for the glory of their Maker considering they are not their owne but have given up themselves unto Christ they count not their lives or any thing that is theirs deare for him Hee that stablisheth us with you is God who hath annointed us c. Messias signifies annointed our nature is enriched in Christ with all graces Hee is annointed with the oyle of gladnesse above his fellowes for us that wee might have a spring of grace in our owne nature that God and Christ being one and we being in the Lord Jesus might have all our annointing of the first annointed for of his fulnesse we receive grace for grace What are those graces which wee receive from Christs fulnesse First the grace of favour and acceptance for the same love that God beares to Christ he beares to all his though not in so high a degree Secondly the Grace of sanctification answerable to the grace of sanctification in him every renued work in us comes from Christ. Thirdly the rich priviledges and prerogatives that issue to persons sanctified wee have dignity for dignity favour for favour gracious qualifications for gracious qualifications in Christ. God annoints us all in his Sonne As the oyntment that was powred upon Aaron ran downe to the skirts of his garment so the weakest Christian is stablished with grace by Christ grace runnes from the Head to poorest member the hem of the garment every one that doth but touch Christ drawes vertue and strength from him Why is it called here an annointing Because as the Holy annointing Exod. 30. was not to be applied to prophane uses so neither are the graces of the spirit God being the Author of them to be slighted and undervalued by the Professors of them What are the vertues of this oyntment First it hath a cherishing power it revives the drooping soule and cheares a fainting spirit when men are ready to sink under the burthen of their sins this easeth them 2. Annointing hath a strengthening power it makes our limbs vigorous so doth grace fortifie the soule nothing more Our life is a combating life wiâ—h Sathan and temptations of all sorts therefore wee need continuall annointing to make us nimble and active in resisting our enemie Oyle hath a suppling quality so the Spirit of God makes pliable the joynts of the soule it supports us with hidden strength and enables us to encounter great oppositions to be victorious through Christ over all Grace is little in quantity but it is mighty in operation it carries the soule through difficulties nothing can stand in the way of a gracious man no not the Gates of Hell The spirit of grace that is in a Christian is stronger than he that is in the world A graine of Mustard seed the very least measure of true Holinesse is stronger than the greatest measure of opposition A Christians strength lies out of himselfe he never overcomes by his owne power hee can doe all things through Christ assisting him otherwise hee is a most impotent creature unable to doe or suffer any thing ready to give over at the least trouble and sink under every pressure of affliction Againe ointment doth exceedingly delight and refresh ourspirits as wee see the Box in the Gospel when it was opened the whole House smelt of it So grace is a wondrous sweet thing Before wee are anointed with the Spirit of Christ with stablishing grace what are we but a company of nasty abominable persons in the eyes of God All things are accursed to us and we are accursed in what ever we doe God cannot look on us but as loathsome creatures as the Prophet saith I would not so much as looke on thee if it were not for Iehoshaphats sake That which makes a man sweet is grace this makes our nature that is noisome and offensive in the nostrils of the Almighty in it selfe to become pleasant and amiable A wicked man is a vile man an ulcerous deformed creature grace is of a healing nature wheresoever it is this cures our spiritual distempers beautifying the inner man and making the whole frame of a Christians carriage sweet and delectable First to God who loves the sent of his own grace wheresoever he finds it Secondly to Angels the conversion of sinners rejoyceth them when our custody is committed to their charge how are they delighted with the beauty of holinesse shining in us The graces of God in his Saints are a Feast to them the very name of a godly and gratious man is as a sweet ointment every where Holy men when they are read of in Stories what a savour doe they cast in the Church so far as a Christian is a New Creature it makes him in love with himselfe scorning to be so undervalued as to defile himselfe with base services so farre as a man is gratious he gives himselfe to honourable imployments being a vessell of
but a little signe of grace in me Be not discouraged you know in wax though the stamp be almost out yet it is currant in Law notwithstanding Put the case the stamp of the Prince be an old Coyne is it not currant though it bee crackt Suppose the mark of the Spirit should bee dim and blurred scarce discernable in us this ought to bee our shame and griefe yet some evidences of grace are still remaining there are some sighes and groanes against corruption which may continually support us if we mourne in our spirits and doe not joyne with our lusts nor allow our selves in them this is a divine impression though it bee as it were almost worne out the more comfort wee desire the fresher she should keepe this seale of comfort And labour to grow in faith and obedience that we may reade our evidence cleerely that it be not over-growne with the dust of the world so as we cannot see it Sometimes Gods children have the graces of the Spirit in them yet they yeeld so much to feares and doubtings that they can read nothing but their corruption When we bid them puruse their evidences they can see nothing but worldlinesse nothing but pride and envie because they grieve the holy Spirit by their negligence and distrust Though there be a stamp in them yet God holds the soule from it and gives men up to mistake their estates for not stirring up the graces of his Spirit in them Honour God by beleeving and he will honour thee by stamping his Spirit more cleerely on thee what a comfort is it to have the evidence of a gratious soule at all times When a man carries about him the marke of the Spirit what in the world can discourage such a soule On the contrary if a man have not something above nature in him when death judgement comes how miserable is his condition If a man be a King or an Emperour of the World and have not an interest in Christs righteousnesse ere long he shall be stripped of all and adjudged to eternall torments Oh the excellency of mans soule a Jewell more to be prized then a Princes Diadem It is the solly of the times to set up curious Pictures but what a poore delight is this in comparison of the ambition of a true Christian to see the Image of Christ stamped in his soule to finde the joy of the Spirit and God speaking peace to his inner man The transforming of our selves into the image of Christ is the best Picture in the world therefore we should labour for the new creature that as we grow downeward one way we may grow up towards Heaven another that as the life of nature decayes so the spirituall life may bee more active and working It should be our daily study while we live in this world to attain that holinesse without which no man shall ever see God There is besides the common broad Seale of God his privie Seal What is the reason that many proud hearted persons are damned the truth is they are all for externall contentments and despise the ordinances of GOD for though they stand upon their admission into the Church upon the common seales and prerogatives which in themselves are excellent yet relying on these things overmuch betrayes many soules to the Devill in the time of distresse It is an other manner of seale than the outward seale in the Sacrament that must settle peace in the conscience When once the beginnings of faith are wrought in us then wee may with comfort thinke upon our receiving of the Communion but the speciall thing to be eyed is the hidden seale If the externall meanes work no inward sanctificatiō in our hearts we shall be the worse rather than the better for them yet we must not be so prophane as to think slightly of Gods Ordinances they are of great consequence For when Satan shakes the confidence of a Christian and saith Thou art an Hypocrite God doth not love thee these help us to hold out why saith the soule I can speak by experience that I have found the contrary the Lord hath removed my feares he hath pardoned my sinne and accepted my person he hath given me many Pretious Promises to support my spirit Here is the excellency of the Sacrament it comes more home to me it seales the generall Promises of God particularly to my selfe for finding the inward worke of the Spirit in my heart and God having strengthned my faith by the outward seale I can defie Satan with all his accusations and look death in the face with comfort We should labour therefore to observe Gods sealing dayes when he uses to manifest himselfe to his people which though it may be every day if wee be spiritually exercised yet it is in the Lords day more especially for then his ordinance and his Spirit go together Now there is a sealing of persons and of truths besides the sealing of our estates that we are the children of God there is a sealing of every particular truth to a Christian. For where there is grace to beleeve the truth God seales those truths firmely to that soule by the comforts of his Spirit For example this is a truth Whosoever beleeves in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life Now the same Spirit that stirs up the soule to beleeve this seales it fast upon the conscience even to death there is no promise but upon our beleeving the same it is sealed by God upon us for those truths only abide firme in the soule which the Holy Ghost sets on What is the reason that many forget their consolations the reason is they heare much but the Spirit settles nothing on their hearts What is the reason that lettered men many times stand out in their profession to blood whereas those that are more able and learned yeeld to any thing The reason is the knowledge of the one is set fast upon the soule the Spirit brings his seale and this mans knowledge close together whereas the learning and abilities of the other is only a discoursive thing swimming in the braine without any sollid foundation their knowledge of truths is not spiritual they see not heavenly things by heavenly but by a naturall light Those that would not apostatize must have a knowledge sutable to the things they know they must see spirituall things by the Spirit of GOD. Therefore when we come to heare the Word wee should not come with strong conceits of our owne to bring all to our wits but with reverent dispositions and dependance upon God that he would teach us together with his Ministers and close with his Ordinances so as to fasten truths upon our soules else shall wee never hold out for that which must stablish and quiet the soule must bee greater than the soule In time of tentations when the terrours of the Almighty encompasse us when God layes open our conscience and writes bitter things against us those
truths that most satisfie the soule at such a time must be above the naturall capacity of the soule therefore saith the Apostle It is God that establishes and God by his Spirit that seales us up unto the day of redemption because divine truths of themselves in the bare letter cannot stirre up the heart it is only the blessed Spirit which is above our spirits that must quiet the conscience in all perplexities the Lord can soone still the soule when he settles spirituall truths upon it therefore go to him in thy distresse and trouble of minde send up ejaculations to God that hee would seale the comfort revealed in his word to thy soule that as it is true in it selfe so it may be true to thee likewise This is a necessary observation for us all Oh we desire in the houre of death to finde some comforts that bee standing comforts that may uphold us against Hell and judgement Know that nothing will do this but spirituall truths spiritually knowne but holy truths set on by the Holy Ghost upon the soule Oft therfore enter into thine heart and examine upon what grounds and motives thou beleevest Consider well what it is thou beleevest and upon what evidences and withwhat light otherwise expect not to find sollid peace What course may a Christian generally take when hee wants comfort and inward refreshing There are in 1 Iohn 5. three witnesses in heaven three in earth to secure us of our estate in grace The three witnesses in heaven are the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost And the three witnesses in earth are the Spirit the Water and Bloud and these three on earth and those three in heaven agree in one Now by the Spirit here is meant the feelings and sweet motions thereof the water may well be the Laver of Sanctification by bloud is understood the sufferings of Christ for our justification When therefore wee find that extraordinarie seale I spake of before the joyes of the Spirit of God that it is not in us What shall we doe shall wee despaire then No then goe to the water when the witnesse of the Spirit is silent goe to the work of the Spirit see what gracious dispositions are found in thee I but what shall we do if the waters be troubled in the soule as some times there is such a confusion that we cannot see the Image of God upon it in sanctification Then goe to the bloud there is alwayes comfort goe to the fountaine set open for Iudah and Ierusalem to wash in that is never dry If we find much sinne upon our consciences and no peace in our hearts apply the bloud of sprinkling that will give rest When thou findest nothing but corruption and filthinesse in thy soule when thou seest neither joy nor sanctification of Spirit goe to the Lord Jesus and hee will purge thee from all guilt and wash thee with clean water But to goe on Who hath sealed us and given us the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts This is the third word borrowed from humane Contracts to set forth Gods gracious work in the soule Annointing wee had before sealing now here is earnest The variety of expression shewes there is a great remainder of unbeliefe in the soule of man which causeth the blessed Spirit to use so many words to manifest Gods mind and assure the soule of salvation stablishing annointing sealing and earnest And indeed so it is howsoever we in the time of prosperity when all things goe well with us are apt to presume our estate is good yet in the houre of death when conscience is awaked we are prone to nothing so much as to call all in question and beleeve the lies and doubts and feares of our owne deceitfull hearts more than the undoubted truth and promise of God Therefore the Lord takes all courses to establish us he gives us rich and pretious promises hee gives us the holy Spirit to confirme us in those promises he seales us with that Spirit and gives us a comfortable earnest thereof and all to settle these wretched unbeleeving hearts of ours So desirous is God that wee should be well conceited of him that hee loves us better than wee love our selves Hee prizeth our love so much that he labours by all meanes to secure us of our eternall welfare as knowing that except we apprehend his love to us wee can never love him againe nor delight in him as we ought to doe Now the Spirit is an earnest of our inheritance in heaven wee are sonnes here indeed but wee are not heires invested into the blessed estate we have title to God doth notkeep all our happinesse till another world but gives us somewhat to comfort us in our absence from our husband hee gives us the Holy Ghost in our hearts as a pledge of that glorious condition which wee shall one day have eternally with him this is the meaning of the words But to shew you more particularly In what regard the Spirit is called an earnest First of all you know an earnest is used for security of a Contract So the holy Spirit doth secure us of the blessed estate we shall have in heaven for ever Secondly an earnest is part of the bargaine a part of the whole which is secured though it be a very little part yet it is a part So it is with the Spirit of God in its gracious work upon our hearts the joy of the Spirit is a part of that full joy and happinesse which shall bee revealed hereafter to us Thirdly an earnest is little in comparison of the whole So the Spirit in the work and graces therof is little in regard of that fulnesse which wee shall have in heaven But though an earnest be smal in it selfe yet it is great in security A shilling secures a bargaine of a thousand pound we see Wee value an earnest not for its owne worth so much as for that which it is a pledge of for the excellent bargaine and rich possession which it doth interest us unto So the Spirit of God with its blessed effects in the soule the joy and peace of the Spirit chearing and reviving perplexed sinners this earnest I say though it be little in it selfe yet it is great to us in respect of the assurance that we have by it Againe it hath the terme of an earnest because an arnest is given rather for the security of the party that receives it than in regard of him that gives it So God gives us the earnest of his Spirit grace and comfort in this life not so much for God for hee meanes to give us heaven and happinesse when wee are dissolved As he hath passed his promise so hee will undoubtedly performe the same Hee is Lord and Master of his word Hee is Jehovah that gives a being to his word as well as to every other thing But notwithstanding having to doe with mistrustfull
wee see in God is this If we doe undrvalue all things else for Christ. Worldly men are ever admiring of the things below accounting such men happy and blessed that abound most therein Therefore there is nothing that doth more truly try a man than this The soul that sees a vanity in the things beneath and can rejoyce in God only as his true riches is in a good condition Where there is a true judgement of God and Religion the soule of that man will never stoop to the creature the soule so rejoyceth in God as that it will not yeeld it selfe to any other Adam and Eve in their innocencie were both naked and were not ashamed one reason might be because their thoughts were taken up with higher matters In heaven we shall not bee ashamed of things wee now are ashamed of A Christian soule is so ravished with the enjoying of God that it mindeth almost nothing but him The second branch in love is a desire to doe all things to the content of the party beloved Our love to God will frame us to the obedience of his will Obedience is the proofe of love If ye love mee saith Christ keepe my commandements If wee love God wee will pray for the enlarging of his Kingdome Where love is kindled in any heart there is a care to bee approved of him whom we so love This makes our obedience generall to all Gods commandements in all places and all things whatsoever It makes us give our inwards to God serving him with the soul and spirit Those therefore that nourish uncleane hearts within them and think it enough to abstaine from the outward act of evill love not the Lord sincerely The Devill himselfe will doe outward things as readily as you hee will confesse Christ to bee the Sonne of God and say Why art thou come to torment me before my time So that if thou dost outwardly only confesse God what dost thou more than the Devill In outward duties without sincerity there is no love You will pray the Devill will doe as much The Devill hath a bad end in good actions so there are many that come to Church make shew of Religion to cloke their evill courses But such poore wretches how ever they are pleased with shaddowes are little better than Satan himselfe Againe if wee be desirous to content him whō wee love then will wee suffer any thing for his sake Therefore the Apostles went away rejoycing and accounted it their glory that they were esteemed worthy to suffer hardship for Christ And David for dancing before the Ark being by Michal mockt saith I wil yet be more vile for my God He cared not for any reproach that could happen to him in a good way Yea this will make us zealous in his truth hee that hath no zeale hath no love If our hearts rise not when God is dishonoured what love have we to him Is Gods glory and the Churches welfare deare to us it is a signe we love him But can we see those things goe backward and have no zeale nor be any thing affected therewith surely then we have no love Againe if wee have a true love to God then have we a desire of union and cōmunion with him we will be much in meditating of him in speaking to him and conferring with him Those therefore that goe on from day to day without private speeches with God or solacing of their soules in him what affection have they to him Love is communicative and what desire of communion can that soule have that lives a stranger to his Maker Can wee say we love one with whom wee never conferre or speak to any purpose Againe if wee love a man we will advise with him especially in matters of moment so if wee love God wee will take counsell of him in his Word for the guidance of our lives and stablishing our consciences If we advise not with God it is a signe that we either think hee doth not regard us or else that we count him not worthy to be counselled by Another signe is To examine what desire wee have to be dissolved and to be with Christ Doe wee love his appearing to judgement and are wee now fit for his comming surely then it is a plaine signe that our love is fixed and set upon him So much as wee doe faile of this desire so much wee faile in love to Christ What was the reason that the people under the Law were so much afraid at the appearing of an Angell unto them was it not this that they were not fitted and prepared for God A man may bee a good Christian and yet not at all times willing to die for as eyes that are sore cannot alwayes endure the light so a soule galled with sinne desires not to heare of the day of jadgement yet ought wee to thirst after it Another signe of this grace is our eager and hungry desire after God when with David we can say Oh God my heart panteth after thee as the Hart panteth after the Brookes of waters When a soule is never at rest til he injoyes his Maker but cryes out still Oh when shall I appeare in his presence it is a good signe The last branch or property is a resting and quieting our selves in the love of God above all things whatsoever saying with David Whom have I in Heaven or in earth besides thee or what doe I esteeme in comparison of thee let me enjoy but the light of thy countenance and it suffices me demand therefore of thine owne heart what the things are that trouble thee most and what is the cause of thy sorrow and disquietments whether it be for losses or crosses outwardly or for want of Gods love and the sense and feeling of his favour inwardly They which grieve chiefly for outward evils are most carried in their affections that wayes but if in the confluence of all worldly blessings wee can grieve for our spirituall wants it is a comfortable evidence When a man reckons not his happinesse to stand in the possession of the creature but in the fruition of the Creator and desires his favour above any thing it is a gratious signe David had an abundance yea he had a Kingdome yet nothing would satisfie him but the mercies of God And when hec was in want what course did he take but stil comforted himselfe in the Lord his God That which a man sorroweth most for when he wanteth it that he rejoyceth most in when he hath it can we in our crosses rejoyce that God is ours This is an excellent signe and plainly discovers that we place our contentation more in him than in any thing else can we delight more in the solace of his favour than in outward prosperity it is a heavenly testimony of a renewed condition When David was in his greatest distresses what desires had he then most in him why
hee longed after the House of God when the people were ready to stone him wherein did he trust but in the Lord his strong â—ower In the last place would we know whether we can rest in God or no. Let us examine our selves then what endeavours we have every day to cleanse our soules from sinne that so God may take pleasure in us and we againe may delight in him Let us see how we restraine our affections from running riot after the World and sinful pleasures And how we set our joy upon God and frame our selves to do his will I beseech you let us deale faithfully with our owne soules in this particular And if we find that our hearts tell us as Peters told him Lord thou knowest that I love thee I desire ô Lord to please thee above all things I have set mine heart upon thee and I joy in thee and in thy love more than in all things else in the world If thus I say we can in the integrity of our spirits appeale to God who only knowes and searches our wayes and say truly Lord thou knowest that I love thee it is a certaine and infallible signe unto us that we are his and all things shall work for the best unto us But take we heed how wee deceive our selves in these things by love we are Christians therefore labour for sincerity of affection A Reprobate or a Castaway may go far in these four signes of love He may admire and wonder at the good things of God but he doth it not from any thing within him but from the outward beholding of them he can admire and talk of them but yet such men are without any rellish or sweet taste of the thing they speak of So likewise an Hypocrite may desire to please God in many things but not in all things as we see in Herod he heard Iohn Baptist willingly and obeyed in some things but not in all he could not be crossed in his beloved sinne which abode in him that must not bee touched Then farwell God and farwell Christ and all So a Castaway may desire to be in Heaven as being a place good for him and hee may have some little taste of those joyes above as is mentioned in the Hebrewes but hee hath no rellish of them from the love of God but only from the love of himselfe And his desire is not such as will draw him on to the use of means for spiritual growth and progresse thereunto as we see in Balaam hee had a desire to die the death of the righteous but this could not make him leave his covetous disposition and find a contentment in God alone A Reprobate may bee content with religion and with Gods wayes so long as peace doth accompany the same as now in this our Countrey Christ commeth amongst us with plenty and prosperity therefore Christ is a good Christ but if the Gospell and Religion should bee professed with perfecution and danger and disgrace it would soone appeare where mens contentments were There is a resting not in the truth because it is truth but in regard of the good things which follow it If we desire to approve our selves to God let us examine our selves about this affection and every branch of it The deceit is both common and deadly and the profession of Religion in many Christians is not for Religion it selfe but for by ends and sinister respects To which end consider further these particulars Where there is true love there will bee a dedesire of union to the beloved object so where the love of God is there will be a desire of the accomplishment of the marriage betweene God and the soule He that loves a Harlot saith the wise man is one with her so he that affects the Lord desires to be one with him therefore men have their names from what they love if they love the world they are called worldlings if they love Christ they are called Christians how canst thou say that thou lovest the Lord and doest not desire his presence in his Ordinances Can we say wee love such a man when we care not for his company God observes not so much what we do as from what affection our duties proceed Againe if we love there will bee a desire to give content to the party beloved this appeares even in carnall selfe-love for take a man that loves himselfe he makes himselfe his utmost aime and end in all his actions but when once God hath plucked this fleshly love out of our soules then our affections will be carried to Christ only this made the Prophet David say I love the Lord deerly He is my rock my fortresse my deliverer a Christian hath his contentment in God alone he findes an all-sufficiency in the Almighty and therfore makes him his resting place In all his trouble he will make God his deliverer and finde more true comfort in him than in all the things of the world besides therefore if God should take all other things from us yet if hee leave us Himselfe a Christian is well contented be cause he knowes his best being is in God But how shall I know whether I doe esteeme rightly of God or no If we highly esteeme any thing whether it be of this or a better life we will be often speaking of them it is a signe men undervalue heavenly truths when they discourse little about them they much set light by God that have him not in all their thoughts Againe what we esteeme of we will choose above other things it appeares we have a pretious esteem of God when we choose him and him alone for our portion as David when he said One thing have I desired of the Lord that I may dwell in his courts for ever where God is truly loved there will be a fall of all earthly things in that mans estimation so he may gaine Christ he counts all else but drosse and dung Lastly if thou lovest God thou wilt be afraid to offend him and carefull to please him in all things God delights not in a proud and haughty spirit but in an humble and meek soule these then should be thy delight God is wonderfull well pleased with faith for it is that which bindes him to performe his promise therefore seek it earnestly whatsoever God approves a Christian should take pleasure in every grace is an ornament to a Christian and God delights to see his owne graces in us Isaac before hee took Rebecka to wife sent her Jewels to adorne her so Christ sends rich Jewels to his children even the graces of his Holy Spirit to make us love him and fit us the more for him Those that live in sinnes against conscience think we that these love God No certainly if they did they would love that which he loves and hate that which he hates what a pittifull thing is it to see men glorying in that which is their shame in swearing
YEA and AMEN OR PRETIOUS PROMISES AND PRIVILEDGES Spiritually unfolded in their Nature and Vse Driving at the assurance and establishing of weak Beleevers By R. SIBBS D. D. Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge and Preacher of Grayes Inne London Reviewed by himselfe in his life time and since perused by T. G. and P. N. LONDON Printed by R. Bishop for R Dawlman and are to be sold by Humphrey Mosley at the Princes Armes in Pauls Church-yard 1638. YEA and AMEN OR PRETIOVS PROMISES Layd open out of 2 COR. 1. 19 20 21 22 23. But as God is true our word towards you was not yea and nay for the Sonne of God Iesus Christ who was preached among you by us was not yea and nay but in him was yea For all the promises of God are in him yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us THE blessed Apostle that he might have the better place in the hearts of his hearers endeavours here with all diligence to wipe off any imputation which they might have against him that so his doctrine might come home to their soules and have the freer accesse to worke upon their consciences We have therefore in these words S. Pauls Apologie for not comming unto the Chorinthians according to his promise Wherein hee alledgeth that it was not from any inconstancy in him but indeed from corruption in manners among them verse 23. I call God to record that to spare you I came not The Apostle as a man and as a holy man might promise many things common to this life and might lawfully vary afterwards upon the appearance of reall impediments But the things which he promiseth and speakes of as an Apostle they admit of no such uncertainty Therefore his care is to decline all thoughts of wavering therein and to maintaine the credit of the Gospell which hee had taught to the uttermost knowing well how ready false teachers would be to perswade the people that Paul was as light in his preaching as he was in keeping his word with them therefore our Word is true as God is true saith he There is the same ground of the certainty of Evangelicall truths as there is of God himselfe Iesus Christ whom I preached among you was not yea and nay saith the Apostle but yesterday and to day and the same for ever Whence may bee observed That the object of preaching now in the time of the Gospell is especially Iesus Christ. This is the Rock upon which the Church is built Christ should be the subject matter of our teaching in his Nature Offices and Benefits in the duties which we owe to him and the instrument whereby we receive all from him which is faith If wee preach the Law and discover mens corruption it is but to make way for the Gospels freer passage into their soules And if we presse holy duties it is to make you walke worthy of the Lord Jesus All teaching is reductive to the Gospell of Christ either to make way as Iohn Baptist did to levell all proud thoughts and make us stoop to him or to make us walk worthy of the grace wee receive from him The Bread of life must be broken the Sacrifice must bee anatomized and layed open the riches of Christ even his unsearchable riches must bee unfolded The Sonne of God must be preached to all and therefore God who hath appointed us to bee saved by Christ hath also ordained preaching to lay open the Lord Iesus with the heavenly treasures of his grace and glory But to go forward Iesus Christ who was preached among you by me and Sylvanus and Tymotheus was not yea and nay Here observe That the consent of Preachers in the mysteries of salvation is an excellent meanes to strengthen faith in their hearers not in regard of the truth it selfe but in regard of men So it pleaseth God to condescend to our weaknesse in adding Sacraments and Oath unto his promises thereby to shew the more stablenesse of his counsell towards us By yea here is meant Certaine Constant Vnvariable The times vary but not the faith of the times The same fundamentall truth is in all ages Sometimes indeed it is more explicated and unfolded as we have in the the New Testament divers truths more cleerely revealed than in the Old There is not a new faith but a larger explication of the old faith Divine truth is alwayes the same If there hath beene a Church alwayes there hath ever beene a Divine truth Now it is an Article of our faith in all times to beleeve a Catholike Church certainly then there must bee a Catholike truth to be the seed of this Church Therfore we should search out what was that yea that positive Doctrine in those Apostolicall times of the Churches purity before it was corrupted The Church was not long a Virgin yet some there were that held the truth of Christ in all ages Our present Church holds the same positive truths with the Apostles before us Therefore we say Our Church was before Luther because our Doctrine is Apostolicall as also is our Church that is continued thereby because it is built upon Apostolicall doctrine Put the case we cannot shew the men as they rediculously urge what is that to the purpose From an ignorance of particular men will they conclude us to be ignorant of the Church of Christ which hath ever beene Hence the true Church may easily be discerned the points of Religion wherein our adversaries differ from us be but patcheries of their owne they were not yea In the Apostles times their Purgatory Invocation of Saints and Sacraments of divers kindes were devised by themselves afterwards And indeed for a thousand yeeres after Christ many of the differences betwixt us and the Papists were never heard of neither were they ever established by any Counsell till the Counsell of Trent Our positive points are grounded upon the holy Scriptures we seek the Old way and the best way as Ieremy adviseth us There was no popish trash in Abrahams time among the blessed Patriarches nor in Christs time No nor many hundred yeares after they came in by little and little by humane invention for their owne advantage a meere policy to get money and abuse the people Indeed they hold many of our truths but they adde something of their owne to them they adde necessity of tradition to the Scriptures merits to faith they adde Saints to Christ in Divine Worship they have seven Sacraments to our two They may safelier therefore come to us than we to them we hold all that they should hold onely their owne additions wee hold not we leave them to themselves So much for that To touch only another point that borders a little upon it Divine truth is of an inflexible nature this crosseth another rule of theirs for they hold they may give what sense of Scripture they will and that the current of the present Church must judge of all former
must be in one that is first beloved hereupon comes the ground of the promises to be in Jesus Christ all intercourse between God and us must be in him that is able to satisfie God for us The Almighty Creator will have our debts discharged before he enters into a covenant of peace with us Now this Christ hath perfectly done and thereby reconciled lost sinners hereupon the promise immediately issues from Gods love in Christ to beleeving soules He must first receive all good for us and we must have it at the second hand from him The promises in Christ are as the spirits in the body they runne through al the ages of the Church without him there is no mercy nor comfort to be had God cannot look on this cursed nature of ours out of Christ and therefore whosoever apprehends any mercy from God he must apprehend it in Christ the promised seed To make it clearer our nature since the fall is odious to God a sinfull cursed nature remaines in the best of us and therefore that God may looke peaceably upon it he must looke upon it in him that hath it undefiled in him whom he loves even his only Son like unto himselfe that hath taken our nature upon him Now our nature in Christ must needs be lovely and acceptable and if ever God love us it is for Christ alone who was predestinated before all worlds to be a Sacrifice for us to be the Head of his Church he was ordained to doe us good before we our selves were ordained Christ is the first Beloved and then we God loves us in his beloved one This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased As if the Lord had said I am pleased in him and in all his in his whole mysticall body Christ is the Son of God by nature we by adoption what ever good is in us is first principally in him God conveighs all by the naturall Son to the adopted sonnes therefore all the promises are made to us in Christ he takes them from God for us He himselfe is the first Promise and all are Yea and Amen in him they are not directed to us abstracted from him but we are elected in Christ sanctified in him acquitted frō sin through him by his stripes we are healed If Christ had not satisfied the wrath of God by bearing our iniquities upon the crosse wee had beene liable every moment to condemnation If he had not been free from our sins we had for ever lyen under the burthen of them You are yet in your sinnes saith Saint Paul if Christ be not risen We are freed from our debts because Christ our surety is out of prison he is in Heaven and therefore we are at liberty The Promises are a deed of gift which wee have from and by Christ who is the first object of all the respect that God hath to us Why are the Angels attendants on us Because they attend upon Iacobs Ladder that is upon Christ that knits Heaven and Earth together So that the Angels because they attend upon Christ first become likewise our attendants we have a promise of eternall life but this life is in his Son God blesseth us with all spirituall blessings in him and makes us sons in him the naturall Sonne whatsoever prerogative we enjoy it is in Christ first and so belongs to us but no further than we by faith are made one with him How darest thou think of God who is a Consuming fire and not think of him as he is pleased and pacified with thy person in Christ who tooke thy nature upon him to be a foundation of comfort and a second Adam a publique person satisfying Divine Justice for all that are members of his body Wee may think upon God with comfort when wee see him appeased in his Christ. As long as hee loves Christ hee cannot but love us Never think to have grace or salvation or any thing without Christ. Doth God love mee doth hee doe good to my soule for my owne sake abstracted from his Sonne no surely then should I flie from his presence But he looks upon me in his beloved and in him accepts of my person therefore our Saviour prayeth I desire thee bles sed Father that the love wherewith thou lovest mee may be in them and I in them This should direct us in our dealing with God not to goe directly to him but by a Promise And when wee have a Promise look to Christ in whom it is performed If we ask any thing of God in Christs name he will give it us If wee thank God for any thing thank him in Christ that wee have it in him What a comfort is this that wee may goe to God in Christ and claime the Promises boldly because he loves us with the same love he beares to his only beloved Sonne If we get fast hold on Christ and cleave there God can assoone alter his love to him as alter his love to us his love is every whit as unchangeable to a beleeving member as to Christ the head of the body The Promises are as sure as the love of God in Christ is upon which they are founded and from which nothing can separate us For Promises being the fruit of Gods love and Gods love being founded first upon Christ it must needs follow that all the Promises are both made and made good to us through him If a Prince should love a man and his love should be founded upon the love he beares to his own Son surely such a one may have comfort that love will never faile him because it is an affection naturall and therefore unalterable he will alwayes love his Sonne and therefore will alwayes delight in him in whom his Son delighteth Now Christ is the everlasting Sonne of the Father his deare and only Sonne in whom hee is ever well pleased and through whom he cannot be offended with those that are his So surely as God loves Christ so surely hee loves all that are united to him There is nothing in the world can separate his love from his owne Sonne neither is there any thing able to separate his love from us that are one with him God loves Christs mysticall body as well as his naturall body hee hath advanced that to glory at his right hand in heaven and will hee think you leave his mysticall body the Church in a state of abasement here on earth No certainly God loves every member of his Son for as he gave us to Christ so Him hath he sealed and annointed to be a Saviour for his people This is the reason why God looks upon us with a forbearing eye notwithstanding the continuall matter of displeasure hee finds in us hee looks on us in his Sonne his love to us is grounded on his love to Christ. And hereupon comes our boldnesse with God the Father that wee can goe to him in all distresses with comfort say Lord look
on thy Son whō thou hast given for us and in him behold his poore members now before thee In our selves we have dread but in thy dearly beloved wee have joy in thy presence If we come in the garments of our Elder brother wee are sure to get a blessing but in our selves God cannot endure to behold us If we bring Benjamin to our Father if wee carry Christ along with us then come and welcome Upon what unchangeable grounds is the love of God and the faith of a Christian builded How can the gates of hell prevaile against the faith of a true beleever when it is carried to the promise and from the promise to Gods love the love of God to Christ shall as soone faile as the faith of a sincere Christian shal be shaken The promises else should bee of no effect they should be Yea and Nay and not Yea Amen If the promises could bee shaken the love of God and Christ should be uncertain Overturn heaven and earth if we overturne the faith of a true persevering Christian. There is nothing in the world of that firmnesse as a beleeving soule is the ground hee stands upon makes him unmoveable Our union with the Lord Jesus makes us like Mount Sinai that cannot be shaken But wee must know there are three degrees or steps of love whereof a promise is the last 1. Inward love 2. Reall performance 3. A manifestation of performance intended before it bee done Love concealed doth not cōfort in the interim therfore God who is love doth not only affect us for the present and intend us mercy hereafter but because hee will have us rest sweetly in his bosome and settle our selves on his gracious purposes hee gives us in the mean time many rich and pretious promises Hee not only loves us and shewes the same in deeds now but he expresseth his future care of us that wee may build on him as surely as if we had the thing performed already By this wee see how God loves us he hath not only an inward liking and good wil to us in his brest but manifests the same by word hee reveales the tendernesse of his bowells towards us that wee may have the comfort of it before-hand God would have us live by faith and establish our selves in hope because these graces fit us for the promise If there were no Promises there could bee no faith nor hope What is Hope but the expectation of those things that the word saith And what is faith but a building on the promise of God Faith looks to the word of the thing Hope to the thing in the word Faith looks to the thing promised Hope to the possession and performance of it Faith is the evidence of good not seene making that which is absent as present to us Hope waits for the accomplishment of that good contained in the word if we had nothing promised what need hope and where were the foundation of faith But God being willing to satisfie both that wee may bee heavenly-wise in relying upon a firme foundation and not as fooles trust in vanity in mercy gives us promises and seales them with an oath for our greater supportment That love which ingaged the Almighty to bind himself to us in pretious promises will furnish us likewise with grace needfull till wee be possessed of them He will give us leave to depend upon him both for happinesse and all quieting graces which may support the soule till it come to its perfect rest in himselfe Now these gratious expressions of our good God may be reduced into divers rankes I will but touch some few particulars and shew how wee should carry our selves to make a comfortable use of them First there are some universall Promises for the good of all mankinde as that God would never destroy the World againe c. Secondly there are other Promises that more particularly concerne the Church and these are Promises 1. Either of outward things 2. Or of spirituall and eternall things of Grace and Glory In the manner of promising they admit of this distinction All the Promises of God are made to us either Absolutely without any condition so was the Promise of sending Christ into the world and his glorious comming againe to judgement let the world be as it will yet Christ did come and will come againe with thousands of Angels to judge us at the last Or 2. conditionall As the Promise of Grace and Glory to Gods children that he will forgive their sinnes if they repent c. God deales with men as wee doe by way of commerce one with another propounding mercy by covenant and condition yet his covenant of grace is alwayes a gratious covenant For he not onely gives the good things but helpes us in performing the condition by his Spirit he workes our hearts to beleeve and to repent Thus all Promises for outward things are conditionall as thus God hath promised protection from contagious sicknesse and from trouble and warre that he will be an hiding place and a Deliverer of his people in time of danger that he will doe this and that good for them But these are conditionall so far forth as in his wise providence he sees they may helpe to preserve spiritual good things in them and advance the graces of the inward man For God takes liberty in our outward estate to afflict us or doe us good as may best further our soules welfare Because do what we can with these bodies they will turn to dust and vanity ere long We must leave the world behinde us therefore he lookes to our main estate in Christ to the new creature and so farre as outward blessings may cherish and increase that so farre hee grants them or else he denies them to his dearest ones For we cannot still enjoy the blessings of this life but our corrupt nature is such that except we have somewhat to season the same we shall surfet and not digest them therefore they are all given with exception of the Crosse as Christ saith hee that doth for him any thing shall have a hundred fold here but with Persecution be sure of that whatsoever else he hath let Christians looke for crosses to season those good things they enjoy in this life To come now to some use of the point Are all the Promises of what kind soever whether spirituall and outward temporall or eternall are they all made to us in Jesus Christ And are they certainly true Yea and Amen in him Then I beseech you get into Christ betimes strengthen your intrest in him by all meanes out of whom we have nothing that is savingly good rest not in any thing abstracted from him so as to be accepted with God But you will say doth not God doe many good things to them that are out of Christ doth not the Sunne shine and the raine fall upon the just and the unjust upon the evill as
the Gen tiles and many other things Christ being sealed himselfe he sealed all that he did for our Redemption with his bloud and hath added for the strengthening of our faith outward seales the Sacraments to secure his love more firmly to us But in this place another manner of sealing is to be understood For here is not meant the sealing of Christ but the sealing of us that have communion with him The same spirit that seales the Redeemer seales the redeemed What is the manner of our sealing by the spirit Sealing we know hath divers uses First of all It doth imprint a likenesse of him that doth seale when the Kings Image is stamped upon the wax every thing in the wax answers to that in the seale face to face eye to eye body to body So wee are said to be sealed when we carrie in our soules the Image of the Lord Jesus for the spirit sets the stamp of Christ upon every true Convert there is the likenesse of Christ in all things to be found in him As the Child answers the Father foot for foot finger for finger in proportion but not in quantity So it is in the sealing of a beleever there is a likenesse in the soule that is sealed by the spirit to the Lord Jesus there is understanding of the same heavenly supernaturall truthes there is a judging of things as Christ judgeth a loving of that which he loves and a hating of that which hee hates a rejoycing to doe that which he delights in and a griefe to commit any thing that displeaseth his Majestie every affection of the soul is carried that way that the affections of our blessed Saviour are carried in proportion every thing in the soule is answerable to him in its degree There is no grace in Christ but there is the like in every Christian in some measure The obedience of Christ to his Father even to the death is to be found in every true Christian The humility whereby Christ abased himselfe it is in every renued heart Christ works in the soule that receives him a conformity to himselfe The soule that beleeve that Christ hath loved him and done such great things for him is ambitious to expresse Christ in all his wayes Being once in Christ we shall delight to be transformed more and more into him To beare the Image of the second Adam upon our breasts to make it appeare that Jesus Christ lives in us and that wee live not to our selves but to him that died for us to be meeke and heavenly minded as hee was talking and discoursing of spirituall things going about doing good every where active for God fruitfull in holinesse doing receiving all the good we are able drawing others from this world to meditate of a better estate labouring for the advancement of Gods Kingdome and approving our selves to him this is one use of sealing to imprint a likenesse A second use of a Seale is distinction Sealing is a stamp upon one thing among many it distinguisheth christians from others as we shall see after Againe it serves for appropriation men seale those things that are their owne Merchants we see set their stamp on those Wares which they have or meane to have a right unto It pleaseth God thus to condiscend unto us by applying himselfe to humane contracts Hee appropriates his own to shew that hee hath chosen and singled them out for himselfe to delight in Sealing further serves to make things authenticall to give authority and excellencie The Seale of the Prince is the authority of the Prince This gives validity to things answerable to the dignity and esteeme of him that seales These are the foure principall uses of sealing And God by his spirit doth al theseto his 1. He stamps his own Image upon us he distinguisheth us from others even from the great refuse of the world God by his spirit appropriates us to himselfe hee makes us to be his and shewes that we are his hee likewise authorizethus and puts an excellencie upon us to secure us against all temptations when wee have Gods seale on us we stand firme in the greatest triall who shall seperate us from the love of God wee dare defie all objections of Sathan and accusations of conscience whatsoever A man that hath Gods seale stands impregnable in the most tempestuous season For it is given for our assu rance and not for Gods the Lord knowes who are his hee seales not because he is ignorant but for our comfort and establishment Whether is the spirit it selfe this seale or the work of the spirit and the graces thereof wrought in us I answer the Spirit of God where it is is a sufficient seale that God hath set us out for himselfe for whosoever hath the Spirit of Christ the same is his He is the Author of our sealing so that except you take the Spirit for that which is wrought by the Spirit you have not the comprehension of sealing for that which the Spirit worketh is the seale the spirit goes alwayes with his owne mark and impression Other seales when they are removed from the stamp the stamp remaines still but the Spirit of God dwells and keepes a perpetuall residence in the heart of a Christian guiding him moving him enlightning him governing him comforting him doing all offices of a seale in his heart till hee hath brought him to heaven The Holy Ghost never leaves us it is the sweetest inhabitant that ever lodging was given to he doth all the saving good that is done to the soule and is perpetually with his own work in joy and comfort though he seeme sometimes to be in a corner of the heart and is not easily discerned yet he alwayes dwels in his sealed ones What is that stamp that the Spirit seales us withall The Spirit works in this order for the most part First of all the Spirit doth together with the Word which is the instrument and the Chariot wherein it is carried convince us of the ill that is in us and the misery attending on us for the same It convinceth us of sinne and the fearefull estate we are in by that and abaseth us thereupon therefore it is called the Spirit of bondage because it makes a man tremble and quake till he see his peace made up in Christ. When hee hath done this then he convinceth us of righteousnesse by a sweet light discovering the excellencies of the Lord Jesus and the remedy in him provided for sinners God opens the eye of the soul to see the all-sufficiency of his Sons sanctâ—fication and inclines the heart to cast it selfe by faith upon him When we are throughly convinced of the ill that is in us and of the good that is in Christ and are moved by the Holy Ghost to go out of our selves and imbrace reconciliation in the Lord Jesus then a superadded worke is vouchsafed unto us for the Spirit daily perfecteth his owne
sinck as Lead in the bottome of the Sea which hath no consistence till it come to the Center to Hell Did you ever feele the joy of the Spirit in holy duties after inward striving against your lusts and getting ground of them this is a certaine signe that God hath sealed you But you will say How can that be a seale A seale continues with the thing but the joy of the Spirit comes after the work of the Spirit and abides not with us I answer though wee have not alwayes the joy of the Spirit yet we have the Spirit of joy which though it be not knowne by joy yet may be discerned by its operation and working A Christian may have a gracious work of the Spirit in him and yet want the delight and joy of the Spirit therefore when that failes look to thy sanctification and see what resemblance of Christ is formed in thee See 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heart be humble and broken if thou have a heavenly disposition like to thy Saviour when the joy of the Spirit ceaseth goe to the work of the Spirit and from the work of the Spirit to the voyce of the Spirit Canst thou cry to God with strong supplications or if thou canst not pray with distinct words canst thou mourne and groane The Spirit helps our infirmities when wee know not what to ask This sighing groaning is the voyce of Gods Spirit which hee will regard wheresoever he finds it This made Iob in his distresse to swim above water If one be in the midst of extremity and can seriously seek to God it is an undoubted signe that such a one is sealed especially when the corruption of his soule joynes with Sathans temptations the more to afflict him for a sinner in the midst of stormes clouds of darknesse then to cast anchor and quiet his soule in Christ argues great faith So when a temptation closes with our corruption and affliction yeelds ground to further the temptation then to pray and rely securely upon God is a gracious signe for Sathan useth the afflictions we are in as temptations to shake our faith as thus Canst thou be a child of God and be so exercised so vilified so persecuted Didst thou belong to Christ would ever these crosses losses and miseries have befallen thee deceive not thy selfe Thus affliction is a weapon to temptation for Sathan to help his fiery darts with he having such a dangerous party in us as our own corruption doth us the more harme continually How shall a man know whether God hath a part in him I answer If he can run against the streame if he find his soule resisting Sathans temptations raising him above afflictions standing out and combating with corruptions to the uttermost whē he can check his carnal heart that drawes him downwards saying Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted within me it is a good signe David found inward corruptions and outward afflictions joyning with Sathans temptations to depresse his spirit hereupon he chides his owne soule Why is it thus with thee why art thou dejected in this manner and then he layes a charge upon it Trust in God Whatsoever hardship wee meet with in the world yet there is hope in God still though we can find little comfort below yet there are rivers of consolation above it argues a gracious heart to quiet ones selfe in God in the worst times I beseech you let us labour to have our soules sealed with the Spirit of God to have further and clearer evidence of our estate in grace it is a blessed thing to have Christ live in us the enemies of our salvation are exceeding many and how soone death or judgement may ceaze us wee know not God will set none at his right hand but his Sheep those that have his owne Image on them his best Sheep have no outward mark but an inward the world sees not their beautie The Kings daughter is all glorious within How comfortably will the soule commend it self to Christ when it finds it selfe stamped with the Spirit of Christ when he can chearefully say Lord Jesus receive my soule thou that hast redeemed me by thy bloud and sealed me by thy Spirit acknowledge thine owne likenesse in me though it be not as it should be yet there is somwhat of thine in me Beloved wee must not give false evidence of our selves as wee must not against others what a comfort hath a sealed soul in the houre of death and in all extremities what a difference is there betweene such a soule and others in the time of affliction as in the time of pestilence warre and persecution for Christ The soul that is sealed knowes that hee is marked out for happinesse in the world to come Whatsoever befalls him in this life hee knowes that God in all confusion of times knows his own Seale and that his destroying Angell shal spare and passe over those that are marked Ezech. 9. And though our bodies escape not yet our soules shall Iosias wee see was taken away from the evill to come and Lot was delivered from the judgement of the Sodomites If wee partake not of the sinnes of the wicked wee shall never partake of their plagues God hath a speciall care of his little ones in this life and if hee take them away yet their death is pretious in his sight hee will not part with them but upon speciall consideration he sees if they live it will be worse for them their pretious soules are in continuall danger hee sees it is best for them to be gathered to God and the soules of perfect ones in heaven therefore hee provides a shelter to free them from all stormes on earth And as hee hath an eye over them in regard of outward miseries so in respect of spirituall corruption and infection as Revel 7. Gods holy ones were sealed so many of such a Tribe and so many of such a Tribe to signifie that God hath alwayes some that hee will keepe and preserve from the leaprous contagion of sinne and Antichrist even in evill times God hath his little flock still In the obscure ages of the Church 900 yeares after Christ when there was little learning and goodnesse in the world and Egyptian darknes had over-spred the earth God had alwayes sealed ones marked out for himselfe whom he preserved from the danger of dark times why then should wee be afraid of evill tidings Let any affliction or death it selfe come Christ will know his own stamp in us he hath a book of remembrance for those that are his and when hee gathers his jewells they will bee highly set by God in common calamities suffers his luggage wicked men to goe to wrack but he will secure his jewels his darlings what ever come of it labour therefore to bee a sealed person But you will say what shall I account of my self if there bee
unbeleeving men hee is pleased to condiscend to our weaknesse hee stoops to the lowest capacity and frames his speech to the understanding of the simplest soule for which purpose this terme of earnest is here borrowed In these respects the Spirit of God together with the graces of it and the comforts it brings for they are not divided is called an earnest And thus having cleared the point we will observe this doctrine for our further instruction That a Christian ought to be and may be assured of his interest in God because as I said before an earnest is given not so much for Gods sake as for our sakes this then must needs follow from hence Either none have this earnest or else those that have it may be assured of their comfortable condition Otherwise God is fickle and playes fast and loose with his children which is blasphemy to affirme Besides if none have this earnest then the Apostle speaks false when he saith God hath stablished us and given us the earnest of his Spirit which is horrible impiety once to conceive If this be so then either such as have this seale and earnest of the Spirit may be assured of their estate in grace or not And if not where is the fault Will not God really and truly vouchsafe unto his people this earnest of the Spirit in their hearts Vndoubtedly he will he is desirous that wee should be perswaded of his love in all things and therefore we may and ought to bee assured of his favour towards us S. Iohns whole Epistle containes little else but sundry markes evidences how we may know that wee are the children of God wherefore was Christ himselfe sealed of the Father to the Office of Mediatour wherefore did he die and rise againe and wherefore doth hee still make intercession for us in Heaven that wee should doubt of Gods love when as he hath given us that which is greater than salvation yea greater than al the world even his owne Sonne no certainly can we desire a more ample testimony of his favour than he hath already bestowed upon us Is it not the errand of all Gods mercies to bring us neerer to him selfe that we should not doubt of his love but rest securely upon him why then doe we distrust the Almighty who is truth it selfe and never failed any Yet we must know that Christians have not at all times alike assurance of their interest for there is an infancy of grace where in we are ignorant of our own condition And there is a time of desertion when as God to make us looke better to our footing leaves us a little as if he would forsake us quite when indeed hee onely withdrawes his assistance for a while to make us cleave the closer to him There be also certain seasons wherin though we are assured of Gods favor yet we have no feeling or apprehension of the same which differeth in Christians much according as they are more or lesse sensible of their estates Some againe use not that care and diligence in the use of meanes which God requires whereupon they are justly deprived of that inward peace and comfort which others enjoy There is a difference likewise in growth and continuance in Christianity some are strong Christians and some weak answerable whereunto is the difference of assurance of Gods love usually in the hearts of his people Nay it s possible that for a long time the Lords Iewels his redeemed ones may want this blessed comfort For wee must conceive there is a double act of faith First an act whereby a poore distressed sinner casts himselfe upon God as reconciled to him in Christ. Secondly there is a reflect act whereby knowing that wee rely upon the truth and promise of the Almighty we have assurance of his favour Now a man may performe the one act and not the other many of the Saints sometimes can hardly say that they have any assurance but yet notwithstanding they will daily cast themselves upon the rich mercy and free grace of God in Jesus Christ. Besides there are many things which may hinder this act of assurance because together with beleeving God may present such things to my minde as may so damp and disquiet my soule that I cannot have any definitive thoughts about that which God would especially have mee to thinke upon As when God will humble a man he takes not away the Spirit of faith wholly from him but sets before such a sinfull creature his anger and sore displeasure together with the hellish torments and paines of the damned as due to his soule which makes him for the present to be in an estate little differing from the Reprobate so that he is far from saying he hath any assurance at that time yet notwithstanding he doth not leave off nor renounce his confidence but casts himselfe upon Gods mercy still Though the Lord kill him yet will he trust in him although he sees nothing but terror wrath before him This God doth to tame our presumption and prepare us for the enjoyment of his future glory If we feele not sense of assurance it is good to blesse God for what we have Wee cannot denie but God offers himselfe in mercy to us and that hee intends our good thereby for so we ought to construe his mercifull dealing towards us and not have him in jealousie without ground Had wee but willing hearts to praise God for that which we cannot but acknowledge comes from him he will bee ready in his time to shew himself more cleerely to us We taste of his goodnesse many wayes it is accompanied with much patience and these in their natures should leade us not only to repentance but to neerer dependance on him we ought to follow that which God leads us unto though he hath not yet acquainted us with his secrets These things we must observe that we give not a false evidence against our selves though wee have not such assurance as wee have had yet alwayes there is some ground in us whereupon we may bee comforted that wee are Gods children could we but search into it Let us not then be negligent in labouring for the same and in the Lords good time we shall certainly obtaine it it is the prophanenesse of the world that they improve not those helpes which God hath afforded for this purpose Nay they had rather stagger and take contentment in their own wayes saying If God will love mee in a loose licentious course so it is but I will not give diligence to make my calling and election sure I will never barre my selfe of such profits and delights nor forsake all chiefly to minde spirituall things Whereas wee ought constantly to endeavour for assurance of grace that God may have honour from us and we the more comfort from him againe that we may live in the world above the world and passe cheerefully through the manifold troubles and
justice truth faithfulnesse providence wisedome and all-sufficiencie All which shall ever work together for the best to them that love his appearing So for Iesus Christ the eternall Sonne of God All his glorious titles and attributes serve like wise for the everlasting comfort of his poore Saints on earth Hee is called the Husband of his Church to cherish and maintaine the same His love unto his Church is farre above the love of any husband to his wife Hee is called the Saviour of the World because hee so loved the world that hee gave his life for it and hath promised that whosoever beleeveth on him shall not perish He is called the Fountaine of life the Well of life the Water of life the Bread of life the Way the Truth and the Life because that in him is our life and by him wee are fed and nourished to eternall life here in him wee obtain the life of Grace and in the World to come shall for ever enjoy the life of Glory So likewise for the Holy Ghost what heavenly attributes are ascribed to him in the Scriptures He is called the Comforter of Gods servants The Sealer of the Redemption of Gods children in their hearts he teacheth the Elect to call God Father hee beareth witnesse with their spirits that they are the Sons and Daughters of God he teacheth them to pray as they ought hee fills them with peace that passeth all understanding And refreshes their spirits with such unspeakable joy as eye hath not seene nor eare heard the like He that is instructed by the Spirit knoweth the things of God which a naturall man is ignorant of The holy Ghost doth call to rememberance the doctrine of God taught unto his servants writes the same in their hearts so that the operations of the blessed Spirit are all appropriated to them that love God and they alone have their right in them The direction comfort teaching and guiding of the Spirit of God doe serve entirely and peculiarly to order and work all things together for the best to the Godly Yea the Angels themselves are called Messengers and ministring Spirits appointed by God to attend and wait upon his servants Hee gives his Angells charge over these to serve them in all their wayes and to pitch their tents round about them whensoever God pleaseth to call any of his out of this world the Angels are a safe conduct to carry their soules into Abrahams bosome And at the last judgement the Lord shall send forth his Angells to gather his Elect from one end of the world to the other that they may fully enjoy that which they have long waited for even eternall blisse and glory Vnder the Angels all other creatures are likewise made serviceable for his peoples good Princes in authority are called in Scripture nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers unto the Church of Christ the end of all magistracy being that we might live religiously and peaceably in all the wayes of God Ministers also are stiled in the Word by the names of Watchmen and Seeds-men and spirituall Fathers to beget men againe to the kingdome of Heaven they are called Gods Husbandmen to manure and till his ground They are called Gods lights and the Salt of the Earth both to enlighten the Church with the light of the glorious Gospell whereof they are Ministers and to season them with such savoury and sweet instructions as may make them wise to salvation this being the very end of all Gods giving gifts to men that they might build up the Church of Christ here below So also the Word of God is called the savour of life the power of God unto salvation It is the seed of God which being sown in the hearts of Gods children springeth up in them to everlasting happinesse Gods Word is a light and a Lanthorne to guide and direct us in all his wayes it is the Sword of the Spirit to arme us against sin and to maintaine us in grace The Sacraments likewise are the Seales of life and pledges of our salvation in Christ and Ex communication though it bee rough and the extreamest censure of the Church and therefore ought to be undertaken upon weighty grounds yet the end of it is to save the soules of Gods people and to make them by repentance turne unto him So all outward gifts as beauty strength riches and honours these are given by God to serve for the good of his children As the beauty of Hester was an instrument of her preferment whereby she became a preservation to Gods children and an overthrow of her and their enemies Iosephs outward honours and wealth were made by Gods disposing hand a meanes of the preservation nourishment of the Israelites in the time of their great extremity and famine the like may be said of learning and other naturall acquirements all which do often tend to generall and publike advantages Yea the outward gists of God which are bestowed upon reprobates are still for the good of his for they who had skill and knowledge to build Noahs Ark though they themselves were not saved therein yet were they the meanes of Noahs preservation and so it many times falleth out that men of excellent parts and great abilities without grace though themselves are not profited thereby yet God so useth them as their gifts much conduce to further and build up the Church of Christ. Even outward favour of Princes oft tend to Gods servants good A just man as the Heathens could say is a common benefit And so a true Christian whatsoever good he hath it is communicable to all the faithfull and therfore S. Paul saith of him selfe that he was a debtor to all men both Iewes and Gentiles and that hee became all things to all men that he migh twin some But here the maine question will be and the difficulty arises how all ill things can work together for the best to Gods children I shall therefore demonstrate 1 The truth of this how it can be so 2 The reasons why it is so 3 Observe a caution that it be not abused 4 Let us see the sweet and comfortable use of this Doctrine That this may the better appear we must know that all evill things are either 1 Spirituall evill things 2 Outward evill things And for spirituall evill things they are either First Sinne. Secondly That which hath a reference to Sinne as being evils following after sinne The first sin of all which hath gone over whole mankinde and is spread abroad in every one of us this by Gods mercy and our repentance prooves to al beleevers a transcendent good for the fall and sin of the first Adam caused the birth and death of the second Adam Christ Jesus who notwitstanding he was God took upon him the nature of man and hath made us by his comming farre more happy than if we had neverfallen neither would God have
and prophanenesse and yet for all this say they love God Is it possible that the love of God and the love of sinne shold ever stand together Proceed wee now to some reasons and directions for the attaining of this grace And first let us not rest in an inferiour degree of this affection but rise up therin and labour that it may have full assent There are degrees of assent as when we love God because we love our selves a naturall man may doe so but this is not enough for if wee love God for our selves we make our selves our God Where the heart is truly set upon God it delights in him only for himselfe and takes comfort in no condition further than he sees God in it He never affected Christ in truth that is more taken with the benefits and priviledges that come by him than with the excellency of his person What friend will bee content that a man should only love him because he doth him good We must love our selves and all other things in and for God Moses and Paul rejoyced to honour the Lord though themselves were accurfed and deprived of happinesse and if wee could so love Christ as not to desire heaven it selfe if Christ were not there This were truly to affect him for indeed if Christ were not there heaven should not be heaven unto us Wee must love our happinesse no further than we can have with it Gods good leave and liking Againe we shall know our love to God whether it be sincere or no by our abstaining from sinne If wee avoid evill for feare of punishment or hope of reward only our love is unsound but when we so love God that wee will not doe any thing contrary to his spirit it is a speciall signe Such a man if there were no hell to punish him nor place of blisse to receive him yet would not breake with God upon any termes For the meanes to attaine this love we must in the first place labour for an humble empty soule Blessed are the poore in Spirit saith Christ for such only apprehend their misery without Christ and their need of him which occasions an holy rejoycing in the Lord and unfained love to him What is the reason that some are so ravished with the favours of the Almighty Is it not for that they were so formerly stung with the sight and feeling of their sinnes the more loving Christian ever the more humble Christian. Mark it when you will and you shall find this disposition manifest in every true convert they are daily humbling themselves for the least offence A second direction is to tast of the love of God in Christ. When the beams of his favour once shine into our hearts we cannot but reflect upon him againe We love him saith the Apostle because he loved us first Mary therefore loved much because shee had experience of Gods love in forgiving her many sinnes When a broken humble soule truly savoureth the goodnesse of the Lord it cannot but be enflamed with desire after him A Christian after hee hath had a taste of the love of God hath another manner of judgement of justification than before Taste and see saith David how good and gracious the Lord is A man that rellishes the sweetnesse of a thing can better judge of it than hee which never tasted it A third direction is to see what motives and reasons wee have from the love of God in Christ to exercise our understanding this way Wee know heat commeth from light and there is a sympathie betweene the braine and the heart the braine must make a report to the heart before that can bee enflamed with affection therefore seriously search into the grounds of thy affection The first ground is goodnesse in God God is goodnesse it self in whom all good is involved if therefore wee love other things for the goodnesse which wee see in them Why doe wee not love God in whom is all goodnesse All other things are but sparks of that fire and drops of that Sea seest thou any good in the creature remember there is much more in the Creator leave therefore the streames and goe to the well-head of comfort Another reason of love is our affinity with God our Father and friend who is unto us in all degrees of neerenesse both our head and our husband were not the Sonne ours what fellowship could we have with the Father having such a Mediator with God that is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh why should we feare to go unto him He hath taken upon him these comfortable relations of Shepheard and Brother to possesse us of his acquaintance with our infirmities and readinesse to releeve us For shall others by his grace fulfill what hee calls them unto and not he that out of his love hath taken upon him these relations so throughly founded upon his Fathers assignment and his owne voluntary undertaking How doth the tender Mother sympathize in the anguish of her child notwithstanding all its froward aversenesse and shall we think there is more bowells in our selves than in God can there be more sweetnesse in the streame than in the spring If the well of consolation be alwayes open and the fountaine of living water bee never shut up let us teach our hearts to suck and draw comfort from these rivers of refreshing What a shame is it that men should hunger at such a feast Consider likewise the benefits which wee have bestowed upon us and the end why God vouchsafes us so much favour Benefits win love even from bruit creatures therfore wee are worse than beasts if we love not God for his benefits The Oxe knowes his owner and the Asse his Masters Crib what are wee indeed but an heap of Gods benefits All our faculties of soule and body are the blessings of God Whatsoever wee have or hope to have is from him Our breath life and being subsists in God who hath promised that heaven and earth men and Devils crosses and blessings sinne and death all shall be turned by his over-ruling power to our good Consider what now we are what a happy condition God hath made us capable of hereafter Is it a small matter that wee should be regarded above the Angels that fell And that he who knew no sin should be made sinne for us nay become a curse to free us from the curse It was strange that the three Children being cast into the hot fiery Furnace should not burne So likewise it is a wonder that Christians being in the midst of the flame of Gods love should be so cold and dead hearted it is not only the guilt of sin that we are freed from but the unsupportable vengeance of the Almighty due for the same and is this a small matter If we regard the manner of bestowing his benefits it will much advance Gods goodnesse towards us and raise up our spirits to love him againe Doth not