in every providence and such as lay open to every Ordinance I say practical experiences of the power of Gods grace O what can the grace of God do Nay Christians what is it that the grace of God cannot do That grace that could send Christ out of his eternal mansion in the bosom of his Father what cannot that grace do for thee That grace that can empty as it were the Second person of the Trinity of his glory doest thou think that this grace cannot empty thy heart of sin That grace that can fill the Covenant with such a fulness of Blessings Poor worm doest thou think that this grace cannot fill thy heart with Blessings I pray Christians do but consider what the Apostle saith in the 19 and 20 verses of this Chap. And what is says he the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power If thy heart be hard and be fixed within thee so that thou doest oppose the work of Faith he will work this work of faith with power if it be exceeding hard there is exceeding power that the grace of God has the command of if thou beest exceeding weak there is exceeding grace that hath the dispose of exceeding power ay if thou beest exceeding unworthy there is exceeding grace that can exceedingly overlook all thy unworthiness Now Christians practical experiences of the power of grace under the ministration of the Gospel is a great Spiritual Blessing We have heard much of the grace of God of the respective persons of the blessed Trinity what has this grace done for thy Soul Art thou able to set to thy Seal that there is an exceeding power in the grace of the Father and an exceeding power in the grace of the Son if thou hast not as yet experienced it truly if there be but some beginnings of the power of God and the finger of God hath but been upon thy heart though in lesser power if there be exceeding power wanting that exceeding power shall not always be suspended Practical experiences of the exceeding mighty power of God is that which is a great Spiritual Blessing which we are blessed with in Christ Jesus and for the illustration of this do but compare this power if thou needest as much exceeding power to raise up thy Soul from any Spiritual Death or Deadness as Jesus Christ stood in need of to raise him from the dead that shall be at the dispose of grace that shall be imployed by grace and therefore he adds in the next verse which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead That power that raised the Son of man from the dead and that power that set the Son of man at his own right hand in Heavenly places thou Christian shalt have experience of it and this is the Spiritual Blessing wherewith thou art blessed in Christ Jesus Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in Christ that is he hath Blessed us with a Right to an universal and unbounded experience of the power of his grace in all cases 9. But the last that I shall mention is this He hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings that is an universal subjection of all our Spiritual Enemies under us And I think this may be lookt upon as a great Spiritual Blessing It is true indeed my friends all things are put under the feet of Jesus Christ but all things are not yet put under our feet But that you may see the reason of this great priviledge how grace hath laid it in Christ do but observe those passages that you have in v. 21 22 23. of this Chapter at the 20 verse and hath set him at his own right hand in heavenly places far above all principalities and might and dominion and every name that is named both in this World and also in that which is to come And as if these two words could not comprehend all the Apostle adds in general and hath put all things under his feet All things that are enemies to our Spiritual Interest all things that are Enemies unto our purification unto our sanctification unto our inlightning and strengthening and unto any or all of our Spiritual blessings He hath put all things under his feet Obj. Ay but what is all this to us you will say Ans Therefore I pray observe what he says further He hath put all things under his feet with a direct subserviency unto his Church Verse 22. and hath put all things under his feet and hath given him to be the head over all things to the Church head over all principalities over all the powers of darkness over all our Enemies in hell and over all our Spiritual Enemies here on Earth and that unto his Church and People which he calls his Body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Now my friends this is a great Spiritual blessing and that the Spirit is concerned in this is evident I pray do but observe a passage of the Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans chap. 8. verseâ— 11. compared with Verse 2. at the 11th verse If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodys by his Spirit that dwelleth in you I apprehend that this hath not relation primarily or principally to the last Resurrection of the Body but even to a Spiritual deliverance and freedom of the Body from the remains of the law of sin death which yet abide in it says the Apostle If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in your mortal bodys then you shall be quickened your mortal bodys shall be disposed and influenced so by that Spirit that they shall be readier than now they are to serve the graces of your Souls according to the dictates of the Spirit of Jesus Christ and my reason for this Interpretation is this the Apostle in the conclusion of the former Chapter had been crying out verse 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death which he had confessed had too long lodged in his members in the former part of the Chapter Now in verse 2. of this Chap. he says But the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death where is the law of sin It is in my body says the Apostle but says he the law of the Spirit of life hath made me free upon this Hypothesis the Apostle doth conclude in verse 11. That if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in us then shall our mortal bodies be quickned and disposed also unto Spiritual service and if you do but observe it the Apostle in the Conclusion of this discourse gives such an exhortation tending to this purpose that
A DISCOURSE OF Spiritual Blessings Or a Discovery I. That every Christian is blessed with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ In four Sermons II. That God hath a high account of the least Grace in the Saints In three Sermons By Mr. John Cromwell late Pastor of a Church of Christ in the City of Norwich Col. 3.11 But Christ is all and in all LONDON Printed by T. S. for Edward Giles Bookseller in Norwich near the Market-place 1685. TO THE Christian Reader IT is the unspeakable unhappiness of all the Children of Men whilst in a natural condition that they are favoured only with Temporal Blessings and as an aggravation of their misery their Spirit standeth primarily and chiefly towards those Earthly Enjoyments they are minding Earthly things Phil. 3.19 their highest pursuits are after these they estimate and value themselves according to the measures of these which they have enrichment with they are carnally minded which is death Rom. 8.6 They are dead to the things of God which are of highest concernment to their Souls On the other hand all even the lowest Christians are Priviledged not only with some but with all Spiritual Blessings Eph. 1.3 So as they are rightly denominated Spiritual Men 1 Cor. 2.15 Gal. 6.1 They are so in their principles Indeed by a non-improvement thereof although the standing frame of their heart is to Spiritual things yet many if not most come exceedingly short in point of practice that it may be said to them as 1 Cor. 3.1 Are ye not carnal and walk as men They are apt to Divisions and so are Carnal v. 3. To build hay and stubble that which will not abide the fire and is of little value upon the true foundation and so are carnal too worldly and do not exercise Grace in its due height upon all occasions and so are carnal To reduce or advance Christians unto their proper frame and temper of spirituality this eminent and judicious Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. John Cromwell the Author of the ensuing Sermons hath discovered what Spiritual Blessings they are intrusted with It is a matter of lamentation that such a labourer in the Lords Vineyard should so early be transplanted to eternity and that when so many other eminent Ministers have lately been removed from that place by death These Sermons were taken from his mouth by the Pen of a ready Writer they would have come forth in a better dress and with much more advantage if they had been polished with his own hand but as they are here presented to view they may be exceedingly useful to those whose Citizenship is in heaven their affections in Heaven their conversations in Heaven whilst they are on Earth Indeed they evidence that he himself had arrived at a more than ordinary strain of Spirituality which is a great excellency because Spiritual Blessings are most excellent the best of Blessings They have the best Original they have the best Father even him who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Eph. 1.3 They come from the best place not from Earth but Heaven in heavenly places from Gods Throne thence he giveth forth all these of the best nature it may be rendred in heavenlies i.e. Not only in heavenly places but in heavenly things Yea Spiritual Blessings have a tendency to the imbellishing and adorning the noblest part the immortal Soul a man may be enriched with temporal Blessings and his Spirit may be the worse for these but ever is the better for these Spiritual Blessings They furnish for the best operations and actings Earthly things may indispose for the highest Services and most glorious imployments they may be clogs and heavy weights pressing down which must be cast off in running the Christian race Heb. 12.1 But Spiritual Blessings capacitate for the choicest actings they give the best discerning of matters which are of highest concernment and greatest moment 1 Cor. 2.15 The Spiritual man judgeth all things i. e. Spiritual men are enabled to pass right Judgment upon Divine matters and what concern themselves their own conditions their own Salvation and what is conducible to it and this far beyond what a natural man one in a natural condition by the greatest parts can attain unto They capacitate to be Spiritually helpful unto others who are fallen by temptation Gal. 6.1 If a man be overtaken with a fault ye which are Spiritual restore such a one put him in joint again They help to descry the ways and methods of Satan in tempting and of Jesus Christ in succouring They qualify to encounter and conflict with Spiritual enemies and resist Spiritual evils which there is the greatest difficulty in the withstanding of Eph. 6.12 The grace of humility helpeth to expell Spiritual pride and the grace of love helpeth against self-love Spiritual Blessings will enable to make improvement of all occurrences towards the highest advantage he that is carnal maketh an ill use of all that is before him he turneth all to sin to himself he setteth corruption or sin on work by all Enjoyments Riches Pleasures Relations yea even by the gracious actings of the Saints but he that is Spiritual maketh use not only of enjoyments but even of the worst befalments as Tryals and afflictions towards Raising heightning and mounting his Soul more towards God he by a Spiritual Chymistry can extract good out of the worst that betideth him Spiritual Blessings will advance to a choosing the highest and best ends When others have inferiour base and low ends of their actings such as are priviledged with these will make God their ultimate and chiefest end they have a frame for doing all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Yea Spiritual Blessings are discriminating differencing of Christians from others 1 Cor. 2. v. 14 15. And so they are evidences of the special favour and love of God v. 10. Whereas a man may have other enjoyments and yet be an object of the highest wrath and indignation of the Almighty And once more Spiritual blessings they are eternal Blessings other things are of no continuance a man may soon be stripped and dispossessed of them but Spiritual Blessings will never be lost they will abide for ever all which sufficiently argue that they have a transcendent excellency far above other things And all these are dispensed out in Jesus Christ Eph. 1.3 They may have a large measure of temporal things and yet be out of Christ but these are all vouchsafed in him they are the fruit of his purchase obtained by a union with him He is the great repository the store house where all Spiritual Blessings are treasured up Col. 1.19 It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell that we might have recourse to him for all supplies evermore Those in a Christless condition are destitute thereof whatever their attainments be and the great reason why Christians are no more replenished therewith is because they repair no more to him that they may have supplies None are to
are blessed with this in Christ Jesus 6. Another Spiritual Blessing is this A reserved Inheritance of all full and Spiritual and comprehensive blessednesses My friends here we have to allude to the people of Israel in the wilderness it may be some few Cottages or Tabernacles that are transitory as those People had some moving resting-places Here is a little grace planted a little faith and a little love and this grows up pretty likelily and pretty promisingly but what is this to the inheritance where that which is in part shall be done way where there is no such thing as grace in part no such thing as love in part no such thing as joy in part no such thing as communion in part for that which is in part shall be done away I think the Apostle speaks fully to our purpose where he tells us of an inheritance reserved 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ You see the Apostle mentions the same Relations that are here in the Text why what is the matter Blessed Peter Why says he the matter is this The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you verse 4. Why friends what is this inheritance Why there I shall inherit the Covenant in its fulness I shall not say that either I want any Law in my heart or in my Head in my inward or in my outward man I shall have no reason to complain that I want the least blessing of the least promise Why Christians this is your inheritance and are not here Spiritual Blessings that are the proper matter of this Inheritance Now the Apostle tells us that he hath blessed us with this in Christ verse 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to â—he purpose of him that worketh all things after the Counsel of his own will How far Christ is concerned in this Spiritual blessing â—ou may easily observe if so be that you â—ither consider the type or the antitype as â—o the type which was Joshua or Jesus Moâ—â—s must not bring the people into their Inheritance indeed in Moses's Time they might have some Bunches of the Grapes of the good land but Moses must not bring them in it must be Joshua that must bring them in So I say my Friends it is not this or that or the other but the Lord Jesus alone that must bring his people into the possession of this reserved inheritance here is indeed a Cluster of Spiritual Blessings infinitely exceeding all the capacities of the Sons and Daughters of men though most of all inlightned by the Spirit to comprehend in whom says he we have obtained an Inheritance who is this whom It is the Lord Jesus Christ to gather together in one all things in Christ in whom we have obtained an Inheritance As much as if the Apostle had said as the Apostle doth in Christs own case we see not yet all thingâ— put under him So I may say you have noâ— yet obtained the Inheritance no more had Paul no more had these Ephesians but yeâ— he speaks as one having full assurance in whom we have obtained answerable to that of our Lord in Joh. 14.2 I go to preparâ— a place for you And the Apostle takeâ— it up and otherwise phrases it Heb. 6 2â— Whither the forerunner is for us entred speaking of the Inheritance that is above whither cur forerunner is for us entered so that this another Spiritual Blessing wherewith we are blessed in Christ Jesus 7. But another spiritual blessing wherewith we are blessed in Christ Jesus is this The Seal and Earnest of what is to come and the very Spirit is made the very matter of this Blessing wherewith he hath blessed us in Christ Jesus I pray do but cast your eyes upon verse 13. In whom ye also trusted still he continues his discourse and fixes Christ at the bottom of all in whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your Salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise verse 14. which is the Earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory Here is a comprehensive spiritual blessing indeed which is the Seal of the eternal Inheritance and the Earnest of it as if the Lord should say when he sends forth his Spirit go my holy Spirit go and seize upon such a heart and seal up such a Soul for the eternal Inheritance and as if he should say to his Son Lo my Son I have given my Spirit to such a one whom thou hast shed thy blood for and lo I send him as the Earnest of the Inheritance that thou hast purchased as the Earnest of my eternal love to thee as the Earnest of my eternal Communion with thee as the earnest of my answering of thy prayer and the import of all thy blood Lo I have sent him and lo he is to them an Earnest Now Sirs this is a great blessing a very glorious blessing indeed God might have designed and kept the design in his own breast or he might have divulged it yet have given us no earnest or pledge of it what needed all that between God and us Christ might have taken his word and we had good reason to rest upon any report that the Lord Christ makes of his confidence in the Father but the Lord Christ and the Father did concur together in this that we should have the Blessing notwithstanding all notwithstandings and that it should be sure to all the seed Yet for our further satisfaction says the Lord behold I give my promise and I give the promised Spirit and that Spirit shall be my Seal upon their hearts and my seal upon their understandings so that look into your hearts and into your understandings and upon this inquiry whose are you Do but make a reflection whose Seal whose Image whose Superscription is this You shall find that the Spirit of the Lord is as it were Gods assuring Seal Ay but it may be you will say this is a great while to come It may be Ten or Twenty or Thirty or Forty years to come Well if those do not satisfy you that you are sealed the Spirit also shall be an Earnest of the Inheritance an Earnest of the future personal blessedness and glory which God hath blessed you with in Christ It is not only Heaven but the personal condition and state of Saints in Heaven that is the glory of their Inheritance and this is another thing 8. But then in the 8th place another Spiritual blessing wherewith the God and Father of Jesus Christ does bless Christians is this Practical experiences of the power of Gods grace
that notwithstanding all your sufferings he will look after that little grace that is in you USE 2 There are some that are grains of a bigger that are of a greater size in Christianity I pray do not you despise those that are less but encourage their growth to a greater degree do not despise them because they are little This is a great evil amongst Christians and I tell you of it in the name of the Lord it is an evil and a very great evil even amongst old professors that they are apt and ready to despise those that are young And men of great attainments that think their heads are full and I could wish their Hearts were fuller than their heads there are many that have full heads but God knows have very empty Hearts but I say Christians I beseech you in the Lord and by the Lord that you would carry it as becomes you towards those that are little those that have but a little grace do what in you ly's to increase that little to cherish that little I should urge this with diverse considerations I will only say this Christians the encrease of their little will be also your encrease their blessing will be your blessing as you are members of the whole It may be you have a great deal of grace but let me tell you suppose you have God may make them very useful to you and more useful than those that have more grace were ever made to you It may be there are two Christians come together men that do pretend to a great deal of grace they fall into discourse together and what is the subject of their discourse alas it may be it is nothing that doth concern the mutual advance of grace in each other but there comes a poor Christian that hath but little and he falls of inquiring O how shall I get more grace and discovers an earnestness and zeal of spirit after more grace and many other things of this nature might be urged I will but only add this I pray Christians you that have a great deal of grace how came you by that great deal was it not all by grace did not other Christians help you did they discourage you did they cast stumbling blocks of iniquity before your face did they receive you to doubtful disputations No no they were ready to cherish and encourage you and so God gave the encrease But this is that that I would have you to take along with you that their little may be better than your great deal if they improve their little better then you do your great deal and it may be true in this sense that they that have least may have most and they that are last may come to be first and therefore Christians you that think you have a great deal see that you carry it as becomes you to those that have but little USE 3 I would speak something to those that are neither great nor little Christians those that have no grace at all neither more nor less I have three words to say to you 1. Suppose that the Lord should now begin this sifting work among you I pray what promise have you to secure you For ought I know you may be sifted out of the sieve the Tempest may come and blow you with the Chaff into unquencheable fire therefore I beseech you consider there are ten thousand times ten thousand that have been baptized in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost that are damned in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and for ought I know this may be your case ere long if you do not look after a little grace to get it in due time I pray Sirs consider with your selves what security you have in case there should be such a dispensation as is here threatned that God should sift you and it may be Satan may have liberty to raise the wind whilst God is sifting in the sieve of the Nations what will become of the Chaff Christ tells you that he will come ay he will come but it is in another sense to you he will come and will throughly purge his floor with his Fann and the Wheat he will gather into his garner but the Chaff shall be burned with unquencheable fire I pray Sirs do but consider this one thing is it not better for you to have a promise of security now than to defer it upon hopes that you may have it hereafter the promise reaches to the least of the grains and no further and I have no commission to say any further to you by way of security But then 2. Is it so that there is such a promise made to the least grain why let me tell you the promise of security lay's open to you though for the present as you are sinners and while you are so I cannot say that the promise doth reach you Yet notwithstanding you are so I may tell you the promise is open to you and let me further tell you that the Heart of the Trinity doth concur with the promise and doth stand open to receive you What think you of this sinners the promises of Sanctification are open the promises of Salvation by grace are open to you Though I cannot say that to day thou art within the reach of the promises yet if I could say that before to morrow thou hast received grace though but as a grain of mustard seed to morrow I could say and say it in the name of the Lord come what will come God and Christ will look after this Soul Is it not better for you then to day whilst it is called to day to open your Hearts for Christ and for the Spirit of Christ and to get a little grace though never so little to day whilst it is called to day O Sinners get a little grace and be content to begin with a little It is a little grace that will bring you within the reach of the promise Do not say within your selves then belike you think we have no grace at all why truly if you be sinners I say you have not grace not so much as a grain of mustard seed and I say you are not yet within the reach of the promise but I say if you get but a little grace though never so little that you may but be truly called a grain then I may see though it be never so little yet the greatest promises of protection are made to you and you are the Persons that are concerned in this promise 3. The third thing that I would say to you that are no Grains that have no grace at all is this I pray do but consider with your selves when God and Christ and the Spirit come to pass judgment and to give in evidence against you what will you be able to answer What will you say that grace was never offered to you I must be forced to appear and all the Ministers that ever you have heard and