away the fear of Death from Believing Souls That he might deliver them Heb. 2.15 who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage Christ delivereth his from spiritual death in sin and from eternal death for sin and as for natural death the death of the body unto which God hath appointed them it is not now formidable the sting of it being plucked out by Christ it is that which Saints have desired which is welcome to Souls stedfast in the faith of the promises because death frees them from the power of sin and annoyance of corruption puts an end to their sinning which is grievous to a gracious heart Now comes that happy deliverance from the body of death which St. Paul so earnestly longed for and by death they have their passage to everlasting life 5. Regeneration and the sanctification of souls is the fruit of Christ's dying he of God is made to us sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 1 Pet. 2.24 he his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness he gave himself for us Tit. 2.14 that he might redeem us from all iniquitie and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works The mortification of sin in us and the vivification of grace the healing of our nature and the renewing of the image of God in us is a great benefit of Christ's death he merited this for the Elect obtaining at God's hand that the holy Spirit should be given to sanctifie them that the Spirit of his Son should be sent into their hearts 6. Christ by his Death hath purchased eternal life for Soules God gave his onely begotten Son â— John 3.16 that whosoever believeth in him shâ—uld nâ—t perish but haeve everlasting life 1 Joh. 5.11 God hath given us Eternal life and this life is in his Son Thus the full benefit of Christs Death is a full redemption from all evil to all good from sin Satan Wrath Death and Hell to Grace and Glory to the enjoyment of all good here and hereafter Now unless we know these things and except we know our selves to be interessed in Jesus Christ whose Death is of such exceeding great advantage to those for whom he died we can take no comfort in the notion of Christ his Death Therefore having counselled you to search out what the benefits of Christs Death are I should in the next place exhort you to make sure your share in them to labour to clear up to your selves your interest in Christ and in the advantages of his Death But this will be a special part of the application of that other point which is to be opened and improved therefore our second counsel now shall be this Did God give his Son to Death Counsel 2. to satisfie for us to reconcile us to God to obtain for us Remission of sins and Sanctification of the Spirit and life eternal then let pardon of sin and peace with God and the grace of Sanctification and the hope of Eternal life be valued by us according to the price that was paid for the purchase of them It was the Bloud of the Son of God which was of infinite value Therefore that which was purchased by it is more worth then all the World Carnal hearts have no such estimation of these things if they had they would look more after them and seek them diligently in the use of the means Buâ— alas how many poor souls are theâ—e that have no apprehension of the worth of these mercies Gold is of more account with them then Grace and the countenance of man is more lookt after then the favour of God but David can tell us that a comfortable apprehension of God's love is more worth then all worldly enjoyments and Solomon his judgmant is that Wisdom i. e. Grace is the most excellent thing that the most desirable things in the World are not to be compared with it Now therefore let Christians who by faith have laid hold on Christ and are intâ—rrâ—ssâ—d in the benefits of his death let them know what and an excellent portion they gottâ—n and let them judge of their priveledges by the price that was paid for the purchase of them and prize them accrdingly And let Worldlings consider the meanes by which Spiritual blessings soul-mercies the Christians Priviledges were procured and let them esteem them accordingly never resting till they come to be made pertakers of them Did God give his son to Die for sinner Counsel 3. then let us take heed of sinning against Christs Death Abel his blood cried for vengeance on them that shed it What will Christ his Bloud doe Certainly the Blod of the Son of God is very precious and they who sin against it draw horrible guilt upon themselves Now there are many waies by which souls sin against the Death of Christ 1. When men do denie the efficatious merit of Christ his Death and will piece it up with their own merits as Papists who teach and boast of humane satisfactions 2. They who râ—sist or despise the means of the application of Christ Crucified to themselves 3. They who have low thoughts of those things for the purchase whereof Christ died The priviledge of Justification and Sanctification and the Scriptures of God and a Gospel Ministrie and Gospel Ordinances and all Gospel priveledges and all true Gospellers in the Church are all the purchase of Christ his Bloud So that it is clearly a sinning against the Death of Christ to cry down or reproach or slight any of these 4. They who make much of sin which caused the Death of Christ and that allow in themselves and maintain the life of that for the destruction of which Christ died they sin against the Death of Christ And many other waies do people sin against Christ his Death Now let us take heed of this that we sin not against the Bloud of the Son of God which was given to be shed for us I may take a hint from the Doctrine to counsel you to mercifulness to your own sulles Counsel 4. Is God so merciful to us not be cruel to our selves Did Christ die to Redeem us and set us free then let us not enslave our selves let us not yeild our selves servants unto sin and Satan Did Christ die to Redeem us from destruction let us not be self destroyers I remember what Paul saith in the case of Scan al 's what a charge he giveth to shun giving of offence and upon what ground Do not for meats sake Rom. 14.15 destrom him for whom Christ died Oh do not for any Lusts sake destroy thy soule for which Christ died 5. This consideration is to be urged upon our selves Couns 5. as a motive to mercifulness towards others Hath God bin so merciful to us as to give his own Son for us let this stir up in us bowels of compassion toward our brethen and
to be sought Christ our Reconciliation taking away all enmity betwixt God and us Christ that becomes to us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption by whom we are enlightned iustified sanctified and glorified Christ in whom the promises of God are yea and amen to us who will be to us if we have him as a seale and an earnest to assure us that we shall enjoy all that good which is carried in them Christ that will support us in every temptation and trial and be a comfort to us in every condition hrist that will be the death of sin in us and will bring in the life of Grace into us that will bring such a happy liberty to us making us of Satans slaves to become the Lord's freemen Christ with whom other things are given and that graciously in love and good will Christ that will bring us into the bosome of God to live with him for ever in Glorie Is not this Christ I say worth the looking after wherfore let your aim be at Christ and above all things labour to get him to be possessed of him and to be assured that he is yours and you are his You invite friends to come to your houses and tell them that you shall be glad of their company and ready to give them the best entertainment that the house affords and heartio welcome though oft times with some persons this is but a complement Ah beloved do you in reality invite Christ to come to your soules entreat him to come and dwell with you in you Tell him that he shall have the command of every roome in thy heart the whole house of thy soule shall be at his disposing that all the faculties of thy soul and all the members of thy bodie shall be at his his service thus begg of him woe him to come and make his abode with thee and in the vse of Ordinances and in Duties wait for his comming to thee and when he shall come and knock be ready according to thy invitation to open the door of thy heart and receive him in with joy for surely he will prove a good Guest indeed that will feast thee with his love and vvill fill thee vvith delights and make even the worst condition on Earth to be a very heaven to thee Having urged these incentives to the seeking of Christ I thought not to have proceeded any further in pressing this Counsel but for as much as I am now dealing with people about a business that is of the greatest concernment to them and because I know that souls are not easily prevailed with in such a case I shall begg a little more of the Reader 's patience while I make an essay for the driving of sinners if they will not yet be dravvn unto Christ and I think that having a whip put into my hand by God I must make some use of it I shall therefore now urg some considerations about the vvant of Christ setting forth the miserie of being without him 1. If Christ be the life of the soul Gal. 2.20 1 Joh. 5.12 Col. 3.4 as he is certainly Christ liveth in me He that hath the Son hath life When Christ who is our life shall appear Christ is our life as in this respect that he made us and gave us being and life in the World and because he hath purchased Eternal life for us and will bring us to it and because he vvill in the last day put life into our dead bodies and raise them up So likewise he is our life because by his Spirit he quickeneth our souls vvhen he finds them dead in sins and trespasses I say now if Christ be our life then souls without Christ are dead soules and all their vvorks are dead workes there being nothing of the life of God put forth in any thing that they do Nil dat quod non habe 2. because there is nothing of this life in them Here is the misery of being without Christ the Soule is dead as lothsome in the eye of God and as stinking in his nostrils as a piece of carrion or a dead Corps that hath lien rotting a long time in the grave is offensive to us yea much more loathsome is such a soul unto God 2. Without Christ the soul is like the Would without a Sun so that there is no Light no Heat no fruit no Glory 1. Souls without Christ are in darkness Ye are in darkness faith Paul the believing Thessalonians 1 Thes 5.4 Now ye are not but you were before Christ came to you 1 Pet. 2.9 Col. â— 3. Ephes 5.8 Christ calleth soules out of darkness yea souls without Christ are under the power of darkness yea they are darkness it self Oh do but think what a sad condition we should be in if the sâ—ll should forsake our Horizon so that we should never any more see the light thereof much more sad and dolourous is the condition of a soul without Christ that hath not one glimps of true spiritual and heavenly light hath no saving apprehension of God or Jesus Christ or of any thing that concerns his own â—â—lvation that belongs to his 2. Where Christ is not there is â—o heavenly hâ—at men are hot spiâ—ited in pursuit of the profits and â—leasures of the World are carried with heat of affection to sin vaâ—ity but there is no fire of zeal for God or toward him no fervency of â—pirit in serving the Lord they are â—old spirited yea frozen hearted in â—espect of any affection to that which is good what an indifferent â—hing is it to them that are without Christ whether they do or leave â—â—ndon those duties which God requires of them I say they are not carried to any duty with any warmth of spirit upon any spiritual consideration or to any good â—â—d and so nothing that they do in the way of their dutie finds acceptance with God 3. Where Christ is not the soul is barren and fruitless altogether in respect of that which is good As the branch cannot bear fruit of it self unless it abide in the vine Jo. 15 4 5. no more can ye except ye abide in me be that abideth in me and I in him the same bringtch forth much fruit with me He that abideth in me I in him the same brengeth f rth much fruit without me ye can do nothing Unless Christ be in the soule it bringeth forth no fruit unto God nor is it or can it be profitable to it self And now what is the doom of the barren tree Cut it down why Combreth it the ground Ah the soule vvithout Christ Heb. 6.8 is like that earth vvhich beareth Thornes and Briars that is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burnt 4. Where Christ is not there is no glory nor beauty because no light because no Grace because no Righteousness because no Holiness In Christ Jesus the New man is created after God
who do in effect say as those daughters of Jerusalem What is thy belâ—ved more then other beloveds Cant. 5. 9. What a doe is here about Christ you say above all your gettings get Christs let go all and take Christ you tel us he is the great Gift he is all Why we find that there is something beside him and that which pleaseth us well that which we will hold Fast say you what you will or may we not have Christ and hold fast the World May we not have Christ and take our pleasure may we not enjoy Christ and our lusts together O friends if you will have Christ you must be resolved upon the termes to part from all for him 5. You must seek Jesus Christ in the use of those means which God hath appointed and afforded particularly in attendance upon the Ministery of the word wherein God maketh offers of Grace and holdeth forth Jesus Christ with his fulnes to you if you will receive him God will be sound of those that seek him Christ will come to those that wait for him in his own way But as for those Fanaticks and seduced soules who reckon themselues to be aboue Ordinances and those prophane ones who do wickedly despise them and stubbornely refuse to bring their spirits under them and turn their backs upon the Preaching of the Word Surely they are not in the way to find Christ 6. As you must attend upon Ordinances that you may finde Christ in them so you must heed God his offers of Christ and Christ his tenders of himself to you You must observe how Christ comes to you in the sweet motions of the Spirit knocking at the doors of your heart and importuning you to open to him Istand at the doore and knock if any man open to me I will come in to him Reve. 3.26 Christ speaketh in the Ministrie of the Gospel calling you to faith and repentance and new obedience and he knocketh at the doores of your hearts by the motions of his Spirit and this standing and knocking implies an carnest desire to be let in to be entertained Now vvhen vve repent and believe and give Christ enterance into our hearts this is to open the doore unto him Oh take heed you do not neglect the calls and knocks of Christ but open to him let the everlasting doores of your soules be lifted up that the King Glory may come in Oh how long have you kept Christ out of doore though he hath knocked hard and called aloud yet he could not hitherto obtain to have the doore opened to him you would not be perswaded to cast the World out of your hearts and to turn out lusts and take him in but still continue as vain as proud as worldly as intemperate as irreligious and every way as bad as you were O firs take heed of resisting the Spirit of giving Christ such often repulses least he be provoked to be gone and resolve not to sollicite you any further that his Spirit shall not more strive with you lest you be given up to your own counsels to perish by your own gainsayings Dear soules give Christ entertainment Oh that the power of Gospel Revelations and Gospel Counsels may come in upon your hearts 2. Seeing Christ is the principal gift of God Counsel 2. Make sure an interest in Christ let us labour to cleare up to our selves our interst in him to get assurance that we have him for many there are who are ready to say that Christ is theirs when indeed they have no part in him Quest How shall I know that I have Christ Answ In order to a solution of this or to give satisfaction herein I shall in general acquaint you with this Our having received Christ our being in Christ and Christ his being in us are notions that serve to express one and the same thing This being premised I shall propound two heads or tvvo vvaies of discoverie for answer to the question If Christ be ours then we are in Christ 1. If vve have received Christ then we are in Christ Now I find that the Spirit of God useth a threefold comparison or similitude in setting forth a Believer his being in Christ 1. A Christian is in Christ as a branch in the stock so that if we bud and blossome and grow in grace be fruitful in holiness this is an agrument that we have received Christ that vve are in him 2. A Christan is in Christ as a member in the bodie united to the head so that if there be Spiritual life in us and Spiritual sense and Spiritual motion and action this is an argument that vve have received Christ that vve are in him 3. A Christian his being in Christ is set forth by the marriage vnion so that if there be a sweet intercourse betvvene Christ and the soule if the soule receive comfort from Christ and take pleasure in his company and delight in communion with him then he hath Christ 2. If a man hath received Christ then Christ is in him Christ is in us Christ is in the Saints as the soule in the body as the Sun in the World as a man in his house as a King on his Throne Novv there are tvvo meanes or tvvo manner of waies by which Christ is thus in the Saints both expressed by the Apostle in one place viz. the Spirit and Faith The Believer's vnion with Christ Ephes 3.16 17. is not a natural mixture of Substances of Christ his substance and our substance as if there were a real entrance of the body or Soule of Christ into our body or Soule Nor is it onely a conjunction of love or an union in affection between us and Christ but it is a mistical union in vvhich Christ-and Believers become one Christ stians are knit to brist and to one-another by joynts and bonds col 2.19 The Spirit and faith are those bonds and this union is as hath been said shadovved out in Scripture by the union of the head and the members in the body of man and by the vnion of a man and a vvoman in a married estate This vnion is made on Christ his part by his Spirit on our part by Faith 1. By his Spirit 1. Christ is in us by his Spirit this is first in order in as much as the Spirit is the worker of Faith The cause is before the effect Evidenoes he eâ—f Now there are divers effects whereby Christ discovereth himself to be in the soule by his Spirit 1. As the soul in the bodie is the principle of life motion and action so is Christ in the Saints by his Spirit the principle of spiritual life putting into them and preserving in them that life which is called the life of God Ephes 4.18 and as the soul acteth the body and every member of it so are Saints acted by Jesus Christ by Spirit in them John 3 6. Rom. 8.14 That which is born
of the Spirit is Spirit The children of God are led by the Spirit of God which leadeth from sin unto duty and acteth the soul toward God not as though we vvere meerly passive so acted as not at all active but Christ acting the soul puts spiritual holy activity into the soul he worketh in us both to wiland to do there is the willing and working of that soul which is acted by Christ by his Spirit 2. As the Sun is in the World to give light and to give heat and to cause fruitfulness so that precious things are brought forth by the Sun Deut. 33.14 and to make beauty and glory upon the Earth So Christ is in the Soule by his pirit scattering darkness bringing in spiritnal light rendering those things visibl and evident which before were hidden yea making those souls to be light in the Lord Ephes. 5.8 which which his coming to them were darkness it it self it is the Spirit of Truth Joh. 16.13 which is the Spirit of Christ that leadeth into all truth and Christ by his Spirit brings in heavenly heat and makes the heart within a man to burn in affection toward God Rom. 12.12 and the things of God burning with the Spirit therefore the spirit is likened to Fire And as the Sun in the World so the Spirit of Christ in the soule causeth fruitfulness so that every branch in this Vine Christ is a fruit bearing branch every soul in which Christ is is by the influence of his Spirit made fruitful in Grace Grace in the heart of Christians and holy actions and duties in their lives are called fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 And Christ by his Spirit in the work of Grace makes the soule beautiful and puts a glory upon it Cant. 4.1 if he be master If provident If friendly How beautiful art thou my love behold thou art fair my love behold thou art fair the Kings daughter is all glâ—rious within c. 3. As a man dwells in his house 2 Tim. 14 there commanding and ordering all things and making provision for those of his houshold and entertaining and chearing his friends and making them welcome So Christ by his Spirit dwelleth in the soul and by the Spirit he beares rule in the soul so that his Word is a law to the soul The Saints so far forth as they are spiritual are ordered in all things by Christ dwelling in them though they find with Paul that there is the flesh lusting against the spirit and often interrupting the course of their obedience and Christ dwelling in the foule provideth for the soul taketh care that it want nothing dealeth out to it the gifts of grace which â—râ— given by the spirit according to the measure of Christ and Christ dwelling in the soul gives his refreshings to the soul maketh it a feast of fat things brings it into the banquetting house or the house of Wine comforting the heart by applying the promises of the Gospel and the Grace of Christ to the soul revealing his love and speaking peace to the soule thus feasting it and filling it as with marrow and fatness These refreshings of Christians are from the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them therefore the Spirit is called the Comforter and the joy which Christ giveth into the heart is called the fruit of the Spirit 4. As a King on his Throne swayeth the Scepter of his Realme having all the people of that Realm subject to him and governed by him according to Constitutions and Lawes of that Kingdome So is Christ in all true Christians giving lawes to the conscience and governing the whole man to the obedience thereof he is there in power making them a willing people willing to obey his commands willing to subject themselves to the lawes and ordinances of his Kingdom which Earthly Kings cannot do Psal 110 3. Thy peâ—ple shall be willing in the day of thy power And Christ is in the heart as a King to subdue rebellious lusts and tame nurâ—â—y affections to cast down all strong holds that are raised up by the Devil and the flesh against him and at last to bring under every thought into subjection to himself And as a good King seeketh the good of his subjects and desireth not to impoverish but enrich them So doth Christ seek the good of that soul in which he hath erected a Throne for himself is alwaies doing good to it and enriching it with Grace here and glorie hereafter And it is by the Spirit that Christ beareth rule It is the Spirit that represseth corruption and mortifieth the deeds of the bodie It is by the Spirit that Christ enricheth the soul with Grace Knowledge Faith Love and all those precious things of Grace are the gifts of Christ which he conveyeth to them by his Spirit 5. The Spirit of Christ where he cometh in a spirit of supplication teaching men to pray and and framing their hearts to prayer He hath sent the Spirit of his Son into ur hearts Gal 4.6 whereby we cry abba father 6. Where Christ dwells by his Spirit there is the influence of the vertue of his Death and Resurrection to the mortification of sin Rom. 6.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and vivification of Grace Our Old man is crucified with him that the body of sin should be destroyed that it should be rendered inefficatious unable to work that sin may become powerless in us that we may be freed from the law of sin by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus i. e. by the lively powerful working of Christ's Spiret in us which breaketh off the yoke of bondage that lay upon our necks in the state of nature whereby sin held us wholly under subjection to it self and in Verse 17.18 the Apostle makes out this more fully that Believers are freed by Christ from the dominion of sin so that the strength of corruption is abated in them the old man is weakned and that by the Spirit of Christ the soul is made alive unto God and is freed unto righteousness set at liberty to walk in the waies of God In a word take the Evidence of Christ his being in the soule thus Christ and his Spirit are not sundered nor is the Spirir in us without the fruits of the Spirit Let no man say that he hath Christ unless he hath the Spirit of Christ If we look upon a bodie when the soule is gone out of it we cannot say this is a man no more can we say of a man without the Spirit of Christ This is a Christian That is no true member of the body which is not animated by the soul in the body no more he a member of Christ that is not quickned by the Spirit of Christ Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us 1 Jo. 4.13 by his Spirit which he hath given us Now again the Spirit is no where idle or fruitless but
Ezek. 16. in Right cousness and holiness of Truth In the state of nature the soule is like a wretched infant in it's blood whose navil is not cut that is unvvashed cast out in the open field to the loathing of its person But Christ maketh the Christian like the King's daughter all glorious within So that he is beautiful through the comeliness which Christ puts upon him but I say there is none of this beautie none of this glory nothing but ugliness and deformitie tilâ— Christ comes into the Soule 3. A soule without Christ is like a house that is without a Master or Governour and so there is no order in it no provision made for it there is none to refresh and comfort it where the reviving consolations of the Spirit of Christ are not 4. A soul without Christ is as a Kingdome without a King as a people without government there all things are in a confusion tending to ruine and destruction Such a heart is not framed to the obedience of Gods lawes there is none to subdue sin and repress rebellious lusts in the heart that rise up against God and fight against the soul which if not quelled by an Almighty power will destroy soul body utterly where Christ is not there is none to seek the good of the Soul efficatiously and to the soules undoubted advantage none that can enrich the soule with Grace here and bring it to Glory hereafter 5. A mans soul without Christ is in such a deplorable condition as is the bodie in which are all the principal defects of Nature like a man deprived of all his senses that can neither see nor hear nor taste nor smell nor feel if we could suppose such a one in life That such a soul is spiritually blinde I have shewed already Further it is Christ in the heart that furnisheth a man with a spiritual eare it is only the ear bored by the Spirit of Christ that can hear the voice of God Multi habent aures audiendi pauci aures obediendi Aug. that so heareth as to understand and believe and obey the Word of God others are as deafe Adders that hear not the voice of the Charmer charme he never so wisely Many reproofs many instructions many admonitions many good counsels and exhortations are dealt out to people yet they are deaf to all and so will be nothing will enter into them till Christ be with their Spirits Souls without Christ are without feeling like a man all over in a dead Palsie we speak of spiritual feeling neither Gods Word nor his works make any impression upon such a heart it is as senseless of the smitings of God in the ministry of the Word as the Anvile is of the strokes of the Hammer That is true of such a soul which Solomon speaks of the drunkard They have stricken me Pro. 23. ult and I was not sick they have beaten me and I felt it not So may such a soul say or we may say of him he hath been smitten with reproofs for his Drunkeness for his Oaths for his Coveteousness for his Sabbath-breaking for his ordinance slighting c. Oh many blows have been given him but he felt them not it appeareth so because he is never the better for these smitings he reformeth not those evils for which he hath been reproved Lastly In a word A soul without Christ savoureth not the things that are of God This term savour is in Scripture applied both to tasting and smelling to tasting so meat is said to be savoury Gen. 27. to smelling and so there is the savour of ointments and the savour of garments spoken of in the Book of Canticles Now as a man that hath not the sense of tasting cannot distinguish meats or drinks all are alike to him he perceiveth no sweetness in Sugar or Honey no tartness in Vinegar no bitterness in Gall and as a man that hath not the sense of smelling senteth neither sweet nor stinking taketh no pleasure in those things which yeild a most fragrant smell nor is offended at that which senteth most noisomely and odiously so is it in a spiritual sense with the soul that is without Christ there is no sence of tasting or smelling no perceivance or apprehension of the sweetness of Jesus Christ and of the doctrine of the Gospel of the deliciousness of the things of grace such a soul savoureth not the heavenly Manna the Word of God is not at all sweet unto his taste but unsavoury unto him nor is sin disgustful he perceiveth no bitterness in it but takes pleasure in it so putting bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter 6. Till you can find that you are in Christ and Christ in you you cannot look upon your selves but as vessels of dishonour ordained unto wrath Rom. 8.1 There is nâ— condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus but to all out of Christ Christ is wisdome and righteousness and sanctification to those to whom he is made redemption it is Christ in us that is the hope of glory to us Examine your selves 2 Cor. 13. â— saith the Apostle prove your selves know you not that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates If thou hast not Christ who is that best garment which the Father of the returning Prodigal called for to put it upon his Son if thou hast not put on the Lord Jesus Christ who is that Wedding-garment spoken of in the Parable Mâ—t. 22. I say if thou hast not Christ thou wilt be speechless dumb not able to speak one word for thy self in that day when the King of Kings the great Judge of all the World shall ask thee why thou shouldst not be condemned and cast into hell for the sin in which thou was born and the sins in which thou hast lived whereas the soul that hath gotten Christ that hath taken him up by Faith and hath him dwelling in it by his Spirit hath the merits of Christ his death to plead and the righteousness of Christ to hold forth unto God Lord though in my self I am worthy of death and have deserved to die a thousand times though I have no righteousness of my own yet in as much as Christ hath died for me I must not die in as much as thy Son whom thou hast given me hath fulfilled all righteousness for me and is made of God righteousness to me I shall not be condemned but I say he that is without Christ will have nothing to say when it shall be demanded of him what he can plead for himself why he should not die for his sins and what hath the judge then to say to such a Christless wretch Oh he passeth a dreadful sentence Bind him hand and â—oot and take him away and cast him into ouâ—er darkness there shall be weeping and guashing af teeth Ah now dear souls seeing the â—nhappiness of men and women and their misery is so great in the want of Christ labour to
is a fiducial knowledge of the promise of Grace through Christ Jesus I shall now shew you more distinctly in two or three particulars what is carried in the notion of believing in Christ 1 It implies a knowledge and acknowledgment of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appointed by God to be the Mediator between God and Man and a clear assent to all Gospel Revelations concerning him the Saviour of sinners touching his Person and Natures and Offices and touching his Mediatory transactions â—nd touching the necessary and saâ—ing effects of his Mediation This knowledge and acknowâ—edgment are necessary and essentiâ—l unto Faith there must be Faith doctrinal and assertive as a foundation of that which is fiducial and applicative 2 To believe in Jesus Christ implieth an utter denial of any other Saviour or Saviours Mediator or Mediators of any other way by which we may come unto God 3 It is not only a knowledge and acknowledgment of and assent unto the Revelations of God concerning Christ the only Saviour but it carries in it a fiducial receiving of Christ offered to us in the Gospel promise this is formalis ratio fidei the formality of true justifying Faith lies in this there are these two things formally constitutive of such a Faith 1 An acceptation of Christ in the promise 2 The Souls innitency or recumbency on Christ received This is truly and properly to believe on Jesus Christ and they who have such a saith are true believers the seed of Abraham and heirs of the Promise There is a carnal and a spiritual seed of Abraham Carnal Professors that have not faith or true grace are the carnal seed and such as do not only profess faith and repentance but are also real believers and truly gracious are the spiritual seed Now therefore that you may not be deceived in this great matter as we are alas too apt to deceive our selves and in danger to be deluded by Satan that you may know whether you be believers and may take comfort in the Doctrine which we are now handling I shall hoâ—d forth to you a few of the properties and effects of faith Faith low evidenced which are evidential of the truth of it True faith is a purifier of the heart and of the conversation Purifying their hearts by faith Acts 15.9 Faith purifieth as from the guilt 〈◊〉 sin by receiving Christ his rightâ—ousness so from the filth anâ— power of sin by conflicting againâ—â— corruption and by degrees inâ—stering it and working it out 〈◊〉 very one that hath this hope whicâ— is a concomitant of faith 1 Joh. 3.3 and thâ— daughter of faith purifieth himself and the heart being purifieâ— the conversation will he suitableâ— Faith in the heart purifies it anâ— reforms the life he that trulâ— believes in Jesus Christ washeâ—â— his heart from wickedness and 〈◊〉 careful to keep himself from thâ— defilements of sin 2 True faith is a living livelâ— active faith that discovereth it seâ—â— by action setting the soul oâ— working according to all the discoveries of the mind of Christâ— and this it doth because it is a loving faith True believers thaâ— by faith have taken in the love oâ— Christ are carried out in love tâ— such a loving Redeemer who hath purchased them with his own precious blood and are constraineâ— in themselves to give themselves up unto him who gave himself for them love sets the soul on work to keep his Commandments 3 Faith in Jesus Christ acted on him fetcheth virtue from him to make the soul to grow in every grace and encrease in all holiness Where Christ is made righteousness to the soul by imputation of God's part and by Faith's application on the souls part there he is also sanctification by the influence of his Spirit or an emanation of grace which Faith draws from Christ to whom the soul is united 4 True faith acted on Jesus Christ carries on believers to confess Christ and to own his Institutions and to stick to him in doing their duty against all discouragement by trouble and persecution in the world Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you Luc. 22.32 as wheat is sified but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not saith Christ to Peter Peter's faith did not utterly fail though it failed very much in the High-Priestâ— Hall and fell as I may say into 〈◊〉 swoon but certainly no fears oâ— dangers could have made Peter to deny Christ had Faith been active and done its part It was Faith that made Moses to chuse reproaches and persecutions for Christ rather than the glory of Egypt Faith is our Victory whereby we overcome the World it being that which raiseth the soul above all the hopes and fears of the World See faith's working in Paul and what power it had to carry him on thorow sufferings for Christ For the which cause also I suffer those things 2 Tâ—m 1.12 nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day 5 True faith is a joy-creating grace The Apostle prays for the Romans Rom. 15.12 that they may be fillâ—d with all joy in believing Joy is the Daughter of faith when faith lays hold on remission of sins through the bloud of Christ the soul must needs rejoyce in the Lord its Saviour who hath delivered it from the guilt of sin and the curse of the Law Peace and Joy in some degree is an immediate fruit and effect of true faith acted on Christ Thus I have finished the explication of the point shewing what the Covenant is and how it is confirmed and to whom it is confirmed I come now to prove our Doctrine That God's Covenant of Grace is confirmed to all Believers Proof You have seen the Position clearly grounded in the Text See further proof Gal. 3.29 If ye be Christ's the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus as ver 26. if ye be believers then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise To Abraham and his seed were the promises made Gal 3.16 he saith not and to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed that is Christ viz. Christ complexiveâ—â— taken and in aggregation Chriâ—â— in his Mystical Body as you haâ—â— it expounded by the same Apostâ—â— 1 Cor. 12.12 So also is Christ 〈◊〉 you read the whole verse you wiâ—â— easily see that here we must understand Christ mystical the Bodâ— of Christ his Church The promises are made thâ— Covenant is confirmed to all truâ— Believers the Members of Christ Now for application of the point Applicat First I shall draw up two or three inferences for information next I shall give out some words of exhortation or counsel Thirdly I shall close up all with a use of consolation Vse 1 1 If the Covenant of Grace belong to Abraham's seed
or less that we have of these things if it be but a little Oyl in the Cruse and a hand-full of meal in the Barrel assurance of a Covenant interest in God will make it enough to us and render it good for want of this poor hearts are full of fears and cares and discontents even in the midst of abundance of outward things which they possess but this I say will sweeten our enjoyments to us for being assured of God we know that what we have comes from love and is a pledge of greater love and is that which our God sees to be good for us and is blessed to us 3 This assurance will give the foul boldness to come unto God and make it familiar with him and much sweeten and heighten Communion This will fill us with comfort in our approaches to the Throne of Grace when we can confidently call God Father Am I in great straights or do I lye under some sore afflictions is this or that wanting to me what a comfort is it now that I have a God to go to a God in Covenant with me that can succour and deliver me that can supply my wants and is able to do for me exceeding abundantly above all that I can ask or think 4 Assurance of a Covenant interest in God will take off the fear of Death a true believer that applies the covenant with assurance of Faith doth not put the day of Death far from him as being loath to see it and even affraid to think of it no but he desires to be dissolved and to be with Christ he knows that Death is Vltimus morborum medicus that which cures all diseases cures the Pride and Covetousness and Hardness and Frowardness and Unbelief and sluggishness of the heart cures the body of the Dropsie Scurvie Gout Stone c. frees it from all diseases pains and griefs he knows that Death will let him into a clear full and everlasting enjoyment of God and therefore he is glad when his glass is run whereas the awakned Soul that hath no upprehension of an interest in God cannot but be troubled at the thoughts of Death and even affrighted at the grimm countenance of that King of Terrours As one of the Kings of England once in his straights cryed out A Kingdom for a Horse a Kingdom for a Horse So will an awakned Soul cry out when Death presents it self Oh a Kingdom a World ten thousand Worlds if I had them for assurance of an interest in the Covenant of Grace but Oh how comfortable and delightfully may an assured Soul think of Death which is a passage to his everlasting rest and happiness in the nearest sweetest fullest enjoyment of his God and Saviour for evermore 5. The thoughts of the Judgment to come will be sweet to those that have a known interest in the Covenant of Gods his love for the Judge is their friend their brother their head their husband and the day of Judgment Acts 3.19 Eph. 4.30 shall be to them the time of refreshing the day of their Redemption of their full Deliverance from all misery and corruption the day of their publick absolution and perfect justification and the time of the manifestation of Gods love to them in the fullest measure 6. He that is certain of his interest in Gods Covenant is certain of his interest in Salvation and so the thoughts of Heaven must needs be delightful to him while he is certain that it is the blessed rest prepared for him the place of his everlasting abode in happiness yea this assurance gives the Soul a present possession of Heaven brings Heaven down as I may say into the bosom of a believer while he is upon Earth Faith is the sâ—bstance Heb. 11.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the subsistance of things hoped for it gives a real existance or being to that which is held forth in the promise an assured Soul hath Heaven within it Thus you see the benefit of assurance some special advantages and comforts that thence accrue to the Soul which should be a great inducement to put us upon care and pains to get it doth it not bring a sufficient reward with it Doth not the profit and comfort that comes by it far exceed the greatest profit in the World and the greatest comfort that Earth affords Therefore though the Covenant may be savingly applyed by Faith where assurance is not yet let us strive to assurance that we may live and die comfortably in assurance of God his everlasting love towards us in Christ Jesus Now I shall shew you how assurance may be attained and how it may be discerned from presumption Way to assurance 1. Concerning the way and means to attain assurance We must be much in exercising and acting all Grace must be diligent in trading with our stock of Grace that we may attain to the riches of assurance Col. 2.2 as the Apostle calls it The diligent hand maketh rich That we may have comfort and assurance we must beware of negligence and sluggishness and laziness in duty and of remisseness in the exercise and actings of Grace True is that which a reverend Doctor now with God hath told us in a Treatise of his That it is the lazie Christian commonly that wants assurance and that the way of painful dutie is the way of fullest comfort Sloth and idleness stops the fountain of comfort causeth Christ to with-hold his comforts Parents are not wont to smile but frown upon their Children when they are negligent and careless of their duty and neglective of their observance toward them All the honour that God hath from us is from the exercise and actings of Grace and the more we strive to honour God the more will he comfort us with the manifestations of himself and the revelations of his love in our hearts Active Christians shall have most of Gods love and of the manifestation of his Grace to them He that hath my Commandements Joh. 14.21 and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be beloved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self tâ— him Again sloath and negligence causeth want of peace and comfort for this reason because Grace is not sensible apparent and evident to the Soul but in the exercise and actings of it as the fire that is in the flint is not discernable till you smite and force it out In acting Faith upon Jesus Christ and the promises of God and in acting love toward God and Christ you will know that you have the grace of Faith and Love will know that ye believe and that ye love God and so will know that God loveth you for we love God because he loved us first and our believing is a fruit of the promise of Grace 2. We must be much in the application of the Covenant with a faith of adherence and innitency cleaving to the promises and casting our selves by Faith
through Christ upon the mercy and grace of a Covenanting God till the love and grace of God be revealed from faith to faith 3. We must take heed that we do not greive but please the spirit of God the Comforter that reporteth the love of the Father unto Souls and sealeth them up to the day of Redemption The way to assurance of Gods love is to comply with and give content to the witnessing sealing Spirit 4. If we desire that God should bestow upon us the riches of full assurance then let us be thankful for the least glimps of Light that he maketh to shine into us let us not look at any of the consolations of God as small but let us be thankful for any pledge of his favour The Lord in making out his love to the Soul deals saith one as Boaz dealt with Ruth he first gave her liberty to glean in his fields then to glean even among the sheaves then invited her to eat bread with him and to dip her morsels in the vinegar and at last he took her to be his Wife to lye in his bosome so doth God discover his love to believers first more sparingly and as at greater distance then draws nearer and reveals himself more clearly shewing himself more friendly to them and familiar with them and then at length he gives his Spirit into their bosom to assure them of his love and of their interest in all his grace Now the ready way to attain all this to have such manifestations of Gods love to us is to be truly thankful for the least appearance of Grace Then will God say to such a Soul art thou so thankful for a beam of Light I will fill thee with the fountain of Light art thou thus thankful for crumbs that fall under the board I will feast thee with marrow and fatness at my Table 5. One other great means conducing to a certainty of our interest in Gods Covenant is a serious trial of our hearts and of the state of our Souls by and according to the Word of God the Scripture tells us who are the people of God his Covenanted ones what are their qualifications and properties therefore let us see what the Scripture holds forth in this point and then let us diligently prove our selves whether we be such persons so qualified that by this means we may come to a certainty of our estate Now for direction herein to make short work of it know this that where holiness is there is the Covenant of God his love Holy Beloved Col. 3.12 all holy Souls are beloved of God prove your selves then whether there be a true work of Grace wrought in you by the spirit of God whether you are of the number of Gods holy ones Qu. How may this be known who are holy ones An. Where corruption is by Grace so far subdued that sin reigns not there is holiness when a Soul is delivered not wholly from sin that will not be in this life but from the law of sins so that sin hath not dominion over him The Apostle saith Rom. 6.12 Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies that ye should obey it in the lust thereof he doth not say ne sit let not sin be in you though we must not allow it in our selves or suffer it to be quiet but ne regnat let not sin reign in you Sin reigneth when it hath the wil 's consent the hearts delight and commands the whole man when a man is a willing servant of sin and as the Apostle saith yields his members weapons of unrighteousness unto sin is in a readiness to obey sins commands and to fulfill the lusts of the flesh Sin cannot be said to reign when a man doth unwilling service to sin bewailes and hates the evil that is in him and the evil that is done by him and wars against sin and prays against Sin and desires and endeavours to shake off the yoke of sin I say here sin cannot properly be said to reign though it exerciseth a Tyrannical power forcing a poor soul many times to do its commands and where this reign of sin is not there is holiness but where sin reigneth there is no Saintship 2. He that is universal and serious in his desires to be good and do good having respect to all Gods commands that truly desires to be filled with the knowledg of Gods will in all wisdome and spiritual understanding and to walk worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing and to be fruitful in every good work that desires and endeavours to order his conversation aright in the fear of God and to keep his Conscience void of offence toward God and toward men to be conformed to the mind of God in internal as well as external holiness and righteousness he is a holy man though he may have many infirmities falling short of his duty and doing oft times that which is displeasing to God 3. If a man be sincerely diligent in using the means of Grace setting his heart to seek God in them aiming at the profiting and perfecting of himself by them and bewailing his unprofitableness and barrenness under them such a person is to be numbred among holy ones true desires of Grace and cadeavours to get Grace are a sign of the truth of Grace but where the means of Grace are slighted and neglected and God is not songht unto for Grace there is no Grace no work of Holiness yet wrought in the Soul for Grace is such a good thing such a precious thing and Holiness is so desirable so comfortable and delightful that he who hath any thing of it desires more and thinks that he can never have enough Well thus prove your real spiritual estate that hereby you may come to a knowledge of your relative estate This is the way to assurance of an interest in the Covenant of Gods love Thus much briefly touching the way to assurance the means by which it may be attained Marks of assurance Now for some marks or evidences of the assurance of Faith to shew you how it may be discerned from Presumption 1. The presuming heart is a proud heart that is lifted up in it self and makes no humble acknowledgment of the grace of God but the assured soul is humble in it self and admires the love of God toward it in Christ Jesus Ah Lord who am I that thou shouldst thus manifest thy self to me Oh what a mercy is this and what manner of love is this that thou shouldst thus embrace me in thine armes and take me into thy bosom and kiss me with the kisses of thy mouth O my God what rich grace is this that thou shouldst give me assurance of my interest in thee of my Union and Communion with thee of thine everlasting love toward me 2. The presuming soul resteth satisfied with that of God which he presumeth he hath but a true Believer earnestly longeth after a fuller enjoyment of God and