where they must continually fight the souldier is here under command and therefore must be quiet and take his lot so must the Christian reverence the Lords dispensaâ—…tions in ordering matters so as they shall never â—…ave one houres quietnesse whileas others have more rest and peace and stand at their post figâ—…ting resolving never to yeeld but rather to cover the ground with their dead bodyes till the Commander in chief think good to relieve them Suâ—…â—… am as the only wise God hath distributed to eveâ—…y member of the body as He hath thought good so it is the duty of every member to endeavour this holy submission to Him as to the measure of graâ—… considered as His free gift bestowâ—…d on them â—…nd to be humbled for the grudgings of his heart 〈◊〉 God hath not given him moe talents 〈◊〉 sure I am though this submission make no 〈◊〉 â—…oise in thâ—… world yet really this is one of 〈◊〉 â—…ghest degrees of grace attaineable here and 〈◊〉 aâ—… ornament of a mâ—…ek and quiet Spirit 〈◊〉 it in 〈◊〉 sight of God of great price So that who ever hath 〈◊〉 to this have the very grace they seem to 〈◊〉 and more Yet leâ—…t this should be 〈◊〉 lâ—… me adde a word or two of câ—…ution to 〈◊〉 this submission 1. There must be with it an 〈◊〉 priâ—…ing even of that degree of grace which they want 2. There must be a panting after grace as it is God's image and a conformity to Him and that with so much singlness as they may be in â—…ase to say without the reproachings of their heart they do not so much love holiness for heaven aâ—… heaven for holiness 3. There must be an uncessantness in useing all meanes whereby the grouth oâ—… grace may be promoved to this end that they may be comformed to His image rather than that they may be comforted 4. There must be also a deep humiliation for the want of that degree of grace they would have as it importetâ—… the want of so much conformity to Him to whose image they are praedestinated to be conforme which will very well consist with this submission we are speaking ofâ—… 13. It would be remembered that there may be a great progress even when it is not observed when 1. Hereby the man is made to ly in the dust to loath himself and cry behold I am vile 2. Hereby his indignation against the body of death is the more increased 3. Hereby his esteem of a Saviouâ—… anâ—… of the blessed contrivance of Salvation is the 〈◊〉 hiâ—…ghtned that he seeth he is thereby broughâ—… to make mention of His righteousness even oâ—… 〈◊〉 only 4. Hereby his longing after 〈◊〉 frâ—…ition is increased where all these complainâ—… shall cease 5. And hereby he is put to 〈◊〉 that much slighted duty of holding fast the rejoyâ—…ing of his hope firme unto the end looking 〈◊〉 longing for the grace that shall be brought unto him at the revelation of Iesus Christ when he shall be presented without spot and made meet to be â—… partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light CHAP. VI. How Christ is to be made use of in reference to thâ—… kâ—…lling and crucifying of the old man HAving thus shortly pointed out somethingâ—… in generall serving to the clearing and opening up the way of our usemaking of Christ for sanctification we come now more particularly to the clearing up of this business In sanctification we must consider First the renewing and changeing of our nature and frame and next the washing and purging away of our dayly contracted spots The first of these is commonly divided into two parts viz. 1. The mortification killing and crucifying of the old man of sin and corruption which iâ—… within and 2. The vivification renewing quickening and strengthening of the new man of grace and this is a grouth in grace and in fruitfulnesse holinesse As to the first of these viz the mortification 〈◊〉 crucifying of the old man we would know thâ—… there is such a principle of wickednesse and enmiâ—… against God in man by nature now since the fall whereby the man is inclined to evil and only to evil This is called the old man as being like the body made up of so many parts joynts and members that is so many lusts corruptions and evill inclinations which together make up a corpus and they are fâ—…st joyned and compacted together as the members of the body each usefull and serviceable to another and all of them concurring and contributing their utmost to the carrying on of the work of sin and so it is the man of sin and it is also called the old man as haâ—…ing first possession of the soul before it is by grace renewed and is â—… dying more and more dayly Thus it is called the old man and the body of sin Rom. 6 6. This old man hath his members in our members faâ—…cultyes so that none of them are free understanding will affections and the members of our body are all servants of unrighteousnesse to this body of sin and old man So we read of the motions of sin Rom 7 5. which work in our members to bring forâ—… fruit unto death and of the lusts of the flesh Rom. 13 14. Gal. 5 16 24. and the lusts of sin Rom. 6 12. So we hear of the desires of the flesh and of the minde Ephes. 2 3. and of affections and lusts Gal. 5 24. And the old man is said to be corrupt according to the deceitfull lustâ—… Ephes. 4 22. all which lusts and affections are as so many members of this body of sin and of this old man And further there is herein considerable a power force and efficacy which this old man hath in us to carry us away and as it were command us oâ—… constraine us as by a forcible law Hence we read of the law of sin and death Rom. 8 2 which only the law of the Spirit of life in Christ doth make 〈◊〉 free from It is also called a law in our memâ—…rs warring against the law of our minde Rom. 7 23. and bringing us into captivity to the law of sin which is in our members So it is said to lust against the Spirit and to warre Gal. 5 17 All which point out the strength activity and dominion of sin in the soul so that it is as the husband over the wife Rom. 7 1. yea it hath a domineering and constraineing power where its horns are not held in by grâ—…e And as its power is great so its nature is wicked malicious for it is pure enmity against God Rom. â—… 7. so that it neither is nor can be reconciled 〈◊〉 therefore must be put off and abolished Ephes. 2 15. killed crucified Rom. 6 6. Now herein lyeth the work of a beleever to be killing mortifying and crucifying this enemy or rather enmity and delivering himself from under this bondage and slavery that he may be Christ's free man and that
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
is so displayed that nothing appeareth from the lowest foundation stone to the upper most cope-stone but grace grace free grace making up all the materials and free grace with infinite wisdom cementing all The gracious soul can be warme under no other covering but what is made of that web wherein grace and only grace is both wooft and werpe and the reason is manifest for such an one hath the clearest sight and discovery of his owne condition and seeth that nothing suiteth him and his case but free grace nothing can make up his wants but free grace nothing can cover his deformities but free grace nothing can help his weaknesses shortcomings faintings sins and miscarriages but free grace therefore is free grace all his Salvation and all his Desire itis his glory to be free grace's debtor for evermore the crown of glory will have a far more exceeding and eternal weight and be of an hyperbolically hyperbolick and eternal weight and yet easily carryed and worne when he seeth how free grace and free love hath lined it and free grace and free love sets it on and keeps it on for ever this maketh the glorified Saint weare it with ease by casting it down at the feet of the gracious and loving purchaser and bestower His exaltation is the Saints glory and by free grace the Saints receiving and holding all of free grace is He exalted O what a glory is it to the Saint to set the crown of glorious free grace with his owne hands on the head of such a Saviour and to say not unto me not unto me but unto thee even unto thee alone be the glory for ever and ever With what delight satisfaction and complacency will the glorified Saint upon this account sing the Redeemed and Ransomed their song And if the result and effect of free grace will give such a sweet sound there and make the glorified's heaven in some respects another thing or at least in some respect a more excellent heaven than Adam's heaven would have been for Adam could not have sung the song of the Redeemed Adam's heaven would not have been the purchase of the blood of God nor would Adam have sitten with Christ Redeemer on his throne nor would there have been in his heaven such â—…ich hangings of free grace nor such mansions prepared by that gracious and loving husband Christ who will come and bring his boughâ—…-bride home with Him Seing I say heaven even upon the account of free grace will have such a special lovely desireable and glorious lustre O how should Grace be prized by us now How should the Gospel of the Grace of God be esteemed by us What an antipaâ—…hy to Glory as now prepared and dressed up for sinful man must they show whose whole wit and parts are busied to daâ—…ken the glory of thâ—… Grace which God would have shineing in the Gospel and who are aâ—… so much paines and labour to dresse up another gospel though the Apostle hath told us Gal. 1 7. that there is not another wherein Gospel-grace must stand by and law grace take the throne that so man may sacrifice to his owne net and burn incense to his own drag and may at most be graces debtor in part and yet no way may the saved man account himself more graces debtor than the man was who wilfully destroyed himself in not performing of the conditions for Grace as the new Gospelers or rather Gospel spillers meane and say did equally to both frame the conditions make known thâ—… contrivance and tender the conditional peace and salvation But as to the difference betwixt Paul and Iudas it was Paul that made himself to differ and not the free grace of God determineing the heart of Paul by grace to a closeing with and accepting of the bâ—…rgan It was not grace that wrought in him both to will to do It waâ—… he not the grace of God in him What more contradictory to the gospel of the grace of God And yet vaine Man will not condescend to the free grace of God Pelagianisme Arminianisme needeth not put a man to much study and to the reading of many books to the end it may be practically learned though the patrons hereof labour hote in the very fires to make their notions hang together and to give them such a lustre of unsanctified and corrupt reason as may be taking with such as know no other conduct in the matters of God for nâ—…turally we are all borne Pelagians and Arminians these Tenets are deeply engraven in the heart of every Son of fallen Adam what serious servant of God findeth not this in his dealing with souls whom he is labouring to briâ—…g into the way of the Gospel Yea what Christian is there who hath acquantance with his owne heart and is observing its byasses and corrupt inclinations that is not made to cry out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from these dregs of Pelagianisme Arminianisme and Iesuitisme which I finde yet within my soul Hence it may seem no wonderful or strange thing though after so much clear light it may be astonishing to think that now in this age so many are so openly and aâ—…wedly appearing for this dangerous and deadly errouâ—… to us to hear and see this infection spreadâ—…ng and gaining ground so fast there needeth few arguments or motives to worke up carnal hearts to an imbraceing thereof and to a cheerful acquiesceing therein little labour will make a spark of fire worke upon gunpowder And me thinks if nothing else will this one thing should convince us all of the errour of this way that nature so qâ—…imely and readyly complyeth therewith for who that hath any eye upon or regaird of such things seeth not what a world of carnal reasonings objections prejudices and scruples natural men have in readiness against the Gospel of Christ and with what satisfaction peace and delight they reason and plead themselves out of the very reach of free grace and what work there is to get a poor soal in any measure wakened and convinced of its lost condition wrought up to a compliance with the gospel way of Salvation How many other designes projects and essayes doth it follow with a piece of natural vehemency and seriousness without wearying were it even to the wasteing of its body and spirits let be its substance riches before it be brought to a closeing with a crucified Mediator and to an accounting of all its former workings attainments and painful labourings and gaine as losse for Christ and for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ and as dung that it may win Christ and be found in Him not having its own righteousness which is of the laâ—… but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faiâ—…h Phil. 3 7 8 9. Aâ—…d mâ—…y it not seem strange that now after so many have found through the grace of God the sweet experience of
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
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
reason whose Rule is the law of nature as explained in the scriptures whose use and end is acceptation with God and justification before him which is pure impure Pelagianisme propagat now in Brittan where it had its unhallowed birth a tremenduous signification of the high displeasure of God against these huffeing arrogants of this age who because they have not received the truth in love are left to soul-murthering delusions and for their dispiseing the unsearchable riches of Christ held forth in the gospel are left in stead of embraceing Christ Jesus into their soul as altogither lovely whom God hath made unto us wisdom righteousnesse sanctification and redemption to embrace in their bosome and hug between their brests this hell-borne and after all the cost they have bestowed upon it wherein they are at the expence of their precious soul if repentance prevent it not hell-blake brate morality in opposition to that gospel holinesse wherein conformity to God consists It concernes thee Christian Reader whoso ever thou art carefully to observe that the great designe the Devil this day drives in the world i◅ how to introduce a Religion amongst these called Christians which for the soul and substance of it is an Antichristian masse and medly substitute and obtruded in place of the marrow of the gospel mysteries of salvation And though Christ be named amongst these perverters of the gospel yet he is really exautorat and robbed of his offices and while false ends are assigned the great end of his comeing in the world is denied and the blessed intendment and designe of the gospel of the grace of God is defeat Now because Satan finds no mids so propper for his purpose nor mean so certain to accomplish his end as to corrupt the minds of men with perverse principles for they are more then halfe way to hell when their principles state them in an opposition to thē Prince of life he perverts them into a nauseating of the plain path way of salvation by a slain Saviour for the preaching of the crosse what ever they pretend is really to them foolishnesse and seduceth them into a satisfaction with and pleading for this pagan piety as preferable to pure Religion and undefiled before God And then under this maske of morality and disguise of vertue doth Abaddon muster all his several legions and mannage his opposition against the Mediator in the comeing of his kingdome in the world and conquering the souls of men It is true there may be some small differences betwixt his forces when gathered in the field in their manner or method and marke some attacqueing the gospel in the very substance of it with a flouting and fierce insolency others with a subtile and snarkeing fullenness but all of them concenter in the designe and bewray such a keenness and diligence in driveing it as showes both under whose banner they fight and how true they are to their collours and Captain herein Papists Pelagians Socinians Arminians and the compound of all abominations Quakers are unite And r◅uely if I might be heard I would beseech also our pepper corne men to consider how far the Adversary of mans salvation hath improved their assertions and concessions and how much advantage the common enemies of the truth have got thereby Take notice therefore I say Christians of this being Satans main designe and how and by whom it is mannaged lest yee be seduced into the same conspiracie for many who seemed to be of understanding have fallen and fallen because the did not feare to fall O beware lest yee also being led away with the error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness but study to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour for there is none other name given und◅ heaven whereby men may be saved Jesus Christ I know that every Reader and serious Christian in order to his own establishment is not able to purchase nor is at leisure to peruse what Godly men have written for this end and whose praise because of their pains is in the Church of Christ such as that large discourse of learned and truely religious Doctor Owen upon the Holy Spirit◅ wherein that worthy Author as he hath given proof to the world of Christs being formed in him and that his working and walking and witnessing to the truth proceeds from the same noble principle Christ dwelling in him and walking in him so he hath with a profound perspicuity and convinceing plainnesse discovered the nature pedegree discent and tendency of this monster and then haveing discovered whence it came and for what end he hath given it a mortal blow whereby he hath laid it all alongs and left it sprawling and gnawing its tongue and gnashing its teeth for which learned elaborat and judicious discourse as all the lovers of that truth which is according to godlinesse are obliged to blesse the Lord so are they under the obligation of thankfulnesse to him and by this I returne him my poor insignificant thanks And I have the allowance of the Author to do the same in his name But I would recommend to you who can neither purchase nor peruse what is more voluminous how worthy soever the serious perusal as of the whole of that savoury grace-breathing peece The fulfilling of the Scriptures so therein that short but sweet digression against blake-mouthed Parker wherein the gracious Author takes out his own soul and sets before thine eye the image of God impressed thereon for while he deals with that Desperado by clear and convinceing reason flowing natively from the pure fountain of divine revelation he hath the advantage of most men and writers too in silencing that blasphemer of the good wayes of God with arguments taken from what he hath found acted upon his own soul. And likewise I would recommend as a soveraigne antidot against this poison the diligent peruseing and pondering of what is shortly hinted against the hellish belchings of the same unhallowed Author in the preface to that piece of great Mr. Durham upon the Commands by a disciple who besids his natural acuteness and subactness of judgement in the deepth of gospel mysteries is known by all who know him and for my self I know none now alive his equal to have most frequent accesse to lean his head on his Masters bosome and so in best case to tell his fellow disciples and brethren what is breathed into his own soul while he lives in these embraces and under the shedings abroad of that love of God in his soul which drew and did dictat these lines against that flouter at all such fruitions Nor can I here omit to observe how when the devil raised up Parker that Monster to barke and blaspheme the Lord raised up a Merveil to fight him at his own weapon who did so cudgel and quell that boasting Bravo as I know not if he be dead of his wound but for any thing I know he hath laid his speech
willing in the day of his power Psal. 110. So he taketh away the enmitie that is in us Col. 2 20 21. and reconcileth us to God and to His wayes that our hearts do sweetly comply with them and we become most willing and glade to walk in them yea to run the way of his commandements through his enlarging of our hearts Psal. 119 32. 5. He likewise taketh away that desire and willingnesse which we have to lie still in our naturall condition by convinceing us of the dreadfull hazard thereof through the Spirit of conviction whereby he convinceth the world of in Iohn 16 8. and circumciseth their care to hear maketh them willing to hearken to the counsel of God 6. As for the power Dominion of Satan he breaketh that by leading captivity captive Ephes. 4 8. Psal. 68 18. and spoiling the strong Mans house for he is come to destroy the works of the devil 1 Iohn 3 8. and He spoileth principalities powers Col. 2 15. Thus as captaine of salvation he leadeth them out as a conquerour having payed the price he delivereth also by power and authoritie from the hand of this Jailour And thus we see how he answereth our case and necessitie and is a fit way for us and though this be not questioned yet little is it beleeved and considered and lesse put in practise And as for the Third particular That He alone is this way and answereth our case herein it needeth not be much spoken to since it is clear and manifest confirmed by the experience of all generations and the disappointments of fools who have been seeking other wayes Angels in heaven cannot do our businesse They cannot satisfy justice for 〈◊〉 nor have they any power over our heart to turne it as they will nay they are not acquanted with our secret thoughts that cabinet is keept closse from them and reserved as the peculiar privilege of God alone The blood of bulls and goats can not do it for the Apostle tells us that it is impossible that that should take away sin Heb. 10 4. That blood shed according to the law did cleanse ceremonially but it is only the blood of Iesus typified by that which cleanseth really so that we are sanctified through the offerring of the body of Jesâ—… Christ once for all Heb. 10 10. No paines or labour of ours can avail here The Lord will not be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousands of rivers of oil He will not take our first borne for our transgression nor the Son of our body for the sin of our soul Micah 6 7. Ordinances and meanes will not do it nor any invention of our owne No man can by any meanes redeem his brother or give to God a ransome for him for the redemption of the soul is precious ceaseth for ever Psal. 49 7. 8. He alone hath laid downe the price all our sufferings prayers teares labours pennances and the like signifie nothing here they cannot satisfie justice for one sin As to the fourth particular viz the singularity of this way Those things make it manifest and apparent 1. This is such a way as can discover it self and make it self known unto the erring traveller Christ Iesus is such a way as can say to the wandering soul This is the way walk in it Esa. 30 25. No way can do this This is comfortable 2. This way can not only discover it self to the wandering traveller but also it can bring folk into it Christ can bring souls unto himself when they are runnig on in their wandering condition He can move their heart to turne in to the right way put grace in their soul for this end beginne resolutions in them and sow the seed of faith and so stay their course which they were violently pursueing and make them look about and consider what they are doing as the former was good newes to poor blinde and witlesse creatures that were wandering and knew not whither they were going so this is good newes to poor souls that finde their heart inclineing to wander and loving to goe astray 3. This way can cause us walk in it If we be rebellious and obstinate He can command with authoritie for he is given for a leader and a commander Esa. 55 4. How sweet should this be to the soul that is weighted with a stubborn untractable and unperswadable heart that He as a King Governour Commander can with authoritie draw or drive and cause us follow and run 4. This way is Truth as well as the Way So that the soul that once entereth in here is saife for ever no wandering here The wayfareing men though fooles shall not erre in this way Esa. 35 8. He will bring the blinde by a way that they knew not and lead them in paths that they have not knowne he will make darknesse light before them and crooked things streight those things will he do unto them and not forsake them Esai 42 16. 5. This way is also Life and so can revive the fainting and weary travailer He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he Increaseth strength Yea he renowes their strength and makes them mount up with wings as eagles and run and not be weary and walk and not faint Esa. 40 29 31. and so he giveth legs to the traveller yea he carryeth the lambs in his bosome Esa. 40 11. O! who would not walk in this way what can discourage the man that walketh here what can he feare no way can quicken or refresh the weary man This way can do it yea it can quicken one that is as dead and cause him march on with fresh alacrity and vigour 6 From all these it followeth that this way is a most pleasant hartsome desireable and comfortable way The man is saife here and he may sing in the wayes of the Lord Psal. 138 5 for wisdomes wayes are wayes of pleasantnesse and all her paths are peace Prov. 3 17. He is a Way that is Food Physick cordials and all that the poor traveller standeth in need of till he come home From all which â—…re we come to particulars we shall in generall shortly point out those dutyes which natively result thence by way of use 1. O! what cause is there here for all of us to fall on wondering both that God should ever have condescended to have appointed a way how sinners and rebells that had wickedly departed from him and deserved to be cast out of his presence and favour for ever might come back againe and enjoy happinesse and felicity in the friendshipe and favour of that God that could have gote the glory of his justice in our destruction and stood in no need of us or of any thing we could do as also that he appointed such a way That Iesus Christ his only Son should to speak so lie as a bridge betwixt God and sinfull rebells and as a high-way that they might
cursed is every one that abideth not in all that is written in the law to do it Deut. 27 26. Gal. 3 10. What way this conviction is begun carryed on in the soul and to what a measure it must come I cannot now stand to explaine only in short know That upon whatsoever occasion it be begun whether by a word carryed home to the heart by the finger of God or by some sharpe crossing dispensation feare of approaching death some hainous outbreaking or the like it is a reall thing a heart reaching conviction not generall notionall but particular plaine and pinching affecting the heart with fear terrour making the soul seriously really to minde this matter to be taken up with the thoughts of it and anxiously earnestly to cry out what shall I do to be saved and finally will make the soul willing to hearken hear what hopes of mercy there is in the gospell and to imbrace the way of salvation which is there laid downe And the reason of this is because Christ himself tells us The whole needeth not the phisitian but the sick Mat. 9 12. He is not come to call the righteous that is such as are righteous in their owne eyes but sinners that is such as are no more now whole at the heart as seeing no evill no hazard or danger but pricked pierced with the sence of their lost condition being under the heavy wrath vengeance of the great God because of sin and seeing their owne vilenesse cursednesse wickednesse desperat madnesse Because naturally we hate God Christ Iohn 15 23 24 25. and have a strong naturall antipathy at the way of salvation through Iesus therefore nothing but strong inevitable necessity will drive us to a complyance with this gospell device of love 2. There must be some measure of humiliation under this conviction the man is bowed down and made mute before God no more boasting of his goodnesse of his happy condition no high or great thoughts of his righteousnesse for all are now to be looked on as filthy rags Esai 64 6. what things were as gaine before to the soul must now be counted losse yea and as dung Phil. 3 7 8. The man must be cast downe in himself and far from high and conceity thoughts of himself or of any thing he ever did or can do for the Lord resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble Jam 4 6. 1 Pet. 5 5. He reviveth the Spirit of the humble Esa 57 15. He that humbleth himself shall be exalted Mat. 18 4. 23 12. Luk. 14 11. 18 14. 3. There must be a despaireing of getting help or relief out of this condition by our selves or any thing we can do a conviction of the unprofitablenesse of all things under the sun for our reliefe No expectation of help from our supposed good heart good purposes good deeds works of charity many prayers commendation of others sober harmlesse walking or any thing else within us or without us that is not Christ for so long as we have the least hope or expectation of doing our owne businesse without Christ we will never come to Him Our heart hangeth so after the old way of salvation through works that we cannot endure to hear of any other nor can we yeeld to any other could we but have heaven by the way of works we would spare no paines no coast no labour no expences Nay we would put ourselves to much paine torment by whippings cuttings fastings watchings and the like we would not spare our first borne nay we would dig our graves in a rock with our nailes and cut our owne dayes could we but get heaven by this meanes such is our antipathy at the way of salvation through a crucified Christ that we would choose any way but that cost what it would therefore before we can heartyly close with Christ accept of him we must be put from those refuges of lies and see that there is nothing but a disappointment written on them all that all our prayers fastings cryes dutyes reformations sufferings good wishes good deeds c are nothing in his eyes but so many provocations to the eyes of his jealousie and so further causes of our misery 4. There must be a rational deliberate resolute relinquishing of all those things in our selves on which our heart is ready to dote The Man being convinced of the vanity of all things by which he hath been hopeing for salvation must now purpose to loose his grips off them to turn his back upon them to quite them with purpose of heart say to them get you hence as Esa. 30 22. This is to deny our selves which we must do ere we become his disciples Mat. 16. 24. This is to forsake our Fathers house Psal. 45 10. and to pluck out our right eye to cut off our right arme Mat. 5 29 30. This abandoning of all our former false props subterfuges must be resolute over the belly of much opposition within from the carnall naturall inclinations of the heart and of much opposition without from Satan's insnareing suggestions deceitfull temptations It must be a real rational act of the Soul upon solide and through conviction of their unprofitablenesse yea of their dangerousnesse destructivenesse 5. There must be some knowledge of the nature of the gospell covenant and of the way which now God hath chosen whereby to glorifie his grace in the salvation of poor sinners That God Father Son Holy ghost thought good for the glory of free grace and wisdome in a way of Justice mercy to send Jesus Christ to assume mans nature and so become God man in two distinct natures one person for ever to become under the law to undergoe the curse thereof and to die the cursed death of the crosse to satisfie Iustice and to pay the ransome for the redemption of the elect In which undertaking our Lord was a servant Esa. 42 1. 49 6. 52 13. 53 11. Zech. 3 8. Matth. 12 18. and had furniture from God for all his undertaking Esai 42 1. â—…1 1 2. Mat. 12 18. and had a promise of seeing his seed of prolonging his dayes c. Esa. 53 10. 11. Thus there was a covenant of Redemption betwixt God the Mediator and the Mediator undertaking was obliged to performe all that he undertook and accordingly did so for as the Lord laid on him or caused to meet together on him the iniquitie of us all Esa. 53 6. So in due time He bear our griefs and carryed our sorrowes He was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him He was cut off out of the land of the living and stricken for the transgression of his people He made his soul an offering for sin bear the iniquities of his people Pouring out his soul
worth Nor need they object their long refuseing and resisting many calls for he will make such as are willing welcome at the Eleventh houre Him that cometh he will in no case put away Ioh. 6 37. Nor can they object their changeablenesse that they will not stand to the bargan but break and returne with the dog to the vomite for Christ hath engadged to bring all thorow that come to him He will raise them up at the last day Joh. 6 40. He will present them to himself holy and without spote or wrinckle or any such thing Ephes. 5. The covenant is fully provided with promises to stoppe the mouth of that objection Nor can they object the difficulty or impossibility of beleeving for that is Christ's work also He is the author and finisher of faith Heb. 12 1. Can they not with confidence cast themselvs upon him yet if they can hunger and thirst for him and look to him he will accept of that look to me sayes he and be saved Esa. 45 22. If they cannot look to him nor hunger thirst for him yet if they be willing all is well are they willing that Christ save them in his way and therefore willingly give themselves over to him and are willing and content that Christ by his spirit work more hunger in them and a more lively faith and work both to will and to do according to his owne good pleasure it is well But it will be said that the tearmes and conditions on which he offereth himself are hard Ans. I grant the tearmes are hard to flesh and blood and to proud unmortified nature but to such as are willing to be saved so as God way be most glorified the tearmes are easie most rationall and satisfying for 1. We are required to take Him only for our mediator and to joyne none with him and to mix nothing with him Corrupt nature is averse from this and would at least mix something of self with him and not rest on Christ only corrupt nature would not have the man wholly denying himself and following Christ only and hence many lose themselves and lose all because with the Gallatians they would mix the law and the gospel together do something themselvs for satisfaction of justice take Christ for the rest that remaines Now the Lord will have all the glory as good reason is will have none to share with him He will give of his glory to none And is not this rationall and easy What can be objected against this 2. We are required to take him Wholly that He may be a compleat Mediator to us as a Prophet to teach as a King to subdue our lâ—…sts to cause us walk in his wayes as well as a Priest to satisfie justice for us to die inâ—…ercede for us Is it not reason that we take him as God hath made him for us Is there any thing in him to be refused And is there any thing in Him which we have no need of Is there not all the reason then in the world for this that we take Him wholly and what stumbling block is here 3. We are required to take Him Freely without money and without price Esa. 55 1 for He will not bâ—… boughâ—… any mâ—…nner of way thâ—…t free grace may be free grace therefore he will give all freely True enough it is corruption would be at buying though it have nothing to lay out Pride will not stoup to a free gift But can any say the tearms are hard when all is offered freely 4. We are required to take him absolutely without any reversion or mentall reservation Some would willingly quite all but one or two lusts that they cannot think to twinne with and they would deny themselvs in many things but they would still most willingly keep a back door open to some beloved lust or other And who seeth not what double dealing is here And what reason can plead for this double dealing Corruption it is true will think this hard but no man can rationally say that this is a just ground of discouragment to any or a sufficient ground to warrand them to stay away from Christ seing they cannot be supposed sincerely to desire redemption from any sin who would not desire redemption from every sin He who loveth any known lust and would not willingly be delivered therefrom hath no reâ—…ll hatred at any lust as such nor desire to be saved for one such lust would be his death 5. It is required that we accept of Him really and cordially with our heart and soul and not by a meer externall verbal profession and is there not all the reason in the world for this He offereth Himself really to us and shall we not be reall in accepting of Him what I pray can justly be excepted against this or what reall discouragement can any gather from this 6. We are to take Him for all necessities that iâ—… with a resolution to make use of Him as our alsufficient Mediator And is not this most reasonable Ought we not to take Him for all the ends and purposes for which God hath appointed Him and set Him forth and offered Him to us What then can any suppose to lie here which should scarre a soul from laying hold upon Him Nay should not this be looked upon as a very great encouragement And should we not blesse the Lord that hath provided such a compleet and alsufficient Mediator 7. We are to take Him and all the crosses that may attend our taking or following of Him we must take up our crosse be it what it will be that He thinketh good to appoint for us and follow Him Matth. 16 24 Mark 8 34. for he that taketh not up his crosse and followeth not after Him is not worthy of Him Mat. 10 38. I know flesh and blood will take this for a hard saying but they that consider that Christ will beare the heavyest end of the crosse yea all of it and so support them by his Spirit while they are under it that they shall have no just cause to compleane and how He will suffer none to goe his errand upon their owne charges but will be with them when they goe through fire and watter Esai 43 2. so that they shall suffer no losse neither shall the watters over flow them nor the fire kindle upon them and that he who loseth his life for Christ's sake the gospels shall save it Mark 8 35. yea that they shall receive an hundered fold for all thâ—… losses Matth. 19 29. and that even with persecution Mark 10. 30. and in the world to come eternall life They I say who consider this will see no discouragement here nor ground of complaint nay they will account it their glory to suffer any losse for Christ's sake 8. Hence it followeth that we are to take Him so as to avouch Him and his cause and interest on all hizards stand to his truth and not be ashamed of
for the breathings of his Spirit and open at his call least afterward they be put to call and seek and not attaine what they would be at as we see in the Spouse Cant. 5 2 3 4. 5 6. c. 7. They would also guaird against the quenching of the Spirit 1 Thes. 5 12. or greiving of the Spirit Ephes. 4 30. by their unchristian unsuteable carriage for this will much marre their sanctification It is by the Spirit that the work of sanctification is carryed on in the soul and when this Spirit is disturbed and put from his work how can the work go on When the motions of this indwelling Spirit are extinguished his work is marred and retarded and when He is grieved he is hindered in his work Therefore souls would guard against unbeleefe despondency unsuteable unchristian carriage c. 8. Especially they would beware of wasteing sinns Psal. 51 10. Sins against light and conscience such as David calleth presumptuous sinâ—… Psal. 19 13. They would beware also of favouring any known corruption or any thing of that kinde that may hinder the work of sanctification Secondly It were usefull and of great adâ—…antage for such as would grow in grace and advance in the way of holinesse to be living in the constant conviction 1. Of the necessity of holinesse without which no man shall see God Heb. 12 14. nothing entering in into the new Ierusalem that defileth Revel 21 27. 2. Of their owne inability to do any one act aright how they are not sufficient of themselvs to think any thing as of themselvs 2 Cor. 3 5. and that without Christ they can do nothing Iohn 15 5. 3. Of the insufficiency of any humane helpe or meanes or way which they may think good to choose to mortifie aright one corruption or to give strength for the right discharge of any one duty for our sufficiency is of God 2. Cor. 3 5. and it iâ—… through the Spirit that we must mortifie the deedâ—… of the body Rom. 8 13. 4. And of the treachery and deceitfulnesse of the heart which is bent to follow by wayes being not only deceitfull above all things but also desperatly wicked Ier. 17 9. That by this meanes the soul may be jealous of it self and despaire of doing any thing in its owne strength and so be fortified against that maine evill which is an enemy to all true sanctification viz confidence in the flesh Thirdly The soul would keep its eye fixed on those things 1. On Christ's alsufficiency to helpe in all cases that He is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7 v. 25. 2. On his compassionednesse to such as are out of the way and ready nesse to helpe poor sinners with his grace and strength and this will keep up the soul from fainting and dispaireing 3. On the commands to holinesse such as those cleanse your hands and purify your hearts Iam 4 8. and be ye holy for I am holy 1 Pet. 1 15 16. and the like That the authority of God and conscience to a command may set the soul a work 4. On the great recompense of reward that is appointed for such as wrestle on and endure to the end and on all the great promises of great things to such as are sanctified whereof the Scriptures are full that the soul may be encouraged to run thorow difficultyes to ride out stormes to endure hardnesse as a good souldier and to persevere in duty 5. On the other hand on the many sad threatnings and denunciations of wrath against such as transgresse his lawes and on all the sad things that such as shake off the fear of God and the study of holinesse have to look for of which the Scripture is full that by this meanes the soul may be keeped in awe and spurred forward unto duty and made the more willing to shake off Leazynesse 6. On the Rule the word of God by which alone we must regulate all our actions and this ought to be our meditation day and night and all our study as we see it was Davids and other holy men of God their dayly work See Psal. 1. and 119. Fourthly In all this study of holinesse and aimeing at an hiegher measure of grace the beleever would lavell at a right end and so would not designe holinesse for this end that he might be justified thereby or that he might thereby procure and purchase to himself heaven and God's favoure for the weight of all that must lie on Iesus Christ who is our Righteousnesse and our holinesse must not dethrone Him nor rob Him of his glory which He will not give to another But would study holinesse to the end he might glorifie God Father Son and holy Spirit and please Him who calleth to holinesse and thereby be made meet to be partaker of the Inheritance of the saints in light Col. 1 10 12. and be made a meet bride for such a holy bridegroome and a member to such an holy head that hereby others might be edified Mat. 5 16 1. Pet. 2 12. and 3 1 2. that the soul may look like a temple of the holy ghost and like a servant of Christ's bought with a price 1 Cor. 6 17 18 10. 20. And have a clear evidence of his regeneration and justification and also that he may expresse his thankfulnesse to God for all his favours and benefites Fiftly The soul would by faith lay hold on and grip fast to the ground of sanctification that is to say 1. To what Christ hath purchased for his people 2. To what as a publike person He hath done for them And so by faith 1. Challenge a right to and lay hold on the promises of grace strength victory and throw-bearing in their combating with corruption within and Satan and a wicked world without 2. Reckon themselves dead unto sin through the death of Christ and alive unto God through his resurrection Rom. 6 4 11. and that the old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed vers 6. and that they are now not under the law but under grace vers 14. That by this meanes they may be encouraged to continue fighting against a vanquished enemy and not give over notwithstanding of disappointments discouragements prevailings of corruption c. and the beleever may know upon what ground he standoth and what is the ground of his hope and exspectation of victory in end and so he may run not as uncertanely and so fight not as one that beateth the aire 1 Cor. 9 26. Sixtly In this work of sanctification the beleever would be much in the lively exercise of faith fight by faith advance by faith grow up and bring forth fruit by faith and so 1. The beleever would be oft renewing his grips of Christ holding Him fast by faith and so abideing in Him that he may bring forth fruit Iohn 15 4 5. 2. Not only would he be keeping his union fast with Christ but he
through the Spirit Rom. 8 13. Now if it be asked how shall a beleever make life of Christ to the end this old man may be goten crucified or how should a beleever mortifie thâ—… Old man and the lusts thereof through Christ or by the Spirit of Jesus We shall propose thosâ—… things which may helpe to cleare this 1. The beleever would have his eye on this old man as his arch enemy as a deadly cut-throat lying within his bosome It is an enemy ludging within him in his Soul Minde Heart and Affections so that there is no part free and therefore is acquant with all the motions of the soul and iâ—… alwayes opposeing and hindering every thing that is good It is an enemy that will never be reconciled to God and therefore will not be reconciled with the beleever as such for it is called enmiâ—…y it self and so it is actively alwayes seeking to promove the ruine of the soul what by prompting inclineing moving and forceably drawing or driveing sometimes with violence and rage to evil what by withstanding resisting opposeing counter working and contradicting what is good so that the beleever can not get that done which he would do and is made to do that which he would not Therefore this being such an enemie and so dangerous an enemie so constant and implacable an enemy so active and closse an enemie so deadly and destructive it is the beleevers part to guaird against this enemy to have a vigilant eye upon it to carry as an irreconcilable enemy thereunto and therefore never to come in tearms of capitulation or agreement therewith never oâ—…ce to parlie let be make peace And the beleever would not have his vigilant eye upon this or that Member of this body of death so much as upon the Body it self or the Principle of wickednesse and rebellion against God the Head Life Spirit or Law of this body of death for there lyeth its greatest wickednesse and activity and this is alwayes opposeing us though not in every joy at and member but sometime in one sometime in another 2. Though the beleever should have a maine eye upon the Body this innate strong and forcible law of sin and death yet should he have friendshipe and familiarity with no part member or lust of all this body all the deeds of the body should be mortified Rom. 8 13. the old man with his deeds should be mortified Col. 3 6. we should mortifie our members which are upon the earth vers 5. for all of them are against us the least of them countenanced intertained imbraced will worke ouâ—… ruine cut our souls throat therefore should the beleever look on each of them on all of them as his deadly enemies 3. He would consider that as it is a very unseemly thing for him to be a slave to that old tyrant and to yeeld his members as so many servants to iniquity so it is dangerous deadly his life lyeth at the stake either he must get it mortified killed subdued or it will kill him his life will goe for its life if this enemy escape he is a gone man The consideration of this would cause the beleeveâ—… act here in earnestnesse and seriousnesse with care and diligence and set about this work of mortification with labour and paines 4. Much more must it be against all reason and christianity for the beleever to be making provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13 14. To be strengthening the hands of and laying provision to this enemy which is lâ—…t sworne against us can stand with no reason And here is much of the christians prudence spirituall wisdome required to discerne what may make for fostering of this or that corruption or member of the body of sin death and to withdraw that as we will labour to take away provision of any kinde from an enemy that is comeing against us Paul acted herein as a wise gamster combatant when he keept under his body brought it into subjection 1 Cor. 9 27. It were but to mock God to preach forth our own folly to be looking to Christ for help against such an enemy and in the mean time to be under-hand strengthening the hands of the enemie this would be double dealing and trearchery against our selves 5. To the end their opposition unto this enemy may be the stronger and more resolute they would consider that this body of sin is wholly set against God his interest in the soul being very enmity it self against God Rom. 8 7. and alwayes losting and fighting against the work of God in the soul Gal. 5 17. against every thing that is good so that it will not suffer so far as it can hinder the soul to do any thing that is good at least in a right manner and for a right end nay with its lustings it driveth constantly to that which is evill raiseth evil motions inclinations in the soul ere the beleever be aware sideth with any tentation that is offâ—…ed to the end it may destroy the soul like a traitour within as we see it did in David when he fell in adultery and with Asaph Ps. 73 2. yea it self opposeth and tempteth Iam. 1 14. by setting minde will affections on wrong courses and thus it driveth the soul to a course of rebellion against God or diverts it and drawes it back that it cannot get God served aright yea sometimes it sets a fire in the soul intangling all the facultyes filling the minde with darknesse or prejudice misleading or perverting the affectious and so miscarrying the will leading it captive Rom. 7 23. so that the thing is done which the regenerate soul would not do and the duty is left undone which the soul would fain have had done yea and that sometimes notwithstanding of the souls watching and striveing against this so strong is its force 6. The beleever would remember that this enemy is not for him to fight against alone and that his owne strength and skill will make but a slender opposition unto it It will laugh at the shaking of his spear it can easily insinuate it self on all occasions because it lyeth so neare close to the soul alwayes resideing there and is at the beleevers right hand whatever he be doing and is alwayes openly or closely opposeing and that with great facility for it easily besetteth Heb. 12 1. because it lyeth within the soul in all the faculties of it in the Heart Minde Will Conscience Affectiones so that upon this account the deceitfulnesse of the heart is great passeth the search of Man Ier. 17 9. Man cannot know all the windeings and turnings all the drifts and designes all the lurking and retireing places all the falshoods and double dealings all the dissimulations lies and subterfuges all the plauâ—…ible and deceitfull pretexts and insinuations of this heart acted and spirited by this law of sin
and death And beside this slight and cunning it hath strength and power to draw by lusts into destruction and perdition 1 Tim. 4 9. and to carry the soul headlong So that it makes the mans case miserable Rom. 7 24. All which would say that the beleever should call in other help than his owne and remember that through the Spirit he must mortifie the deeds of the body Rom. 8 13. 7. And therefore the beleever must lay aside all his carnall weapons in dealing with this adversary and look out for divine help assistance even for the promised Spirit through which alone he can be instructed inabled for this great work for of himself he can do nothing not so much as think a good thought as of himself 2 Cor. 3 5. faâ—… lesse will he be able to oppose such a mightie adversary that hath so great many advantages and therefore all his carnall meanes purposes vowes fightings in himself will but render himself weaker a readyer prey unto this adversary which gaineth ground while he is so opposed It is Christ alone and his Spirit that can destroy the works of the devil and kill or crucify this enmity 8. So that the beleever must have his recourse for help and succour here unto Iesus the Captaine of salvation and must follow Him and fight under his bâ—…nner make use of his weapons which are spirituâ—…ll fight according to his counsell and conduct taking Him as a leader commander lying open for his orders instructions waiting for the motions of his Spirit following them and thâ—…s oppose fight against this deadly enemie with an eye alwayes on Christ by â—…aith depending on Him for light to the minde resolution to the will and grace to the whole soul to stand in the battel and to withstand all assaults and never engadge in a disput with this enemie or any lust or member of this body without Christ the Principall that is the soul would dispaire in it self and be strong in Him and in the power of his might by faith gripping to Him as Head Captaine and Commander in chiefe resolving to fight in his strength and to oppose through the helpe of his Spirit 9. And for this cause the beleever would eye the covenant of Redemption the basis of all our hope and consolation wherein finall and full victory is promised to Christ as head of the elect viz that He shall bruise the serpents head and so that in Him all his followers and members of his mysticall body shall lift up the head and get full victory at length over both sin and death Now it is God thâ—…t giveth us the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15 57. The bâ—…leever would also eye by faith the covenant of Grace where in particularly this same victory is promiâ—…ed to the beleever in and through Jesus Rom. 16 20 the God of peace shall brâ—…ise Satan under your feet shortly and Sin shall not have dominion over you for yee are not under the law but under grace Rom. 6 14. The beleever I say would look out by faith unto and lay hold on these and the like promises and thereby get strength conveyed to him self whereby he may strive lawfully and fight valiently and oppose with courage and resolution 10. Further the beleever would eye Christ as a fountaine of Furniture as a full and compleat magazine standing open ready for every one of his honest souldiers to run to for new supply of what they want so that whatever they finde wanting in their Christian armour they must run away to the open magazine Christs fulnesse that standeth ready for them and by faith take put on what they want stand in need of in their warfare If their girdle of truth be slacked loosed or weakened and they be meeting with temptations anent their hypocrisie and Satan objecting to them their double dealing of purpose to discourage them and to make them fainte give over the fight they must away to Him who is the Truth that He may binde on that girdle better and make their hearts more upright before God in all they do And if their breast plate of righteousnesse be weakened Satan there seem to get advantage by casting up to them their unrighteous dealings towards God or Men they must flee to Him who only can help here and beg pardon through his blood for 〈◊〉 failings and set to againe a fresh to the battel If their resolution which is understood by the preparation of the gospell of peace grow weak it must be renewed in Christs armory and the feet of new be shode therewith If their shield of faith beginne to fail theâ—… away must they get to Him who is the Author finisher of faith Heb 12 2. And if their helmet of hope beginne to fail them In this armory alone can that be supplied And if their sword be blunted in their hand or they unable to weild it aright the Spirit of Jesus can only teach their hands to fight and instruct them how to mannage that usefull weapon with advantage Thus must the beleever be strong in Him and in the power of his might Ephes. 6 10. He is their God that girdeth them with strength and maketh their way perfect He maketh their feet like hindes feet setteth them upon their high places He teacheth their hands to war so that a bow of steal is brocken by their armes He giveth them the shield of Salvation His right hand upholdeth them He girdeth with strength unto the battell c. Psal. 18 vers 32 33 34 35 39. c. 11. For the further strengthening of their Hope Faith Confidence beleevers would eye Christ as hanging on the crosse and overcomeing by death Death and him that had the power of death the Devill so as meritoriously purchaseing this redemtion from the slavery of sin and Satan and particulary from the slavery of that body of death and of the law of sin death for the Apostle tells us Rom. 8 2 that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus doth make us free from the law of sin and death and that because as he sayeth further vers 3 4. what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his owne son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh That the rigâ—… teousnesse of the law might be fulfilled in us So that the beleever may now look upon that enemy how fearfull so ever it appear as condemned and killed in the death of Christ. He having laid downe the price of Redemption hath bought this freedom from the chaines fetters with which he was held in captivity faith then on the death of Jesus satifying justice for the poor captive may should support and strengthen the hope confidence of the beleever that he shall obtaine victory at length 12. And it will
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
self ends and carnal by 〈◊〉 respects lest thereby we marre all 2. It would be carryed on without partiality against all and every one of the lusts and motions of the Old man for if there be a complyance with and a spareing of any one known lust the whole work may be marred they may meet with a disappointment as to the particular lust they aâ—… desireing victory over and the lust they are harbouring though it may seem little may open a door to many stronger and so occasion sad dayes to the man ere he be aware 3. As they would bring the particular lust or lusts unto Christ as chiefe Lord justice so they would alwayes lay the axe to the root of the tree and crave justice against the maine body that yet lieth within the soul and these particular corruptions and affections that are as members of that body of sin should put them in minde of the old man for they should crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof Gal. 5 24. the body and the members these lusts are the lusts of sin or of that Head-sin which hath a law or the force and impulse of a law in the soul and therefore their maine designe would be against this root where lyeth the strength and body of the enemy and which acteth in those members this is the capitall enmity and should be mainely opposed and the following of this course would prove more succesfull than that which many a time we take out nibling at or wreastling against this or that member of the body of death is but of little advantage so long as the maine body of sin the bitter root of wickednesse the carnall minde this innate enmity is miskent and not opposed but on the contrary strick at this we strick at all 4. This would be the beleevers constant work to be crucifying the flesh with the lusts thereof to be mortifying their members wherein the members of the old man quarter and lodge Colos. 3 5. to be spiritually minded and to minde the things of the spirit Rom 8 5 6. for this carnall minde is enmity against God Rom. 8 7. and so is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be It is not only an enemy which may be reconciled but enmity in the abstract which never can be reconciled and this enmity will never be idle for it câ—…nnot till it be fully and finally destroyed the flesh is alwayes lusting against the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. for they are contrary one to the other So that though to our sense it may sometimes appear as sleeping in regaird that it doth not by some particular lust so molest and perplexe the soul as formerly it did yet it is restlesse and may be more active in another lust and so by changeing weapons upon us deceive us Here then is much spirituall wisdome and vigilancy required when they think they have gotten one lust subdued they must not think the war is at an end but after all their particular victories watch and pray that they enter not into temptation 5. This way of laying the weight of the matter on Christ should and will keep them humble and teach them not to ascribe the glory of any good that is done unto themselves but to give Him all the glory who is jealous of his glory and will not give it to another that the crowne may alone floorish on his head who is the Captane of their salvation and who by his Spirit worketâ—… all their workes in them 6. Nor would this way of carrying the matter to Christ and putting it over on Him cause the beleever become negligent in commanded dutyes reading hearing prayer c. for it is there he must exspect to meet with Christ there must he seek Him and there must he waite for Him and his Spirit to do the work desired for though He hath not limited himself to these meanes so as He cannot or will not any other way helpe yet He hath bound us to them and it is our duty to waite there where He hath commanded us â—…o waite though He should sometime â—…hink good to come another way for the manifestation of the soveraignity of hiâ—… grace 7. Yet while we are about the meanes we would guaird against a leâ—…ning to them lest in stead of getting victory over corruption we be brought more in bondage thereunto another way we must not think that our Prayers or our Hearing or Reading c. will bring downe the body of death or subdue any one corruption for that were but an yeelding to corruption and opening a back door to the carnal minde and to another deadly lust and a beating corruption with a sword of straw This is not to mortifie the deeds of the body through the Spirit but through the flesh and a fleshly weapon will never draw blood of this spirituall wickednesse or old man or of any corrupt lust or affection thereof and yet how many times doth our deceitfull heart by as us thiâ—… way Our work would be as is said to use the ordinances aâ—… meancâ—… whereby we may get the businesse laid on Christ and help from Christ to do the bâ—…sinesse We must go to the meanes with our prisoner to finde Christ there at his court and aâ—…ifes that He may take course with the Traitor 8. In all this there would be a looking to and dependance on Christ for helpe and grace because of our selves as of our selves we can not do this much we cannot complean aright of corruptions nor take them away to Christ not ask for justice against them aâ—… constableâ—… and other officers must carry malefactores to the courts of justice uâ—…on publick charges so Christ will not have us doing or attempting this mâ—…ch on our own charges for He giveth noble allowance 9. In following of this course we would not think alwayes to come speed at the first Sometimes the Lord for the encourageing of his children may give them a speedy hearing and deliver them from the tyranny of some particular lust or other that hath troubled them that for some time at least it shâ—…ll not so trouble them as it did Yet He will not do so alwayes but may think it good to keep them waiting on Him and hanging on his courts for soâ—…e considerable time that He may thereby exercise their Faith Patience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Diligencâ—… So that it should not seem strange to us if we be not admitted aâ—… the first and get not our answer at the first cry 10. When the Lord thinketh good to delay the answer to our desires and the execution of justice on the Malefactor Traitour or to deliver us from his tyranny and trouble we would beware of thinking to capitulat with the enemy for our peace and quiet or to enter into a ceâ—…lation of armes with him that is our â—…mity against him should never abate nor should our desire after the mortification and crucifixion of this lust grow lesse
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
that therefore there is no pardon had or that this is not the way to pardon for as we shall shew afterward pardon is one thing and intimation of pardon is another thing we may be pardoned and yet suppose that we are not pardoned challenges will abide till the conscience be sprinkled and till the Prince of peace command peace to the conscience and put the accuser to silence who when he can do no more will marre the peace of a beleever as long as he can and stoppe the current of his comforts which made David pray that God would restore to him the joy of his salvation Psal. 51. 4. Nor would we think that upon our taking of this course for the pardon of our sins we shall never thereafter meet with a challenge upon the account of these sins It is true when sins are pardoned they are fully pardoned in God's court and that obligation to condemnation is taken away and the pardoned person is looked upon as no sinner that is as no person liable to condemnation because of these sins for being pardoned he becometh just before God yet we darre not say but conscience afterward being alarmed with new transgressions may mistake as people suddenly put into a fright are ready to do nor dar we say that God will not permit Satan to upbraid us with those sins which have been blotted out long ago as he suffered Shimâ—…i who was but an instrument of Satan to cast up to David his blood guiltinesse which had been pardoned long before The Lord may think good to suffer this that his people may be keeped humble and made more tender and watchfull in all their wayes 5. Beleevers would not mis improve or abuse this great condescendency of free grace take the greater liberty to sin because there is such a sure saifâ—… and pleasant way of getting those sins blotted out and forgiven Shall we sin because we are not under grace but under the law That be far from us sayeth 〈◊〉 Apostle Rom. 6 15. This were indeed to turne the grace of God into lasciviousnesse And it may be a question if such as have really repented gotten their sins pardoned will be so ready to make this use of it sure sense of pardon will work some other effect as we see Ezech. 16 62 63. 6. The beleever in going about this work of nailing his sins to the crosse of Christ and of improving Christ's Death Resurrection and constant intercession for the obtaining of pardon would not think of going alone or of doing this in his own strength for of himself he can do nothing He must look to Christ for grace to help in this time of need and must got about this duty with dependence on Him waiting for the influences of Light Counsell Strength and Grace from Him to repent and beleeve for He is a Prince exalted to give repentance first and last and He is the author and finisher of faith so that without Him we can do nothing 7. Let the beleever beware of concluding that he hath got no pardon because he hath met with no sensible intimation thereof by the flowing in of peace and joy in his soul. Pardon is one mercy and intimation of it to the soul is another distinct mercy and separable from it shall we therefore say we have not gotten the first because we have not gotten both The Lord for wise reasons can pardon poor sinners and not give any intimation thereof to wit that they may watch more against sin afterward and not be so bold as they have been and that they may finde more in experience what â—… bitter thing it is to sin against God and learne withall to depend on Him for lesse and more and to carry more humbly for it may be God seeth that if they saw their sins pardoned they would forget themselves and rush into new sins againe 8. The beleever must not think it strange if he finde more trouble after greater sins and a greater difficulty to lay hold on Christ for pardon of those then for pardon of others for as God hath been more dishonoured by these so is his anger more kindled upon that account and it is sureable for the glory of God's justice that our sorrow for such hainous sins be proportionably greater and this will likewise increase the difficulty and ordinarly the effects of God's fatherly displeasure make deeper wounds in the soul after such sins and these are not so easily healed all which will call for 〈◊〉 and proportionably greater godly sorrow and repentance and acts of faith because faith will meet with more opposition and discouragment there and therefore must be the more strong to go thorow these impediments and to lay hold on his crosse Yet though this should make all watchfull and to guaird against grosse and crying sins it should not drive any to dispaire nor to say with that dispairing wretch their sin is greater than it can be forgiven the ocean of mercy can drown and swallow up great as well as lesser sinnes Christ is an alsufficient Mediator for the greatest sins as well as for the least O for thy names sake pardon mine iniquitie for it is great will come in season to a soul ready to sink with the weight of this milstone â—…ied about its neck 9. as the greater sins should not make us dispaire of taking this course for remission so nor should the smalnâ—…sse of sin make us to neglect this way for the least sin cannot be pardoned but through Jesus Christ for the law of God is violated thereby justice provoked Gods authority vilipended c. and therefore cannot be now pardoned by reason of the threatnings annexed to the transgression of the law without a ransome death is the wages of all sin lesser and greater and the curse is due to all sinners greater and smaller Therefore the beleever would not suffer one sin seen and discovered to lie unpardoned but on the first discovery thereof take it away to Christ and nail it to his crosse 10. The beleever would not conclude that his sins are not pardoned because possibly temporal strokes inflicted because of them are not removed for though Davids sin was pardoned yet because of that sin of his a temporall stroke attended him and his family to his dying day for not only did God cut off the childe 2 Sam. 15 14. but told him that the sword should never depairt from his house and that He would raise up evil against him â—…ut of his own house and give his wives to one that should lie with them in the sight of the sun vers 10 11. So we read that the Lord took vengeance on their inventions whose sins he had pardoned Psal. 99 8. God may see this fit and expedient for his own glory and for humbling of them and causing them feare the more to sin against him Yea not only may temporal calamities be inflicted because of sin pardoned or continued after sin
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
appointed us to waite for Him And if He think good to come another way more immediat Let Him alwayes be welcome but let not us limite Him nor prescribe wayes to Him but follow his directions 2. When any thing is borne-in upon their Spirit as a truth to be received or as an errour to be rejected more immediately they would beware of admitting of every such thing without tryal and examination for we are expressely forbidden to beleeve every Spirit and commanded to try them whether they are of God or not 1 Iohn 4 1. The Lord will not take it ill that even his own immediat motions and revelations be tryed and examined by the word because the word is given us for this end to be our teste and standart of truth The way of immediat revelation is not the ordinary way now of God's manifesting his minde to his people He hath now chosen another way and given us a more sure word of prophecie than was even a voice from heaven as Peter sayeth 2 Pet. 1 18 19. It is commended in the Bereans Act. 17 11. who upon this account were more noble then those of Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readinesse of minde searched the scriptures dayly whether those things were so Even Pauls words though he was an authorized infallible Apostle of Christ's are here put to the touch stone of the word Many false Prophets may go out and deceive many and speak great swelling words of vanity 1 Iohn 4 1. 2 Pet. 2 18. and the devil can transchange himself into an angel of light 2 Cor. 11 14. And though an Angel out of heaven should preach any other thing than what is in the written word we ought not to receive his doctrine but to reject it and to account him accursed Gal. 1 8. So that the written word must be much studied by us and by it must we try all motions all doctrines all inspirations all revelations and all manifestations 3. Much more would they beware of thinking that the dictats of their conscience obligeth them so as that alwayes they must of necessity follow the same Conscience being God's deputy in the soul is to be followed no further than it speaketh for God and according to truth An erring conscience though it binde so far as that he who doth contrary to the dictats thereof sinneth against God in that knowing no other than that the dictats of conscience are right and consonant to the minde of God yet dar counteract the same and thus formally rebel against Gods authoritie yet it doth not oblige us to beleeve and to do what it asserteth to be truth and duty It will not then be enough for them to say my conscience and the light within me speaketh so and instructeth me so for that light may be darknesse and errour and a delusion and so no rule for them to walk by To the law and to the testimony and if their conscience minde or light within them speak not according to this word it is because there is no ligâ—…t in them Esai 8 20. I grant as I said they can not without sin counter act the dictats even of an eâ—…ing 〈◊〉 because they know not better but that these dictats are according to truth and thus an erring conscience is a most dangerous thing and bringeth people under a very sad dilemma that whether they follow it or not they sin and there is no other remedie here but to lay by the eâ—…ing conscience and get a conscience rightly informed by the word puting it in Christ's hand to be better formed and informed that so it may do its office better This then would be especially guairded against for if once they lay downe this for a principle that whatever their conscience and minde or in ward light as some call it dictat must be followed there is no delusion how false how abominable so ever it be but they may be at length in hazard to be drawn away with and so the rule that they will walk be be nothing in effect but the Spirit of lies and of delusion and the motions and dictates of him who is the Father of lies that is the Devil 4. Such as pretend so much to walk by conscience would take hâ—…ed that they take not that for the dictate of conscience which really is but the dictat of their own humors inclinations preoccupyed mindes and byassed wills When conscience speaketh it groundeth on the authority of God whether truely or falsely and proposeth such a thing to be done or to be refrained from meerly because God commandeth that and forbiddeth this though sometimes it mistaketh but though the dâ—…ctats of mens humors inclinations preoccupyed judgements and wills may pretend God's authority for what they say yet really some carnal respect selfish end and the like lyeth at the bottom and is the chiefe spring of that motion and also the dictats of humor and byassed willes are usually more violent and fierce then the dictats of conscience for wanting the authority of God to back their assertions and prescriptions they must make up that with an addition of a preternatural force and strength Hence such as are purely led by conscience are pliable humble and ready to heare and receive information whereas others are headstrong and pertinacious unwilling to receive instruction or to heare any thing contrary to their mindes lest their conscience receiving more light speak with a higher voyce against their inclinations and former wayes and so create more trouble to them whileas now they enjoy more quiet within so long as the cry of their selfwill byassed judgment is so loud that they can not well hear the still and low voyce of conscience 5. They would labour for much self denyal and sincerity and to be free from the snares and power of selfish ends as credite a name and applause or what of that kinde that may be like the fear of man that bringeth a snare Prov. 29 2. 5. for that will be like a gift that blindeth the eyes of the wise Exod. 23 8. love to carry on a party or a designe to be seen and accounted some body to maintaine their credite and reputation lest they be accounted changelings and the like will prove very dangerous in this case for these may forcibly carry the soul away to imbrace one errour after another and one errour to strengthen and confirme another that it is hard to know where or when they shall stand and these by-respects may so forcibly drive the soul forward that he shall neither heare the voice of conscience within nor any instruction from without 6. They would study the word of truth without prejudice and any sinfull preingadgment lest they be made thereby to wiredraw and wrest the word to their own destruction as some of whom Peter speaketh 2 Pet. 3 16. It is a dangerous thing to study the word with a prejudicat opinion and to bow or wiredraw
we get a noble prospect of that glorious object So that all such as would make use of Christ for this end that they might come to have right and suteable thoughts and apprehensions of God must be well acquanted with the whole draught and frame of the gospel and so acquanted therewith as to see Christ the substance ground and all of it and to see Him in every part of it 7. Whatever we know or learne of God by his works of Creation or Providence in the world or about ourselves we would bring it in here that it may receive a new tiucture and a deeper impression That is done when we finde and learne something of Christ there and are brought nearer Christ thereby and made thereby to discover something more of the glory of God in the face of Christ or are made to understand better something of the revelation that is made of God in the gospel or moved thereby to improve it better 8. In all this matter we must not go without our guide lest we wander in this wildernesse and it prove a labyrinth to us We must take Christ with us all alongs He must teach us to understand his own face and to read the glorious characters of that excellent glory which is to be seen in his face He must be our interpreter and teach us how to read this book and how to understand what is written therein He must give the discerning eye and the understanding heart even the Spirit of wisdome and understanding to take up the mysteries of God 9. And for this cause we would by faith lay hold upon the promises of the Spirit whereby we may be made spiritual and have our understandings enlightened more and more to understand the mysterious characters of divine Majesty and Glory 10. In all this exercise we would walk with fear carry with us impressions of the dreadful Majesty and Glory of God that we may tremble and feare and stand in awe and read what we read of this glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ this glorious bible with reverence and godly fear And thus may we be helped to win to right and suteable thoughts of God yet with all we would for Cautions Consider a few things further as 1. That we must not think to search out the Almighty unto perfection Iob. 11 7. 2. Nor must we think to get any one point of God known understood perfectly corruption will mix-in itself do our best and our short comeings will not easily be reckoned up 3. We must beware of carnalâ—… curiosity and of unlawful diveing-in in this depth least we drowne 4. We would not dreame of a state here wherein we will not need Christ for this end Yea I suppose in glory He will be of use to us as to the seeing of God for even there as he is to day so â—…hall he for ever abide God and man in two distinct natures and one person and that cannot be for â—…ought and as God will be still God invisible â—…nsearchable so we though glorified will remaine â—…ite creatures and therefore will stand in need of Christ that in his glorious face we may see the invisible He must be our lumen gloriae 5. We should think it no small matter to have the impression of this sight upon our hearts that we cannot see Him and that we in this state of sin cannot get right and sutable apprehensions of Him I say the impression of this on our spirits that is such a sight of an impossibility to get Him seen aright as will keep the heart in awe cause us walk before Him in feare and reverence and to humble ourselves in the dust to tremble when ever we make mention of his name or beginne to meditate on Him knowing how great an one He is and how dangerous it is to think amisse of Him how difficult to get a right thought of him CHAP. XIX And the Life How Christ is the Life THis as the former being spoken indefinitly may be universally taken as relating both to such as are yet in the State of nature and to such as are in the state of grace and so may be considered in reference to both ground three points of truth both in reference to the one and in reference to the other To wit 1. That our case is such as we stand in need of his helpe as being the Life 2. That no other way but by Him can we get that supply of life which we stand in need of for He only is the Life excluding all other 3. That this help is to be had in Him fully and compleetly for not only is He able to quicken but He is called the Life So that the help which he giveth is full excellent and compleet Looking upon the words in reference to such as are in Nature they point out those three truthes to us First That all of us by nature are dead standing in need of quickening and of life for this is presupposed while He is said to be the Life and that both legally and reallâ—… legally being under the sentence of death for Adams transgression Rom. 5 15. and for that original corruption of heart we have and Really the sentence of the law being in part executed that both as to the body as to the soul. As to the body It is now subject to death and all the sorerunners thereof such as weaknesse paines sicknesse feares torment trouble wearynesse yea and in hazard of hell fire and the torments of the second death for ever As to the soul it also is many wayes dead both first in away that is purely penal and next in a way that is also sinful and both wayes as to what is present and as to what is future for as to that which is penal and present It is 1 separated from God and his favour Gen. 3 8 10 24. 2 is under his curse and wrath whence it cometh to passe that by nature we are children of wrath Ephes. 2 2 5. Servants of Satan 2 Tim. 2 26. The consequence of which is sad and heavy for hence it is that we cannot please God do what we will till we be brought out of that state our ordinary civil actions even plowing the ground is sin Prov. 21 4. Yea out Religious actions whether natural or instituted are abomination even our sacrifices Prov. 15 8. 31 27. prayers Prov. 2â—… 9. Ps. 10 7. Yea and all our thoughts purposeâ—… Prov. 15 26 and likewise all our wayes Prov. 15 9. As to what is penal and future it is obnoxious to that everlasting excommunication from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thes. 1 8 9. and to the torments of hell for ever Mark. 9 44 46 48 Luk. 16 As to what is not only penal but also sinful the soul here is under the stroke of darknesse in the understanding perversenesse and
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
the evil of their former wayes and courses He worketh up the heart to godly sorrow and remorse for what is done making their bowels move for grief and sorrow that they should have so dishonoured and grieved Him 7. By setting the soul thus on work to do what formerly it neither could nor would do and thus He maketh the soul strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Epes 6 10. and able to run and not be weary and to walk and not be faint Esai 40. 8. By discovering the great recompence of reward that is comeing and the great help they have at hand in the Covenant and promises thereof and in Christ their Head and Lord He maketh the burden light and the duty easie As to the Last particular viz. How a beleever in such a case should make use of Christ as the Life that he may be delivered therefrom When the poor beleever is any way sensible of this decay and earnestly desireing to be from under that power of death and in case to go about commanded duties he would 1. Look to Christ for enlightened eyes that he may get a more through discovery of the hazard wreatchednesse of such a condition that hereby being awakened and alarmed he may more willingly use the meanes of recovery and be more willing to be at some paines to be delivered 2. He would run to the blood of Jesus to get the guilt of his by gone sinful wayes washen away and bloted out to the end he may obtaine the favour of God and get his reconciled face shineing upon him againe 3. He would eye Christ as a Prince exalted to give repentance that so his sorrow for his former sinful courses may be kindely spiritual through and affecting the heart He would cry to Christ that He would put in his hand by the hole of the door that his bowels may become moved for Him 4. He would also look to Him as that good Shepherd who will strengthen that which is sick Ezech. 34 16. And take notice also of his other Relations and of his Obligations thereby and by the Covenant of Redemption and this will strengthen his hope 5. He would lay hold on Christ as his Strength whereby his feet may be made like hindes feet and he may be made to walk upon his high places Habb 3 19. and he would grippe to that promise Esai 41 10 I will strengthen thee and lay hold on Christ in it 6. Having done thus he would set about every commanded duty in the strength of Jesus looking to Him for help and supply from whom cometh all his strength and though he should not finde that help and assistance which he expected yet he would not be discouraged but continue and when he can do no more offer himself as ready and willing to go about the duty as if he had strength 7. He would lye open to and be ready to receive the influences of strength which He who is the Head shall think good to give in his own time manner and measure and this taketh in those duties 1. That they would carefully guaird against the evils formerly mentioned which brought on this distemper such as Carelesnesse Untendernesse Unwatchfulnesse Lazynesse carnal Security Formality and want of Seriousnesse c. 2. That they would beware of giving way to despondency or of concludeing the matter hopelesse and remedilesse for that is both discourageing to the soul and a tempting provocation of God 3. That they should be exerciseing the grace of patient Waiting 4. That they should be waiting in the use of the appointed meanes and thereby as it were rubbing the dead and cold member before the fire till it gather warmth 5. That they should be keeping all their sails â—…p waiting for the gaile of the Spirit that should make their shipe sail 6. That they should be looking to Him alone who hath promised that quickening Spirit and patiently waiting his leasure not limiting Him to any definite time 7. That they should be cherishing and stirring up any small beginnings that are 8. That they should be welcoming most cheerfully every motion of the Spirit and improveing every advantage of that kinde and stricking the yron when it is hote and hold the wheels of the soul a going when they are once put in motion and so be loath to grieve the good and holy Spirit of God Ephes. 4 vers 30. or to quench his motions 1 Thes. 5 vers 19. If these duties were honestly minded and gone about in Him and in His strength none can tell how soon there might be a change wrought in the soul. But of it be asked what such can do to whom the very thoughts of the duty and aimeing at it is matter of terrour Ans. It may be something if not much of that may flow from such a bodyly distemper as occasioneth the alteration of the body upon the through apprehension of any thing that is weighty and of moment so as they cannot endure to be much affected with any thing But leaving this to others I would advise such a soul to those duties 1. To be frequently seting to the duty as for example of prayer though that should raise the distemper of their body for through time that may weare away or at least grow lesse while as their giving way thereto will still make the duty the more and more terrible and so render themselves the more unfit for it and thus they shall gratifie Satan who it may be may have a hand in that bodyly distemper too when the poor soul is thus accustomed or habituated to the attempting of the duty it will at length appeare not so terrible as it did so the body may become not so soon altered thereby as it was 2. When such an one can do no more He would keep his love to the duty and his desires after â—…t fresh and lively and would not suffer these quite to die out 3. He would be much in the use of frequent ejaculations and of short supplications darted up to God for these will not make such an impression on the body and so will not so occasion the raiseing and wakening of the bodyly distemper as more solemne addresses to God in prayer would possibly do 4. If he cannot go to Christ with confidence to draw out of Him life and strength according to his need yet he may give a look to Him though it were from a farre and he may think of Him and speak of Him frequently and would narrowly observe every thing that pointeth Him out or bringeth any thing of Him to remembrance 5. Such souls would not give way to despairing thoughts as if their case were wholly helpelesse and hopelesse for that is a reflecting upon the power skill of Christ and therefore is provoking and dishonourable to Him 6. Let Christ and all that is His be precious alwayes and lovely unto them And thus they would keep some room in their heart open for