THE CHRISTIANS Great Interest Or a short TREATISE Divided into two Parts The First whereof containeth The Tryal of a Saving Interest in Christ The Second pointeth forth plainly The Way How to Attain it Wherein somewhat is likewise spoken to the manner of Express Covenanting with God By W. GVTHRIE Minister of the Gospel in SCOTLAND 2. Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure c. 2. Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates The Seventh Impression Wherein the Errata's of the former Impressions are amended and several words which sounded hard in the English rendred more clear and intelligible LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman at the King's Arms in Poultry 1681. THE Stationer TO THE READER The Epistle Commendatory from a Christian Friend giving an account of his thoughts upon perusal of This Book Christian Friend I Have sent you by the Bearer this Book which by Providence came to my hand and a Blessed Providence indeed it was to me for I hope the same mercy that brought it to my hand hath brought the savour of it to my heart Upon peruâ—al of it I find such a blessed and happy conjunction betwixt the Gifts and the Graces of the Spirit such a holy and humble Condescention to my plain capacity such a serious handling of serious truths that the language of my heart upon perusal of it was somewhat like that of the woman of Canaan Joh. 4. 29. Come see one that hath told me all that ever I did or rather all that God hath done in me and for me He that hath waded much in the waters of soul-trouble may here behold a lively description of the spirit of bondage in all its Terrours and Troubles And he who is got out of these and is sunning his soul in the light of Gods Countenance may here behold the light side of the Cloud I mean the Spirit of Adoption in all its beautiful colours The former part of this Book sets forth the soul in a storm when the Law comes thundering to the Conscience the latter leads it into a Calm of sweet peace and serenity When the Spirit of God comes to a troubled soul as the Son of God once came to the troubled Sea with A peace be still Mat. 4. 29. But if it should not be thus the Believer is here directed to be willing to want what God is not willing to give and to know he is wise to give when he will what he will and how he will I find now that peace is sown for the Righteous Psal 97. 11. but all do not reap the crop till they come into Emmanuel's land Isa 8. 8. there our joy as well as our light shall be clear and our love perfect And if there be any more concerned in this Piece than others though it deals forth its bread to all it 's young Men and young Converts the latter may here behold as in a Map or Mirrour the several Providences and various workings of the blessed Spirit that have all concurred in the bringing them home to God and may take notice of all the inducements and remora's they met with in the way That as Moses was to write a History of the Children of Israel passing through the Wilderness Numb 33. 2. so doth this Book with a holy kind of Elegancy describe the Spirits leading the soul out of its bewildered estate into the Spiritual Canaan never leaving it till it comes to the Mountain of Spices Cant. 8. 14. out of Satans gun-shot where his habitation shall be a Munition of Rocks Isa 33. 16. neither is there one path omitted so far as I could ever read or gather from my own or others experience So that it may not be unfitly termed A Spiritual day-Book of all the passages between the Spirit of God and the soul in its regeneration work Which is no loss profitable than delightful for the believer to be reading over the Records of Gods love manifested in the Gospel What care and cost he took with him to recover him out of the Gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity For tryal bringâ—â—ruth to light and those things which through many Cloudâ— intercepting may have lost their remembrance in the soul are here clearly discovered that they have been although for the present the beliâ—◠〈…〉 How is the Gold become dim How is the fine gold hanged And the looking over paâ— experienâ—â— brings a renewed favour and spiritual relliâ—â— of those things upon the heart to them who have thus tasted that the Lord is good at least supports the Soul under the want of sensible feeling whilst it calls to remembrance the days of old the years of Gods right hand But I have done and yet methinks I can never write enough of the excellency and utility of this piece The Lord make it so profitable to others as it hath been to me To his blessing I leave both you and it and remain Your true Christian Friend G. B. TO THE READER Christian Reader WHile the generality of Men especially in these days by their eager pursuit after low and base interests have proclaimed as upon the house tops how much they have forgotten to make choice of that better part which if chosen should never be taken from them I have made an Essay such as it is in the following Treatise to take thee off from this unprofitable though painful pursuit by proposing the chiefest of interests even the Christians Great Interest to be seriously pondered and constantly pursued by thee Thou mayest think it strange to see any in Print from my Pen as indeed it is a surprize to my self But necessity hath made me for this once to offer so much violence to my own inclination in regard that some without my knowledge have lately published some imperfect Notes of a few of my Sermons most confusedly together prefixing withal this vain Title as dispealsing to my self as the publishing of the thing A Clear Attractive Warming-Beam c. Vpon this occasion I was prevailed with to publish this late Piece wherein I have purposely used a most homely and plain stile lest other wayes though when I have stretched my self to the utmost I am below the Judicious and more Vnderstanding I should be above the reach of the Rude and Ignorant whose advantage I have mainly if not only consulted I have likewise studied brevity in every thing so far as I conceived it to be consistent with plainness and perspicâ—ity knowing that the persons to whom I address my self herein have neither much mony to spend upon Books nor much time to spare upon Reading If thou be a Rigid Critick I know thou mayest meet with several things to carp at yet assure thy self that I had no design to offend thee neither will thy simple approbation satisfie me It 's thy
for clearing and confirmation 1. He had some desire to see Christ and such a desire as made him wave that which some would have judged prudence and discretion whilest he climbeth up upon a tree that he might see him 2. Christ spake to his heart and that word took such hold upon him that presently with joy he did accept of Christ's offer and closed with Christ as Lord whilest few of any note were following him 3. Upon this his heart did open to the poor although it seems he was a covetous man before 4. He had a due impression of his former wayes evidencing his respect to Moses his Law and this he did signifie before all the company then present not caring to shame himself in such things as probably were not known to the World 5. Upon all these things Christ confirmeth and ratifieth the bargain by his word recommending to him that oneness of interest which behoved to be between him and the Saints and the thoughts of his own lost condition if Christ had not come and sought him and found him All which are clear Luke 19. 3 10. We grant the Lord calleth some so and if any can lay claim to the special things we have now hinted they have a good confirmation of Gods dealing with them from that Scripture Neither are they to vex themselves because of the want of a distinct preparatory Law-work if their heart have yielded unto Christ For a Law work is not desirable except for this end Therefore Christ doth offer himself directly in the Scripture and people are invited to come to him and although many will not come to him who is the surety until the spirit of bondage distress them for their debt yet if any upon the knowledge of their lost estate would flee and yield to Christ none might warrantably press a Law-work upon them As for others whom Christ perswaded by a word to follow him whatsoever he did or howsoever he spake to them at his first meeting with them we must rationally suppose that then he discovered so much of their own necessity and his own fulness and excellency to them as made them quit all and run after him And if he do so to any we crave no more since there is room enough there for the Physitian So that from all this as some may be confirmed and strengthened with whom God hath so dealt So there is no ground nor occasion for deluded souls to flatter themselves in their condition who remain ignorant and senseless of their own miseries and Christs all-sufficiency and hold fast deceit Thirdly There are some brought in to Christ in a way yet more declarative of his free grace and this is when he effectually calleth men at the hour of death We find somewhat recorded of this way in that pregnant example of the Thief on the Cross Luk. 23. 39 41. Although this seems not very pertinent for the purpose in hand yet we shall speak a little of it that on the one hand men may be sparing to judge and pass Sentence upon either themselves or others before the last breath And we shall so circumstantiate it that on the other hand none may dare to delay so great a business to the last hour of their life We find these things remarkable in that business between Christ and the Thief 1. The man falleth at odds with his former Companion 2. He dareth not speak a wrong word of God whose hand is on him but justifieth him in all that is befallen him 3. He now seeth Jesus Christ persecuted by the World without a cause and most injuriously 4. He discovereth Christ to be a Lord and a King whilst enemies seem to have him under 5. He believeth a being of glory after death so really that he preferreth a portion of it to the present safety of his bodily life which he knew Christ was able to grant to him at that time and he might have chosen that with the other Thief 6. Although he was much abased in himself and humbled that he pleaded but that Christ would remember him yet he was nobly daring to throw himself upon the Covenant on life and death and he had so much faith of Christs all-sufficiency that he judged a simple remembrance from Christ would satisfyingly do his business 7. He acquiesced sweetly in the word which Christ spake to him for the ground of his comfort All which are very clear in the case of that poor dying man and do prove a very real work of God upon his heart As this example may encourage some to wait for good from God who cannot as yet lay clear claim to any gracious work of his Spirit So we beseech all as they love their souls not to delay their soul-businesses hoping for such a cast of Christs hand in the end as too many do This being a rare miracle of mercy with the glory whereof Christ did honourably triumph over the ignominy of his cross a parallel of which we shall hardly find in all the Scripture beside yea as there be but few at all saved Mat. 20. 16. and most few saved this way So the Lord hath peremptorily threatned to laugh at the calamity and not to hear the cry of such as mocked formerly at his reproof and would not hear when he called to them Prov. 1. 24 26. which Scripture although it doth not shut mercies door upon any who at the hour of death do sincerely judge themselves and flee unto Christ as this penitent Thief did Yet it is certain it implyeth that very few who fit the offer until then are honoured with repentance as he was and so their cry as not being sincere and of the right stamp shall not be heard The fourth and most ordinary way by which many are brought in to Christ is by a clear and discernable work of the law and humiliation which we ordinarily call the spirit of bondage as was hinted before We do not mean that every one whose conscience is awakened with sin and fear of wrath doth really close with Christ the contrary doth appear in Gain Saul Judas c. But that wherein there is a conviction of sin awakening of conscience and work of humiliation which as we shall circumstantiate it doth rarely miscarry or fail of a gracious issue but ordinarily doth resolve into the spirit of adoption and a gracious work of Gods Spirit and because the Lord dealeth with many sinners this way and we find that many are much puzled about the giving judgment of this Law-work This work is either more violent and sudden or it is more sober and longer protracted through a great length of time and so as the steps of it are very discernable It is more violent in some as in the Jaylor Paul and some other converts in the book of the Acts of the Apostles on whom Christ did break in at an instant and fell on them as with Fire and Sword and led them captive terribly And because
to approve themselves unto God in all well-pleaâ—â—ngs and reach some inward testimony of sincerity that â—ay they shall not assure their hearts before him The â—â—stimony of mens conscience is their rejoycing 2 Cor. 1. 2. By this we know that we know him if we keep 〈◊〉 Commandments 1 John 2. 3. 1 John 3. 20 21. No confidence if the heart condemn This is the New Creature having a principle of new spiritual life infused by God into the heart whereby it becometh new and puteth forth acts of new life throughout the whole man as we have said so as he pointeth towards the whole Law both the commands which forbid sin so he resolveth to set against secret sins not to lay a stumbling block before the blind Lev. 19. 14. little sins which are judged so by many the least things of the Law Matth. 5. 19. spiritual sins filthiness of the spirit â— Cor. 7. 1. sins of omission as well as commission since men are to be judged by these Mat. 25. 42 43 44 yea sins that are winded into his natural humor and constitution and so are as a right eye or hand to him Matth 5. 29. This new principle of life by the good hand of God maketh the man set against every known sin so far as not to allow peaceable abode 〈◊〉 any known darkness 2 Cor. 6. 14. As also he poinâ—eth towards those commands which relate to duty anâ— the quickening of grace in man It maketh a man respecâ— all known commands Psal 110. 6. to live godly righteously and soberly Tâ—t 2. 12. yea and to study a righâ— and sincere way and manner of doing things resolving not to give over the study of conformity to Gods Will whilst he lives on earth but still to bend forwardtoward the price of the high calling of God Phil. 3. 13 14. Thâ— is true holiness very becoming all those who pretend â— be heirs of that holy habitation in the immediate company and fellowship of a holy God 1 Joh. 3. 3. Some may think these things high attainments aâ— very hard to be attained to I grant it is true But firâ—â— Remember that there is a very large allowance in thâ— Covenant promised to his people which maketh thing more easie The Lord hath engaged to take away 〈◊〉 stong heart to give a heart of flesh a new heart a heaâ— to fear him for ever he hath engaged to put his law in mens heart to put his fear in their heart to make them keep that Law to put his Spirit within them to cause them to keep it He hath promised to satisfie the Priests with fatness that the souls of the people may be satiated with goodness and to keep and water them continually every moment Ezek 26. 29. Jer. 32. 39 49. and 31. 33. Ezek. 36. 27. Jer. 31. 14. and 31. 12. Isa 27. 3. and if he must be enquired to do all these things unto men he engageth to pour out the Spirit of grace and supplication on them and so to learn them how to seek these things and how to put him to it to do all for them Zech. 12. 10. Secondly for the satisfaction of the weaker I grant this new creature as we have circumscribed and inlarged it will not be found in all the degrees of it in every gracious person But it is well if 1. There be a new man we cannot grant less If any man be in Christ there must be a new creature and that is the new man Ephes 4. 21 22 23 24. which all must put on who are savingly taught of Christ There must be some renewing after the image of God in a mans soul and body There must be somewhat of every part of the man pointing towards God although I grant every one cannot prove this to others neither discern it in himself because many know not the distinct parts of the soul nor pieces of reformation competent to every part of soul and body Yet it will be found there is some such thing in them yea they have a witness of it within them if you make the thing plain and clear to them what it is 2. There must be such a respect unto Gods known Commands that a man doth not allow peaceably any known iniquity to dwell in him for what concord is between light and darkness 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16. Psal 119. and 66. 18. he must not regard iniquity I grant men may be ignorant of many commands and many sins and may imagine in some cases that some sins are not hateful unto God But supposing that they are instructed in these things there can be no agreement between righteousness and unrighteousness 3. Men must point towards all the Law of God in their honest resolutions for this is nothing else than to give up the heart unto God to put his Law in it without exception which is a part of the Covenant we are to make with God Heb. 8. 10. I grant many know not how to point towards Gods Law in all their wayes but if it be made manifest unto them how that should be done they will point at it And it is true they will many times fail of their resolutions in their practice yet when they have failed they can say They did resolve other-wayes and will yet honestly and without guile resolve to do other wayes and it will prove their affliction to have failed of their resolution when the Lord discovereth it to them which he will in due time 4. When we are to judge of our state by the new creature we must do it at a convenient time when we are in good case at least not when we are in worst case for the flesh and spirit do Lust and Fight against other Gal. 5. 17. and sometimes the one and sometimes the other doth prevail Now I say we must chuse a convenient time when the spiritual part is not by some tentation worsted and over-powred by the flesh for in that case the new creature is recoyled back in its streams and much returned to the fountain and the habits except in some small things not easily discernable whereby it maketh opposition to the flesh according to the foresaid Scripture for now it is time of winter in the soul and we may not expect fruit yea not leaves as in some other season only here lest profane Atheists should make advantage of this we will say That the Spirit doth often prevail over the flesh in a godly man and the scope aim tenour and drift of his way is in the Law of the Lord that is his walk Psal 119. 1. whereas the path-way and ordinary course of the wicked is sin as is oft-ten hinted in the book of the Proverbs of Solomon And if it happen that a godly man be over-mastered by any transgression ordinarily it is his sad exercise and we suppose he keeps it still in dependency before God to have it rectified as David speaketh Psal 56. 13. Wilt thou not deliver my feet
a special interest in the man and also all that belongs to him There is a communion between Husband and Wife whereby they have a speciaâ— Interest in each others persons goods and concernments 〈◊〉 so is it here there is such a Communion with God He is our God and all things are ours because he is oursâ— this Communion with God all true believers have at aâ—times as we shall shew afterwards I grant there is aâ— actual improvement of that Communion whereby men dâ— boldly meddle with any thing that belongs unto God and do meddle with himself as their own with much homeliness and familiarity especially in worship when the soul doth converse with a living God partaking of the Divine Nature growing like unto him and sweetly travelling through his Attributes and with some confidence of interest viewing these things as the mans owâ— goods and gear this we call Communion with God iâ— ordinances This indeed is not ordinarily nor frequentâ—y made out to men and all his people do not equally parâ—ake of it and it is true that what is in God goeth not out for the behoof of the man to his apprehension eâ—ually at all times yet certainly Communion with God â—roperly so called viz. that commonness of interest â—etween God and a Man who is savingly in Covenant with him doth alwayes stand firm and sure and so much of Communion with God in Ordinances have all Believers as that their heart converseth with a Living God there now and then and is in some measure changâ—d into that same Image and there needeth be no doubt â—ny further about it Thirdly There is a thing which is called Fellowship â—ith God often mistaken also among believers If by â—ellowship be meant the walking in our duty as in the â—ight of a living God who seeth and heareth us and is â—imess to all our carriage It is a thing common unto â—ll gracious men they have it habitually and in design â—sal 16. 8. I have set the Lord alwayes before me yea â—nd often they have it actually in exercise when their â—pirit is in any good frame they walk as if they saw God standing by them and have some thoughts of his faâ—our through Christ Truly our fellowship is with the Faâ—er and with his Son 1 John 1. 3. If we by Fellowship do mean a sweet refreshing familiar sensible conâ—ersing with God which doth delight and refresh the â—ul beside what the conscience of duty doth It is â—hen a walking in the light of his countenance and a â—ood part of sensible presence and although it seemeth â—och had much of it whilest it is said be walked with â—od Gen. 5. 24. Yet it is not so ordinary as the former â—or so common to all Christians for here the soul is fillâ—â—as with marrow and fatness following hard after its â—ide and singularly upheld by his right hand Psal 3. 5 8. Fourthly there is a thing which is called Access uâ— to God and this I take to be the removing of obstructâ—ons out of the way between a Man and God so as the mâ— is admitted to come near We are said to have accâ— to a great person when doors are cast open guards râ—moved from about him and we admitted to come cloâ— at him so it is here Now this Access in Scripture 〈◊〉 sometimes taken for Christs preparing of the way the removing of enmity between God and Sinners so as mâ—now have a patent way to come unto God through Christ Ephes 2. 18. Sometimes it is taken for the actual improvement of that access purchased by Christ when a mâ— finds all obstructions and differences which do ordinaâ—â—ly fall in between him and God removed God is nauncouth to him nor as a stranger keeping up himseâ— from him or frowning on him but the man is admittâ— to come even unto his seat as Job 23. 3. Of the wanteâ— this doth Job complain Job 23. 8 9. whilst he saith go forward backward to the right and left hand and find him not The first sort of access is common to all Believers they are brought near by the blood of the Covenant and are no more far off as the deadly enmity between God and them is removed But access in the otheâ— sence is dispenced more according to the Lords absolueâ— soveraignty and pleasure and it is left in the power 〈◊〉 Believers to obstruct it unto themselves until it pleasâ— the Lord mercifully and freely to grant it unto them against so it is up and down and there needs be no question 〈◊〉 to mans state about it Fifthly There is a thing called Liberty before God and this properly is freedom or free speaking unto God many do much question their state because of the waâ— of this now and then since the Scripture hath said Whaâ— the Spirit is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. but they 〈◊〉 justly confine that liberty spoken of there unto this freâ— spaking before God I grant where the Spirit of the Lord doth savingly discover Gods will in the Scripture to a man There is liberty from any obligation to the Ceremonial Law and from the condemning power of the Moral Law and from much of that gross darkness and ignorance which is on natural hearts as a vail hiding Christ in the Gospel from them I grant also that sometimes even this liberty which is a free communion with God and ordering of our case before him and filling of our mouths with Arguments Job 23. 4. is granted to the godly but not as liberty taken in the former sences Although the Lord hath obliged himself to pour out the Spirit of prayer upon all the house of David in some measure Zech. 12. 10. Yet this communication of the Spirit which we call liberty or free speaking unto God dependeth much on the Lords absolute pleasure when and what measure to allow it This liberty which we call freedom or free speaking with God in prayer is sometimes much abstracted from any great confidence in the time of prayer at least until it draw towards the close of it it standeth much in a vivacity of the understanding to take up the case which a man is to speak before God so as he can order his case and next there be words or verbal expressions elegant suitable and very emphatical or powerful and pithy there is also joyned a fervency of spirit in prayer whereof the Scripture speaketh the soul is hot and bended and very intent There is also ordinarily in this liberty a special melting of the heart often joyned with a great measure of the Spirit of grace and supplication Zech. 10. 11. for so the soul in poured out before God as for a first born Such is the liberty which many Saints get before God whilst in much brekenness of heart and fervency of spirit they are admitted to speak their mind fully to God as a Living God noticing at least their Prayer Sometimes this liberty is joyned with confidence and then it is not
What is previously required of these who are to perform this duty Men must not rashly inconsiderately and ignorantly rush in upon this matter saying They will plead that device of saving sinners by Christ and will acquiesce and rest on him for safety Often men do deceive themselves here and do imagine that they have done the thing We shall therefore hold out some things pre-required in a person who is to close with Christ Jesus which although we offer not as positive qualifications fitting a man for Christ that way Isa 55. 1. yet they are such things as without them a man cannot knowingly and cordially perform the duty of believing on Christ Jesus Beside the common principles which are to be snpposed in these who live under Gospel-ordinances as The knowledge that men have immortal souls Soul and body will be united again at the last day There is a Heaven and Hell one of which will be the everlasting Lot of all men The Old and New Testament is the true Word of God and the rule of faith and manners Every man is by nature void of the grace of God and is an enemy unto God and an heir of condemnation Reconciliation is only by the Mediator Christ Jesus Faith unites unto him and is the condition of the new Covenant Holiness is the fruit of true faith and is to be studied as that without which no man shall see God I say beside these things the knowledge of which is necessary it is required of him who would believe on Christ Jesus 1. That he take to heart his natural condition And here he must know some things and also be very serious about them I say he must know some things as 1. That as he was born a Rebel and out-law unto God so he hath by many actual transgressions disoblig'd God and ratified the forfeiture of his favour yea a man should know many particular instances of his rebellion on all hands as that he is a liar sabbath-breaker blasphemer or the like as Paul speaketh very particularly of himself afterward 1. Tim. 1. 15. 2. The maâ— must know that the wrath of God denounced in Scripture is standing in force against these very sins whereof he is guilty and so consequently he is the party undoubtedly against whom God who cannot lie hath denounced war A man must know that when the Scripture saith Cursed is he that offereth a corrupt thing unto God Mal. 1. 14. it speaketh against him for his superficial service performed unto God with the outward man when his heart was far off When the word saith God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain Exod. 20. 7. the man must know it speaketh against himself who hath often carelesly profained that dreadful name before which all knees should bow Phil. 2. 10. and which his enemies do take in vain Psal 139. 20. When the Word saith Cursed is he that doth the Work of the Lâ—rd negligently Jer. 48. 10. the man must know that it speaketh against himself who hath irreverently with much wandering of heart and drowsiness heard the Word preached and without sense faith or understanding hath often prayed before him When the Word saith Wo be unto him who giveth his neighbour drink and putteth his bottle to him to make him drink also that he may look on his nakedness Hab. 2. 15. 16. the man must know that it is spoken against himself who hath gloried in making his neighbour drunk and that dreadful wrath is determined by the Lord against him according to that Scripture When the Word saith God will judge unclean persons Heb. 13. 4. and will shut them out of the 〈◊〉 Jerusalem Rev 21. 8. the man must know that the Scripture speaketh these words against him he being an unclean person so that he is the person against whom the curses of the Law do directly strike 3. A man must know that he hath nothing of his own to procure his peace and to set him free of the hazzard under which he lieth because all his righteousness in an unclean â—â—ing Isa 64. 6. his prayers his other service done to God his alms-indeed c. are not guiltless before God since they come not from a right principle in hâ—â— heart and were not performed in a right way nor upon a right account nor for a right end his Sacrifice have been an abomination unto God Prov. 21. 27. 4. He must know that as he is void of all the saving graces of the Spirit as the true love of God the true fear of his Name godly sorrow for sin c. so particularly that he wants Faith in Christ who taketh burden for all them wbo believe on him Until a man know this he will still leave all his debt and burden without care or regard at the door of Christ the common cautioner Now not only must a man know these things as I sail before but must also very seriously take them to heart that is to say he must be affected with these things and be in sad earnest about them as he useth to be in other cases wherein he useth to be most serious yea he should be more in earnest here than in other cases because 〈◊〉 is of greater concernment unto him This seriousness produceth 1. A taking of Salvation to heart more than any thing else Shall men be obliged to seek first tâ—â— Kingdom Mat. 6. 33. Is there but one thing necessary Luk. 10. 42. Shall Paul count all things loss and dung for this matter Phil. 3. 8. Is a Man a loser gaining all the World if he lose his soul Mark 8. 36. Shall this be the only ground of joy that mens names are written in the book of life Luk. 10. 26. and shall not men who would be reckoned serious take their soul and salvation more to heart than any thing else Surely it cannot fail Let none deceive themselves If the hazzard 〈◊〉 their soul and the salvation thereof and how to be iâ— favour with God hath not gone nearer to their heart thaâ— any thing in the world beside it cannot be presumed upon just grounds that they ever knew sin or the eveâ— lastingness of God or his wrath aright 2. This seriousness breaketh the mans heart and fainteth the stoutness of it and leadeth it out to sorrow as one doth for her first born Zech. 12. 10. I grant their sorrow will better suit that Scripture afterwards when they apprehend Christ pierced by their sins 3. It leadeth the man to self-loathing A man taking up himself so cannot but loath himself for his abomination whereby he hath destroyed himself There is somewhat of that spirit of revenge which is mentioned as a fruit of true repentance 1 Cor. 7. 11. 4. this seriousness doth make the man peremptory to find relief since it is not in himself he dare not put off and delay his business as before and this is indeed required that he finds himself so pursued and put to it
in whom God was well pleased Mat. 17. 5. 3. This matter is so clear and supposed to be so notorious in Scripture and so manifest to all who are under the Ordinances that the Lord doth often speak of transacting with himself not making mention of the Mediator because it is supposed that every one in the Church knoweth that now there is no dealing with God except by and through Christ Jesus the Mediator 4. Consider that Christ Jesus God-man is not only a fit meeting-place for God and men to meet into and a fit spokes-man to treat between the parties now at variance 2 Cor. 5. 19. But we may say also he is the immediate Bridegroom and so our closing or transacting with God may be justly called the marriage of the Kings Son and the elect may be called the Lambs Wife Christ Jesus being as it were the hand which God holdeth out unto men and on which they lay hold when they deal with God And so through and by Christ we close with God as our God on whom our soul doth terminate lastly and ultimately through Christ 1 Pet. 1. 21. 5. Consider that the diverse relations mentioned in Scripture are set down to signifie the sure and indissoluble union and communion between God and his people whatsoever nearness is between head and members root and branches King and Subject shepherd and flock father and children brother and sister Husband and Wife c. all is here John 17. 21. to 27. So that whatsoever be spoken in the Scripture people may be clear that God calleth them to be reconciled unto him through Christ and doth offer himself to be their God and Husband in him alone and men are to accept God to be their God in Christ pleasing that way of relief for poor man and to give up themselves unto God in Christ in whom alone they can be accepted And they who close with Christ they do close with God in him who is in Christ reconciling the world to himself 2 Cor. 5. 19. Joh. 14. 9. to 12. And we are not to dip further into the diverse relations mentioned in Scripture between God or Christ and men then as they may point out union and communion or nearness with God through Christ Jesus and our advantage thereby These things being clear we will not multiply words But since to believe on Christ is the great duty required of all that hear this Gospel we beseech every one in the Lords Name to whom the report of this shall come that without delay they take to heart their lost condition in themselves and that they lay to heart relief which God hath provided by Jesus Christ whereof he hath made a free offer unto all who will be content of the same and to be saved that way And that they lay to heart that there is no other way of escape from the wrath that is to come because of which men would be glad at the last day to run into a lake of melted Lead to be-hid from the face of the Lamb whom they do here despise we say we beseech all in the consideration of these things to work up their hearts to this business and to lay themselves open for God and to receive him through Christ in the offers of the Gospel acquiescing in him as the only desirable and satisfying good that so they may secure themselves go speedily and search for his offers of peace and salvation in the Scripture and work up your heart and soul to close with them and with Christ in them and with God in Christ And do it so as you may have this to say that you were serious and in earnest and cordial here as ever you were in any thing to your apprehension and for ought you know Christ is the choice of your heart at least you neither know nor allow any thing to the contrary Whereupon your heart doth appeal unto God to search and try if there be ought amiss to rectifie it and lead unto the right way Now this cleaving of the heart unto him and casting it self upon him to be saved in his way is believing which doth indeed secure a man from the wrath that is to come because now he hath received Christ and believeth on him and so shall not enter into condemnation as saith the Scripture Object When I hear what it is to believe on Christ Jesus I think sometimes I have faith For I dare say to my apprehension the invention of saving sinners by Christ Jesus pleaseth me my heart goeth out after him and doth determinate upon him as a satisfying treasure and I am glad to accept God to be my God in him But I often do question if ever I have done so and so am for most part kept hesitating and doubting if I do believe or be savingly in Covenant with God Answ It is ordinary for many whose hearts are gone out after Christ in the Gospel and have received him to bring the same in question again Therefore I shall advise one thing as a notable help to fix the soul in the maintaining faith and an interest in God and that is that men not only close heartily with God in Christ as is said but also they expresly explicitely by word of mouth and viva voce And formally close with Christ Jesus and accept Gods offer of salvation through him and so make a Covenant with God And this by Gods blessing may contribute not a little for establishing them about their saving interest in God Before I speak directly to this express Covenanting with God I premise these few things 1. I do not here intend a covenanting with God essentially differing from the Covenant between God and the visible Church as the Lord doth hold it out in his revealed Will. Neither do I intend a Covenant differing essentially from that transacting of the heart with God in Christ formerly spoken unto It is that same Covenant only it differeth by a singular circumstance viz. the formal expression of the thing which the heart did before practise 2. I grant this express covenanting and transacting with God is not absolutely necessary for a mans salvation For if any person close heartily and sincerely with God offering himself in Christ in the Gospel his soul and state is thereby secured according to the Scripture although he utter not words with his mouth But this express verbal covenanting with God is very expedient for the better being of a mans state and his more comfortable maintaining of an interest in Christ Jesus 3. This express covenanting with God is very expedient for the better being of a mans state and his more comfortable maintaining of an interest in Christ Jesus 3. This express covenanting with God by word of mouth is of no worth without sincere heart-closing with God in Christ joyned with it For without that it is but a prophaning of the Lords Name and a mocking of him to his face so to draw near unto him with
The whole Treatise resumed in a few Questions and Answers Quest WHat is the great business a man hath to do in the World Answ To make sure a Saving Interest in Christ Jesus and to walk suitably thereunto Quest 2. Have not all the members of the visible Church a Saving Interest in Christ Answ No verily yea but a very few of them have it Quest 3. How shall I know if I have a Saving Interest in him Answ Ordinarily the Lord prepareth his own way in the Soul by a work of Humiliation and discovereth a mans sin and misery to him and exerciseth him so therewith that he longs for the Physitian Christ Jesus Quest 4. How shall I know if I have got a competent discovery of my sin and misery Answ A competent sight of it maketh a man take Salvation to heart above any thing in this World It maketh him disclaim all relief in himself even in his best things It maketh Christ who is the Redeemer very precious to the soul It maketh a man stand in awe to sin afterwards Maketh him content to be saved upon any terms God pleaseth Quest 5. What other way may I discâ—rn a Saving Interest in him Answ By the going out of my heart seriously and affectionately towards him as he is held out in the Gospel And this is faith or believing Quest 6. How shall I know if my heart goeth out after him aright and that my faith is true Saving Faith Answ Whère the heart goeth out aright after him in true and saving Faith the soul pleaseth Christ alone above all things and pleaseth him in all his three Offices to rule and instruct as well as to save And is content to cleave unto him whatsoever inconvenience may follow Quest 7. What other mark of a Saving Interest in Christ can you give to me Answ He that is in Christ savingly is a new Creature he is graciously changed and renewed in some measure in the whole man and in all his wayes pointing towards all the known commands of God Quest 8. What if I find sin now and then prevailing over me Answ Although every sin deserveth everlasting vengeance Yet if you be afflicted for your failings confess them with shame of face unto God resolving to strive against them honestly henceforth and flee unto Christ for pardon you obtain mercy and your interest stands sure Quest 9. What shall the man do who cannot lay claim to Christ Jesus nor any of these marks spoken of Answ Let him not take rest until he make sure unto himself a Saving Interest in Christ Quest 10. What way can a man make sure an interest in Christ who never had a saving interest in him hitherto Answ He must take his sins to heart and his great hazzard thereby and he must take to heart Gods offer of pardon and peace through Christ Jesus and hearâ—ily close with Gods offer by betaking himself unto Christ the blessed refuge Quest 11. What if my sins be singularly heinous and great beyond ordinary Answ Whatsoever thy sins be if thou wilt close with Christ Jesus by faith thou shalt never enter into condemnation Quest 12. Is faith in Christ only required of me Answ Faith is the only condition upon which God doth offer peace and pardon unto men But be assured Faith if it be true and saving will not be alone in the Soul but will be attended with true repentance and a thankful study of conformity to Gods Image Quest 13. How shall I be sure that my heart doth accept of Gods Offer and doth close with Christ Jesus Answ Go make a Covenant expresly and by word speak the thing unto God Quest 14. What way shall I do that Answ Set apart some bit of time and having considered your own lost estate and the relief offered by Christ Jesus work up your heart to please and close with that offer and say unto God expresly that you do accept of that offer and of him to be your God in Christ and do give up your self to him to be saved in his way without reservation or exception in any case and that you henceforth will wait for salvation in the way he hath appointed Quest 15. What if I break unto Gâ—d afterwards Answ You must resolve on his strength not to break and watch over your own way and put your heart in his hands to keep it And if you break you must confess it unto God and judge your self for it and flee to the Advocate for pardon and resolve to do no more so and this you must do as often as you fail Quest 16. How shall I come to full assurance of my interest in Christ so as it may be above controversie Answ Learn to lay your weight upon the blood of Christ and study purity and holiness in all manner of conversation and pray for the witness of Gods Spirit to joyn with the blood and the water and his Testimony added unto these will establish you in the faith of and Interest in Christ Quest 17. What is the consequence of such closing with God in Christ by heart and mouth Answ Union and communion with God All good here and his blessed fellowship in Heaven for ever afterwards Quest 18. What if I slight all these things and not lay them to heart to put them in practice Answ The Lord cometh with his Angels in flaming fire to render vengeance to them who obey not this Gospel And thy judgment shall be greater than the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah and so much the greater that thou hast read this Treatise for it shall be a witness against thee in that day FINIS A Catalogue of Books Printed for and sold by Dorman Newman at the Sign of the Kings Arms in the Poultry CHoice and Practical Expositions on the Ten Commandments preached by James Durham late Minister in Glasgow A Golden Key to open hidden Treasure or several great points which refer to the Saints present blessedness and their future happiness With the resolution of several Important questions the Active and Passive obedience of Christ Vindicated and Improved two serious and singular pleas which all sincere Christians may safely make to all those ten Scriptures which speak of the General and particular Judgment that must certainly pass on all c. The 1st and 2d part by Tho. Brooks late preacher of the Gospel at St. Margaret new Fish-street A Collection of Sermons preached at the Morning Lecture in Southwark and else-where By Nicholas Blakie The Morning seeker shewing the benefit of being good betimes with directions to make sure work about early Religion by John Ryther The Interest of Reason in Religion with the Import and use of Scripture Metaphors and the matter of union between Christ and believers with reflections on several late writings especially Mr. Sherlocks discourse concerning the knowledge of Christ modestly enquired into and stated by James Ferguson The Works of Mr. James Janeway containing these six following Treatises Heaven upon Earth or the best friend in the worst of times Death unstung A Sermon preached at the Funeral of Tho. Mosely an Apothecary with a Narrative of his life and death also the manner of Gods dealing with him before and after his conversion A Sermon preached at the Funeral of Tho. Savage Invisible realities demonstrated in the Holy life and Triumphant death of Mr. John Janeway His Legacy to his friends containing 27 famous Instances of Gods providences in and about Sea dangers and deliverances with a Sermon on that subject Life in Gods favour a seasonable discourse in Death-threatning times being the substance of Sundry Sermons on Psalm 30. 5. In his favour is life By O. Haywood Minister of the Gospel A call to prayer in two Sermons on that subject lately preached to a Country Auditory with an account of the Principles and Practices of the Quakers in matter of prayer subjoyned wherein is shewed that the Quaker's religion is much wanting in prayer and they themselves grosly guilty in not calling upon God and of Fathering much impiety on the Spirit of God alleadging him in defence of their prayer-less cause Quakerism Subverted being a further discovery and confutation of the Gross Errours of the Quakers Published and maintained by Will. Penn and others of that sect A warning to Souls to beware of Quakers and Quakerism by occasion of a late dispute at Early in Cheshire all three written by John Cheyney Minister of the Gospel Gospel remission or a Treatise shewing that true blessedness consists in Pardon of sin wherein is discovered the many gospel-Mysteries therein contained the glorious effects proceeding from it great mistakes made about it the true Signs and Symptoms of it Way and means to obtain it by Jeremiah Burrough A Protestants resolution shewing his reasons why he will not be a Papist digested into so plain a method of Question and answer that an ordinaay Capacity may be able to defend the Protestant Religion against the most Cunning Jesuite or popish Priest Mr. Wadsworth's Legacy being his serious exhortation to an holy Life Or a plea for the absolute necessity of Inherent righteousness in those that hope to be saved The triumphs of Gods revenge against the crying and Execrable sin of murther expressed in 30. several Tragical Histories to which is added Gods revenge against the abominable sin of Adultery A Token for children being an exact account of the Conversion Holy and exemplary lives and joyful deaths of several young Children in 2 parts by James Janeway minister of the Gospel FINIS Express transacting with God
edification I intend together with the incitement of some others more expert and experienced in this Excellent Subject to handle the same at greater length which I have more briefly hinted at who am Thy Servant in the Word of the Gospel W. Guthery The Tryal of a Saving Interest in CHRIST SInce there be so many people living under the Ordinances pretending without ground to a special interest in Christ and to his favour and salvation as is clear Mat. 7. 22 23. 25. 11 12. Luke 13. 24. And since many who have good ground of claim to Christ are not established in the confidence of his favour but remain in the dark without comfort hesitating concerning the reality of godliness in themselves and speaking a little to the commendation of Religion to others especially in the time of their straits I shall speak a little to two things of greatest concernment The one is How a person shall know if he hath a true and special interest in Christ and whether he doth lay just claim to Gods favour and salvation The other is In case a person fall short in the foresaid tryal what course he shall take for making sure Gods friendship and salvation to himself Quest 1. How shall a man know if he hath a true and special interest in Christ and whether he hath or may lay â—laim justly to Gods favour and salvation Answer Before we speak directly to the Question 〈◊〉 shall premise some things to make way for the Anâ—wer As First That a mans interest in Christ or gracius state may be known and that with more certainty than people do conjecture yea and the knowledg of it may be more easily attained unto than many do imagine For not only hath the Lord commanded men to know their interest in him as a thing attainable 2. Cor. 13. 5. 2 Pet. 1. 10. But many of the Saints have attained unto the clear perswasion of their interest in Christ and in God as their own God How often do they call him their God and their portion and how perswaded is Paul that nothing can seperate him from the love of God Rom. 8. 38 39. Therefore the knowledg of a mans gracious state is attainable and this knowledge of it which may be attained is no fancy and bare conceit but it is most sure Doubtless thou art our Father saith the Prophet in name of the Church Isa 23. 16. It is clear thus 1. That can be no fancy but a very sure knowledg which doth yeild to a rational man comfort in most real straits But so doth this 1. Sam. 30. 6. when the people spake of stoning David he encouraged himself in the Lord his God Psal 3. 6. he saith there he will not be afraid of ten thousand that rise against him Compare these words with ver 3. of that Psalm Psal 27. 1 3. Although an host encamp against him he is confident in this 2. That is a sure knowledg of a thing which maketh a wise Merchant sell all he hath that he may keep it sure that maketh a man forgo children lands life and suffer the spoyling of all joyfully But so doth this Mat. 13. 44. Mar. 1â— 28 29 Heb. 10. 34. Rom. 5. Act. 5. 41. 13 That must be a sure and certain knowledg and no fancy whereupon a man voluntarily and freely doth adventure his soul when he is stepping into eternity with this word in his mouth This is all my desire But such a knowledge is 2 Sam. 25. 5. And again Not only may a godly man come to the sure knowledge of his gracious state but it is more easily attainable than many do apprehend for supposing what shall be afterwards proved that a man may know the gracious work of Gods Spirit in himself if he will but argue rationally from thence he shall be forced to conclude his interest in Christ unless he deny clear Scripture truths I shall only make use of one here because we are to speak more directly to this afterwards A godly man may argue thus whosoever receive Christ are justly reputed the Children of God John 1. 12. But I have received Christ all the wayes which the Word there can import for I am well pleased with the device or way of salvation by Christ I agree to the terms I welcom the offer of Christ in all his offices as a King to rule over me as a Priest to offer and intercede for me as a Prophet to teach me I lay out my heart for Him and towards Him resting on Him as I am able what else can be meant by the word receiving Therefore may I say and conclude plainly and warrantably I am justly to reckon my self Gods child according to the aforesaid Scripture which cannot fail The second thing to be premised is That a man be savingly in Covenant with God is a matter of highest importance it is his life Deut. 32. 47. and yet very few have or seek after a saving interest in the Covenant and many foolishly think they have such a thing without any solid ground Mat. 7. 14. few find or walk in the narrow way This should alarm people to be serious about the matter since it is of so great consequence to be in Christ and since there be but few that may lay just claim to him and yet many do foolishly fancy an interest in him who are deceived by a false confidence as the foolish Virgins do Mat. 25. The third thing to be premised is Men must resolve to be determined by Scripture in this matter of their interest in Christ The Spirit speaking in the Scripture is judge of all Controversies Isa 8. 20. To the law and the Prophets and it speak not according to these there is no truth in it and of this also whether a man be savingly in Covenant with God or not Therefore do not mock God whilst you seem to search after such a thing If we prove from Scripture which is the uncontroverted rule that you are gracious and have stricken Covenant savingly with God then resolve to grant so much as to acquiesce in it and if the contrary appear let there be a determination of the controversie else you do but mock the Lord and so your bonds shall be made strong Isa 28. 22. for a jot of his Word cannot fail Mat. 5. 18. Therefore seek eye salve from Christ to judge of things according as the word of God shall discover them to be The fourth thing to be premised is although the matter of a mans interest in Christ be of so great importance and the way to attain to the knowledge of it so plainly held forth in the Scriptures yet there be but few who reach the distinct knowledge of it And that this may not discourage any person from attempting it I shall hint some few reasons why so few come to the clear knowledge of it which will also prepare the way for what is to be spoken afterwards The first thing which doth
hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ is their ignorance of some special principles of Religion as 1. That it was free love in Gods bosome and nothing in man that moved him to send a Saviour to perfect the work of Redemption Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he sent c. Men are still seeking some ground for that business in themselves which leads away from suitable and high apprehensions of the first spring and rise of Gods Covenant-favour to his people which hath no reason cause or motive in us and so they cannot come to the knowledg of their interest 2. They are ignorant how that love doth effectually discover it self to a mans heart so as he hath ground to lay claim to it viz. That ordinarily it doth first discover his broken state in himself because of sin and corruption defiling the whole man and any thing in him that might be called a righteousness all these things are loss and dung Phil. 3. 6 7 Secondly It discovereth Christ as the full and satisfying treasure above all things The man finds a treasure for which with joy he selleth all c. Mat. 13. 44 46. Thirdly it determineth the heart and causeth it to approach unto a living God in the ordinances Psal 65. 4. and causeth the heart to wait upon him and him alone 62. 5. My soul wait thou only upon God Thus having dropped in the seed of God in the heart and formed Christ there Gal. 4. 19. The heart is changed and made new in the aforesaid work Ezek. 36. 26. and Gods Law is so stamped upon the heart in that change Jer. 31. 33. that the whole yoak of Christ is commended to the man without exception Rom. 7. 12. 16. The Law is acknowledged good holy just and spiritual upon all which from that new principle of life there flow out acts of a new life Gal. 5. 6. Faith worketh by love Rom. 6. 18 22. and the man becometh a servant of righteousness and unto God which doth especially appear in the spirituality of worship Joh. 4. 24. Rom. 7. 6. men then serve God in spirit and truth and in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter and tenderness in all manner of conversation The man then exerciseth himself how to keep a conscience void of offence c. Acts 24. 16. Now this way doth the love God discover it self unto man and acteth on him so as he hath ground of laying some good claim to it so as he may justly think that the love which sent a Saviour had respect to such a man as hath found these things made out unto him Surely Ignorance of this doth hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ for if a man know not how God worketh with a person so as he may justly lay claim to his love which was from eternity he will wander in the dark and not come to the knowledge of an interest in him 3. Many are also ignorant of this That God alone is the hope of his people he is called the hope of Israel Jer. 14. 8. Although inherent quallifications are evidences of it yet the staying of the heart upon him as a full blessing and satisfying portion is faith 1 Pet. 1. 21. the faith and hope must be in God and the only proper condition which giveth right to the saving blessings of the Covenant Rom. 4. 5. To him that worketh not but believeth faith is imputed for righteousness Indeed if any person take liberty here and turn grace into wantonness there is without doubt in so far a delusion since there is mercy with him upon condition that it conciliate fear to him Psal 130. 14. Yea hardly can any man who hath found the foresaid expressions of Gods love made out upon him make a cloak of the Covenant for sinful liberty without some measure of a spiritual conflict In this respect he that is born of God doth not sin and he who doth so sin hath not seen God 1 Joh. 3. 6 9. I say God is the hope of his people and not their own holiness If they intend honestly and long seriously to be like unto him many failings should not weaken their hope and confidence for it is in him who changeth not Mal. 3. 6. And if any man sinneth he hath an Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. Now when men place their hope in any other thing beside the Lord it is no wonder they be kept in a staggering condition according to the changes of the thing which they make the ground of their hope since they give not to God the Glory due to his Name and which he will not give unto another compare Psal 9. 10. They who know thy Name will put their trust in thee with Isa 42. 9. My glory will I not give to another I am the Lord that is my Name 4. Many are ignorant of the different wayes and degrees of Gods working with his people and it doth much darken their knowledge and reflex acts of their interest in him This ignorance doth run mainly on three heads 1. They are ignorant of the different degrees and ways of that Law-work which ordinarily dealeth with men and of the different way how the Lord bringeth home people at first to Christ They consider not that the Jaylor is not kept an hour in bondage Acts 16. Paul is kept in suspence three days Acts 9. Zacheus not one moment Luke 19. 2. They are ignorant of or at least do not consider how different the degrees of Sanctification are in the Saints and the honourable appearings thereof before men in some and the sad blemishing thereof in others Some are very blameless and more free of gross outbreakings adorning their profession much as Job Job 1. and Zachariah Luke 1. Those are said to be perfect walking in all the Commandements of God Others were subject to very gross and sad evils as Solomon Asa c. 3. They are ignorant of the different communications of Gods face and expression of his presence Some do walk much in the Light of Gods countenance and are much in sensible fellowship with Him as David was others are all their days kept in bondage through â—ear of death Heb. 2. 25. Surely the ignorance of the different ways of God's working and dealing with his people doth very much darken the knowledge of their Interest in him whilst they usually stint the Lord to one way of working which he doth not keep as we have shewed in the former examples The second thing which doth darken men about their interest in Christ is There is one thing or other wherein their heart in some respect doth condemn them as dealing deceitfully and guilefully with God It is not to be expected that these can come to clearness about their interest whose heart doth condemn them for keeping up some known transgression against the Lord which they will not let go neither are using the means which
cases Psal 9. 6. Psal 42. 5. Psal 4. 2. 5. It is observable here that sometimes the man will halt and be silent to hear some indistinct whispering of a joyful sound glancing on the mind or some news in some broken word of Scripture which it may be the man scarcely knoweth to be Scripture or whether it is come from God or Satan to delude him yet this he hath resolved only to hear what God the Lord will speak as upon another occasion Psal 85. 8. 6. More distinct promises comes into the mans mind whereupon he assayeth to lay hold but is beaten off with objections as in another case the Psalmist is Psal 20. 3. 6. But thou art holy But I am a Worm Now it is about the dawning of the day with the man and Faith will stir as soon as the Lord imparteth the joyful sound Psal 89. 15. This is the substance of the Covenant which may be shortly summed up in these words Christ Jesns is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him We can speak no further of the mans exercise as a preparatory work for what followeth is more than preparatory Yet that the exercise may appear compleat and full we shall add here That after all these things the Lord it may be after many answers of divers sorts mightily conveyeth the sound of his Covenant to the heart and determineth the heart to close with it and God now draweth him so to Christ Joh. 6. 44. and so shapeth out the heart for him that the conception cannot miscarry for now the heart is so in breadth and length for him as that less cannot satisfie and more is not desired like that of Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee or whom have I desired on earth besides thee The soul now resolveth to die if he command so yet at his door and facing to him-wards We have drawn this preparatory work to some length not tying any man to such a work so circumstantiate only we say the Lord dealeth so with some and where he so convinceth of sin corruption and self emptiness and maketh a man take salvation to heart as the one thing necessary and sets him on work in the use of the means which God hath appointed for relief I say such a work rarely shall be found to fail of a good issue and gracious result Object Hypocrites and reprobates have great stirrings of Conscience and deep convictions about sin setting them on work sometimes and I do suspect any preparatory work of the Law I ever had to be but such as they have Answ It will be heard to give sure essential differences between the preparatory work in those in whom afterwards Christ is formed and those legal stirrings which are sometimes in Reprobates If there were not some gracious result of these convictions and wakenings of conscience in the Lords people and other marks of which we shall speak afterwards it were hard to adventure upon any difference that is clear in these legal stirrings Yet for answer to the Objection I shall offer some things which rarely will be found in the stirring of reprobates and which are ordinarily found in that Law-work which hath a gracious issue 1. The convictions of hypocrites and reprobates are usually confined to some few very gross transgressions Saul grants no more but the persecuting of David 1 Sam. 26. 21. Judas grants only the betraying of innocent blood Mat. 27. 4. But usually these convictions by which the Lord prepareth his own way in the soul although they may begin at one or more gross particular transgressions yet they rest not there but the man is led on to see many breaches of the Law and innumerable evils compassing him as David speaketh in the sight of his sin Psal 40. 12. and withal that universal conviction if I may call it so is not general as usually we hear senseless men saying that in all things they sin But it is particular and condescending as Paul afterwards spake of himself he not only is the chief of sinners but particularly he was a blasphemer a persecuter 1 Tim. 1. 13. 2. The convictions which Hypocrites have do seldom reach thier Corruption and that body of death which breeds an averseness from what is good and strongly inclineth to what is evil Ordinarily where we find Hypocrites speaking of themselves in Scripture they speak loftily and with some self conceit both as to their freedom from corruption Joh. 9. 34. The Pharisees say to the poor man Thou wast altogether born in sins and dost thou teach us as if they themselves were not as corrupt by nature as he They speak of great sins as Hazael did 2 Kings 8. 13. Am I a Dog that I should do this great thing And also in their undertakings of duty as that man spake Mat. 8. 19. I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest See how the people do speak Jer. 42. 2. to 7. They undertake to do all that God will command them so that they still go about in any case to establish their own righteousness not submitting unto the righteousness of God But I may say that convictions and exercise about corruption and that body of death inclining to evil and disenabling for good is not the leasâ— part of the work where the Lord is preparing his own way They use to judge themselves very wretched because of a body of sin and are at their wits end how to be delivered as Paul speaketh when he is under the exercise of it afterwards Rom. 7. 19. 3. It will ordinarily be found that the convictions which are in hypocrites either are not so serious as that some other business will not putâ— them out of head before any satisfaction be gotten as in Cain who went and built a City and we hear no more oâ— his Convictions Gen. 4. Felix went away until a morâ— convenient time and we hear no more of his trembling Actâ— 24. 25. Or if that work become very serious then iâ— runneth to the other extremity and despair of relief leaving no room for any escape So we find Judas very serious in his Convictions yet he grew desperate and hanged himself Mat. 27. 4 5. But where the Lord prepareth his own way the work is both so serious as the person cannot be put off it until he find some satisfaction and yet under that very seriousness he lyeth open for relief both which are clear in the Gaolers words What shall I do to be saved Acts 16. 30. This serious enquiry after Relief is a very observable thing in the preparatory work which leadeth on to Christ yet we desire none to lay too much weight on these things since God hath allowed clearer differences between the precious and the vile Object I still fear I have not had so through a sight of my sin and misery as the Lord giveth to many whom he effectually calleth especially to great Transgressors such as I am Answ It is true
overcometh but perseverance is not the condition of the New Covenant but doth suppose it There are promises made to the exercises of all Graces in Scripture but only faith is the condition of the Covenant I say then these promises are made to these actings of Faith not as such but as they do suppose Justifying faith which is the condition of the Covenant All these are actings of faith but not as it is justifying Therefore 5. There is somewhat common to all gracious persons which may be supposed by all the foresaid actings of faith wherein the nature and essence of justifying faith standeth and this is the hearts satisfaction about Gods contrivance of Salvation by Christ when man pleadeth Gods invention of satisfaction to justice through Jesus Christ in whom all fulness doth dwell now by the Fathers pleasure when the soul and heart of man acquiesceth in that then it believeth unto Salvation As at first the Lord made man suitable to the Covenant of Works by creating him perfect and so putting him in a capacity to perform his Will in that Covenant So under the New Covenant when God giveth the new heart to man he sets the Idea and stamp of all his device in the New Covenant upon the man so as there is a consonancy to Gods will there Thus he beareth the image of the second 〈◊〉 Christ Jesus on him This is a great part of the new heart and is most opposed to works since now the man absolutely falleth off from works becoming 〈…〉 as to the point of justificatim 〈…〉 a Rom. 7. 4. Man perceiving 〈…〉 way of satisfying Divine 〈…〉 by the incarnation of 〈…〉 sure a way that he absolute 〈…〉 I said before and closeth with this contrivementâ— and this is believing or faith very opposite to works and all resting thereupon this cannot fail to be in all gracious persons in whom many of the actions of faith are not to be found This doth clearly suppose known distress in a man without all relief in himself this supposeth known fulness in Christ as the alone sufficient relief this imports a sort of impropriation for the heart pleasing that contrivement it so far swayeth towards it This is a thing clearly supposed in all the actings of faith spoken of before He that greedily hungereth hath this and he that leaneth hath this and he that putteth on Christ hath this c. This is to esteem Christ the wisdom and power of God to Salvation So is he said to be all that believe 1 Cor. 1. 24. They esteem that contrivance wise and sure beseeming God and that is to believe On this account Christ who is the rejected stone to many is precious to them who believe a fit stone to recover fortify and beautify the tottering building and fabrick of lâ—st man 1 Pet. 1. The Kingdom of God is like a man finding a treasure for which with joy he selleth all Mat. 13. 44. These words hold out the very way of believing viz. Salvation is discovered in the Gospel to be by Christ the heart vallueth that invention as satisfying This is to believe on the Son of God lifted up which is compared to the looking up to the brazen Serpent John 3. 14. It was mans approbation of that device which made it effectual for his healing So is it here He that believeth setteth to his seal that God is true True wherein In that record he hath born That God hath provided life for men and placed it all in Christ 1. Joh. 5. 10. 11. He that believeth not maketh God a lyer Where In his saying that Christ is a safe and sure way to Heaven This is well pleased with and acquiescing in that devise and it is consonant to all I know spoken of Justifying Faith in Scripture This is in the believing on Christ and on his Name the receiving of him and resting on him for Salvation in our Catechism The believing that Jesus is the Christ that is the Anointed one whom the father hath sealed and set apart and qualified for the work of reconciling man unto God and he that believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God 1. Joh. 5. 1. This is to believe with the heart that God hath raised Christ from the dead The man believeth Christ died and is raised on the account of satisfaction for mans transgression Devils may believe that Nay but the man I speak of believeth it with his heart which no natural man doth untill a new heart be given unto him that is he cordially pleadeth is satisfied with and acquiesceth in this noble invention And thus faith layeth out it self now and then in its actings out-goings and excrcise according to all the Covenant relations under which Christ is held forth in the Scripture Now I say This faith is discernable not only in these actings many times a man may know if his heart doth hunger after Christ and flee for refuge to him when pursued and if he doth commit himself unto God c. but also in its very nature as it is justifying it is discernable and may be known A man may clearly know if from known disâ—â—ess in himself upon the report and fame of Christs fulness his heart is well pleased with Gods contrivement in the new Covenant if it goeth out after Christ in that invention and pleadeth him a Lord of the life of men terminating and resting there and no where else acquiescing in that contrivement with desire and complacency This is a discernable thing Therefore I beseech men impartially to examine themselves and if they find that their heart hath closed so with that invention of salvation and is gone out after him as precious that thereupon they would conclude a sure and true interest in Christ Jesus and a good claim and title to the crown since he that helieveth shall never perish but have everlasting life John 3. 16. 36. Object Hypocrites and Reprobates have a sort of faith and are said to believe Joh. 2. 23. Acts 3. 13. and cannot choose but go out after Christ and that invention of Salvation when they hear of it and they profess they do so yet are deluded and so may I be Answ To say nothing of that thought of your heart whereby you wonder that any man should not please the contrivement of salvation by Christ and lead out towards him as a very promising thing and speaking out justifying faith to be in your bosom and to say nothing in contradiction to that which you think That a natural man whilst such and before he get a new heart can please that contrivement and believe with his heart and affectionately that which perfectly overthroweth the Covenant of works and abaseth man in the point of self-righteousness already attained or that can be won at by him which is inconsistent with many Scriptural truths I offer these differences between the faith of all Hypocrites or reprobates and that true saving justifying faith whereof we have spoken 1.
They never close with Jesus Christ in that contrivement and him alone as a sufficient covering of the eyes as is said of Abraham to Sarah Gen. 20. 16. They still hold fast somewhat of their own at least to help to procure Gods favour and salvation Their heart doth still speak as that young mans speech Luke 18 18 21. doth insinuate What want I that I may inherit life Beside that they do still retain their former lovers and will not break their Covenants with Hell and Death imagining they may have Christ with these things equally sharing in their heart contrary to that A man cannot serve two Masters Mat. 6. 24. Either Christ must be judged absolute Lord and worthy to be so or nothing at all And so it is clear their heart is not shapen out for that way of salvation by Christ whom God hath alone made Lord here in whom all fulness shall dwell But where justifying faith is the soul of a man and his heart doth close with Christ and him alone having no confidence in the flesh Phil. 3. 3. Psal 62. 5. he trusteth only in God As also the man here giveth up with other lovers as they stand in competition with Christ they resolve not to be for another Hos 3. 3. They call him Lord which a man can only do by the Spirit of Christ 1. Cor. 12. 3. 2. As Hypocrites and Reprobates do never close with Christ alone so they do never close with full Christ as he is annointed to be a King to rule over a man in all things a Priest to procure pardon and to make peace for man upon all occasions a Prophet to be wisdom and a Teacher and Counsellor in all cases to man So they do not receive Christ especially in the first and third offices But where true justifying faith is a man closeth with whole Christ in all his offices judging all his will good holy just and spiritual Rom. 7. 12. and right concerning all things Psalm 119. 128. making mention of his righteousness only Psal 71 16. The man also giveth up himself to be taught of him Mat. 11. 29. So that Christ is made to the true believer with his own consent wisdom righteousness sanctification and compleat redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. And although he hath not all these things formally in exercise when his heart goeth out after Christ yet upon search and tryal it will be found with him as I have said 3. Hypocrites and Reprobates do never close with Christ and all the inconveniencies may follow him they stick at that with that man Mat. 8. 19. 20. But where true justifying saith is a man doth close with him on all hazards he resolveth to forego all rather than to forego Christ Mar. 10. 28. he reckoneth all to be loss and dung for the excellency of Christ Jesus as his Lord and to be found in him Phil. 3. 8. We might give other differences also as that true faith is operative purifying the heart Acts 15. 9. working by love Gal. 5. 44. Whilst Hypocrites do only cleanse the outside of the platter Mat. 23. 25. and do all to be seen of men Mat 6. 5. not seeking the honour that is of God only and so cannot believe John 5. 6. We might also shew that true faith is never alone in a man but attended with other saving graces But because these things will co-incide with what followeth and here we are shewing that a man may take up his gracious state by his faith and the actings thereof on Christ we pass these things The second great mark of a gracious state and true saving interest in Jesus Christ is the new creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature That new creation or renovation of that man is a very sensible change although not in those who are effectually called from the womb or in their younger years because those have had this new creature from that time in them so as this charge in after period of time is not discernable yet in those who have been regenerated and brought unto Christ after they were come to greater age and so have been more palpably unde the power of darkness before they were translated into the Kingdom of Christ Col. 1. 13. But in all who do warrantably pretend to Christ this new creature must be although some do not know experimentally the contraries of every part of it so as others do because they have not been equally in regard of practice under the power of darkness This new creature is called the new man Gal. 3. 10. which doth hold out the extent of it It is not simply a new tongue or a new hand but a new man There is a principle of new life and motion put in the man which is the new heart which new principle of life sendeth forth acts of life or of conformity to the image of him who created it Col. 3. 10. So as the party is renewed in some measure every way This renovation of the man who is in Christ may be reduced to these two great heads First There is a renovation of the mans person soul and body in some measure 1. His understanding is renewed so as he judgeth Christ Preached in the Gospel to be the wisdom and power of God a wise strong contrivement beseeming God 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. He knoweth the things of God really and solidly not to be yea and nay and uncertain fancies but all to be yea and amen solid certain substantial things having a desirable accomplishment in Christ and resolving much in him 1 Cor. 2. 15. 2 Cor. 1. 18. Natural men educated under Gospel ordinances although they have some notional knowledge of God Christ Promises the motions of the holy Spirit c. so as they may Confer Preach and dispute of these things yet they look on them as common received Maxims of Christianity from which to recede were a singularity and disgrace but not as real solid substantial truths so as to adventure their Souls and Everlasting being on them The understanding is renewed also to take up somewhat of God in the creatures as bearing sparks of his glorious attributeâ— Psal 10. 1. They see the Heavens declaring his Glory and Power and somewhat of God in providence anâ— dispensations that fall out His wondrous works declaring that his Name is near Psal 75. 1. The understanding also taketh up the conditions and cases of the soul otherwise than it was wont to do As we find the Saintâ— usually speaking in Scripture O my Soul thou hast saiâ— unto the Lord c. Psal 16. 2. My Soul said thy facâ— will I seek Pral 26. 8. Why art thou cast down O my Soul Psal 42. 5. Psal 43. 5. Return unto thy rest O my soul Psal 116. 7. 2. The heart and affections are renewed The heart is made a new heart a hearâ— of flesh capable of impressions having a copy of his law stamped on it and
infallible Word of God far beyond all other arguments can be used for it The second Operation is A Glorious beam of Light from the Spirit shining upon the second proposiâ—â—n and so upon his own graces in the Soul discovering them to be true graces and such as the Scripture calleth so Thus are we said to know by his Spirit the things freely given to us of God 1 Cor. 2. 13. The third Operation is in order to the third proposition of the Argument or the Conclusion and this I conceive to be nothing else but an influence upon Faith strengthning it to draw a conclusion of full assurance upon the foresaid premises Now with submission unto others who have greater light in the Scripture and more experience of these precious communications I do conceive the Witness of the Spirit or witness of it which is mentioned Rom. 8. 16. is not that first operation upon the first proposition for that operation is that testimony of the Spirit by which he beareth witness to the Divinity of the whole Scripture and asserteth the Divine authority of it unto the souls of gracious men and such an operation may be upon a truth of Scripture which doth not relate to a mans sonship or interest in Christ at all The Spirit may so shine upon any truth relating to duty or any other fundamental truth perswading the Divinity of it upon and unto the soul and speaking nothing relating to a mans interest in Christ Neither is the third operation of the Spirit by which he makes faith boldly draw the conclusion this witnessing of the Spirit for that operation is nothing else but influence upon faith bringing it out to full assurance but that whereupon this full assurance is drawn or put out is somewhat deponed and witnessed already Therefore I conceive the second operation of the Spirit upon the second proposition and so upon the graces in the man is that witness of Gods Spirit that â—eaâ— of divine light shining upon those graces whereby they are made very conspicuous to the understanding That is the witness the shining so on them in his witnessing For only here in this proposition and in this operation doth the Spirit of God prove a co-witness with our spirit For the main thing wherein the witness of our spirit lyeth is the second proposition and so the Spirit of God witnessing with our spirits is also in that same proposition So these two witnesses having deponed and witnessed one and the same thing viz. The truth and reality of such and such graces in the man which our own spirit or conscience doth depone according to its knowledge and the Spirit of the Lord doth certainly affirm and witness to be so There is a sentence drawn forth and a conclusion of the mans sonship by the mans faith breathed upon by the spirit for that effect and this conclusion beareth the full assurance of a mans sonship It may be presumed that some true Saints do not partake of this all their dayes as Heb. 2. 15. Tenthly I speak with the experience of many 〈◊〉 and I hope according to Scripture If I say there is a communication of the Spirit of God which is let out to some of his people sometimes it is somewhat beside if not beyond that witnessing of a sonship spoken of before It is a glorious divine manifestation of God unto the soul shedding abroad Gods love in the heart It is a thing better felt than spoken of It is no audible voice but it is a glance of glory filling the soul with God as he is life light love and liberty countervailing that audible voice O man greatly beloved Dan. 9. 22 33. putting a man in a transport with this on his heart It is good to be here as Mat. 17. 4. It is that which went out from Christ to Mary when He but mentioned her name John 20. 16. he had spoken some words to her before and she understood not that it was he But when he uttered this one word MARY there was some admirable divine conveyance and manifestation made out unto her heart by which she was so satisfyingly filled that there was no place for arguing and disputing whether or not that was Christ and if she had any interest in him That manifestation made faith to it self and did purchase credit and trust to it self and was equivalent with Tâ—us saith the Lord. This is such a glance of glory that it may in the highest sence be called the earnest or first fruits of the inheritance For it is a felt armful of the Holy God almost wholly conforming the man unto his likeness so swallowing him up that he forgetteth all things except the present manifestation O how glorious is this manifestation of the Spirit Faith here riseth to so full an assurance that it resolveth wholly into sensible embracements of God This is the thing which doth best deserve the title of sensible presence And it is like is not given unto all Believers some whereof are all their dayes under bondage and in fear Heb. 2. 15. But here love almost perfect casteth out fear This is so absolutely let out upon the Masters pleasure and so transient and passing or quickly gone when it is that no man may bring his gracious state upon debate for want of it Eleventhly There is a thing we call Peace about which many do vex themselves This Peace is either about a mans state that he is reconciled unto God by Jesus Christ or it is about his present case and condition that he is walking so as approved of God at least so far as there is no quarrel or controversie between God and him threatning a stroke Both of these are either such in the court of Scripture and consequently in Gods account or in the court of a mans own conscience Peace about a mans state as being in Christ is sure in the court of Scripture and of Heaven when a man doth by Faith close with Christ and the New Covenant Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God It Being sure and solid in the court of Scripture it should hold sure in the court of mans conscience it being rightly informed for in that case it still speaks according to Scripture but because often the conscience is misinformed or in the dark therefore there is often peace about a mans state according to Scripture whilst his conscience doth threaten the contrary and doth still condemn and refuseth to assoil the man as being reconciled unto God through Christ In this case the conscience must be informed and the mans gracious state made out by the marks of grace as we shewed before and here the witness of my own spirit will do much to allay the cry of the conscience and if the Spirit of the Lord joyn his witness and testimony the conscience is perfectly satisfied and proclaimeth peace to the man The other peace about a mans present case or condition viz. That it is
lay aside all thoughts of saving themselves by the Covenant of Works or inherent righteousness and will agree heartily to be saved by Christ Jesus they shall be restored to a better condition than formerly man was in and shall be saved So then to close with Gods device of saving sinners by Christ Jesus is to quit and forego all thoughts of help or salvation by our own Righteousness and to agree unto this way which God hath found out It is to value and highly esteem of Christ Jesus as the treasure sufficient to enrich poor man and with the heart to believe this record That there is life enough in him for men It is to plead this invention and to acquiesce in it as the only way to true happiness It is to point towards this Mediator as God holdeth him out in the Gospel with desire to lay the stress of our whole estate on him This is that which is called Faith or Believing the receiving of Christ or believing on his Name John 1. 12. This is that believing on the Name of the Lord Jesus commanded unto the Jaylor for his safety Acts 10. 31. This agreeth to all the descriptions of justifying faith in the Scripture this doth answer the type of looking to the Brazen Serpent lifted up in the Wilderness John 3. 14 15. and this is supposed in all these ordinary actings of Faith to which promises are annexed in the Scripture and will be found in all who have got the new heart from God and it will be found in none else As to the Second thing viz. That this is the necessary duty of all such who would be in favour with God and secure their Souls It appeareth thus 1. This closing with Gods contrivance or believing in Christ is commanded every where in Scripture by the Lord as the condition of the new Covenant giving title and right unto all the spiritual blessings of the same for it is upon the matter the receiving of Christ This is commanded whilst God bids men come and buy that is impropiate all by closing with that contrivement Isa 55. 1. the weary are commanded to come uuto him thus for their rest Mat. 11. 28. This is his commandment that we believe on the name of his Son 1. John 3. 23. this is enough to prove it a duty incumbent But further it is such a duty as only giveth title and right to a Sonship for only they who receive him are priviledged to be Sons John 1. 12. To as many as received him to them he gave power to be the sons of God even to such as believed on his name 2. It appeareth to be the necessary duty of all thus No less than this doth give a meeting unto God offering himself to be our God in Christ and no less than this doth answer our profession as we are in Covenant with him as Members of his visible Church The Lord offereth to be our God in Christ if we do not close with the offer in laying aside all thoughts of other ways by which we may attain to happiness we give no meeting to him he saith This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. 5. If we close not with the offer we give no answer unto God Moreover we are all baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of Sins Acts 2. 38. Now unless we close with Christ as is said we falsifie that profession therefore since this is the thing which doth answer Gods offer in the Gospel and make good our profession as members of his Church it is a necessary duty lying upon us 3. Whatsoever a man hath else if he do not thus close with Gods Invention about Christ Jesus and do not receive him it doth not avail either as to the accepting of his person or of his performances or as to the saving of his soul Men are accepted only in Christ the beloved Eph. 1. 6. Abel and his offering are accepted by faith Heb. 11. 4. Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. and He that believeth not is condemned already and shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 18. 36. for want of this no external title doth avail the Children of the Kingdom are cast out if this be wanting Mat. 8. 10 11 12. The people of Israel are like other Heathens in regard of a graceless state lying open to the wrath of God Jer. 9. 25 26. If men do not believe that he who was slain at Jerusalem who was called Christ Jesus and witnessed unto by the Prophets and declared to be the Son of God by many mighty works I say if men do not believe that he is the way and close not with him as the only way they shall dye in their sins John 8. 24. We say then it is a most necessary duty thus to close with Christ Jesus as the blessed relief appointed for sinners every one who is come to years of understanding and heareth this Gospel is obliged to take to heart his own lost condition and Gods gracious offer of peace and salvation throngh Christ Jesus and speedily to fly from the wrath to come by accepting and closing with this offer heartily acquiescing therein as a satisfying way for saving of poor Sinners And that all may be the more encouraged to set about this duty when they hear him praying them to be reconciled unto them let them remember that peace and salvation is offered to the people in universal terms to all without exception If any man will he shall be welcome Rev. 22. 17. If any thirst although after that which will never profit yet they shall be welcome here on the condition aforesaid Isa 55. 2 3. all are commanded to believe 1 John 3. 23. The promises are to all who are externally called by the Gospel God excludes none if they do not exclude themselves Acts 2. 39. so that if any have a mind for the thing they may come forward he will in no wise cast them out John 6. 37. being able to save to the utmost them who come to God through him Heb. 7. 25. And these who have long delayed to take this matter to heart had now the more need to look to it lest what belongs to their peace be hid from their Eyes but all these words will not take effect with people until God pour out his Spirit from on high Isa 32. 15. to cause men to approach unto God in Christ yet we must still press mens duty upon them and beseech and charge them by the appearing of the Lord Iesus Christ and their reckoning to him in that day that they give the Lord no rest until he send out that Spirit which he will give to them who ask it Luke 11. 13. and cause them to know what belongs unto their peace and bring them up to their duty We come now to speak of the Third thing viz.
to make up that sin 5. If thou wouldest be above the reach of that sin and secure against it for ever then go work upon thy heart to plead salvation by Christ Jesus and to close with God in him acquiescing in him as the sufficient ransome and rest as we have been pressing before and yield to him to be saved in his way Do this in good earnest and thou shalt be for ever put out of the reach of that ugly thing wherewith Satan doth affright so many poor seekers of God Object Although I be not excluded from the benefit of the New Covenant yet it is not in my power to believe on Christ For Faith is the gift of God and above the strength of flesh and blood Answ It is true that saving Faith by which alone a man can heartily close with God in Christ is above our power and is the gift of God as we said before in the premises Yet remember 1. The Lord hath left it as a Duty upon all who hear this Gospel cordially by faith to close with his offer of salvation through Christ as is clear in the Scripture And you must know that although it be not in our power to perform that duty of our selves yet the Lord may justly condemn for not performing of it and we are inexcusable because at first he made men perfectly able to do whatsoever he should command 2. The Lord commanding this thing which is above our power willeth us to be sensible of our inability to do the thing and would have us putting on him to work it in us He hath promised to give the new heart and he hath not excluded any from the benefit of that promise 3. The Lord useth by these Commands and Invitations and mens meditation on the same and their supplication about the thing to convey power unto the soul to perform the duty Therefore for answer to the objection I do beseech thee in the Lords Name to lay to heart these his Commandments and Promises and meditate on them and upon that blessed business of the New Covenant and pray unto God as you can over them for he will be enquired to do these things Ezek. 36. 37. and lay thy cold heart to that device of God exprest in the Scriptures and unto Christ Jesus who is given for a Covenant to the People and look to him for life and quickening Go and essay to plead that salvation in the way God doth offer it and to close with and rest on Christ for it as if all were in thy power yet looking to him for the thing as knowing that it must come from him And if thou do so he who meets these who remember him in his wayes Isa 65. 5. will not be wanting on his part and thou shalt not have ground to say that thou moved towards the thing until thou could do no more for want of strength and so left it at Gods door It shall not fail on his part if thou have a mind for the business Yea I may say if by all thou hast ever heard of that matter thy heat loveth it and desireth to be in hands with it thou hast it already performed within thee so that difficulty is past before thou wast aware of it Object Many who have closed with Christ Jesus as is said are still complaining of their leanness and fruitlesness which maketh my heart lay the less weight on that duty of believing Answ If you be convinced that it is a duty to believe on Christ as is said yo may not shift it under any pretence As for these complaints of some who have looked after him not admitting every one to be judge of his own fruit I say 1. Many by their jealousies of Gods love and by their mis-belief after they have so closed with God do obstruct many precious communications which otherwise would be let out to them Mat. 13. 58. 2. It cannot be that any whose heart is gone out after Christ have found him a wilderness 2. 31. surely they find somewhat in their spirit swaying them towards God in these two great things viz. how to be found in him in that day Phil. 3. 8 9. and how to be forth-coming to his praise in the Land of the Living Psal 119. 17. and 56. 13. they find these two things aloft in the soul and that is much Moreover they shall after search if they judge aright find ever since an emptiness in the Creatures which abundance of the Creature cannot fill up all is vanity Only God can fill the empty room in their heart and when he but breatheth a little there is no room for additional comfort from creatures This saith that God hath captivated the man and hath fixed that saving principle in the understanding and heart who is God but the Lord Worship him all ye Gods Psal 97. 7. Yea further these whose heart hath closed with God in Christ as is said will not deny that there have been seasonable preventings and quickenings now and then when the soul was like to fail Psal 21. 3. 94. 18 19. therefore let none say that there is no fruit following and let none shift their duty upon the unjust and groundless complaints of others Object Although I judge it my duty to close with Gods device in the Covenant I am in the dark how to manage that duty for sometimes God doth offer to be our God without any mention of Christ and sometimes saith that he will betruth us unto him And in other places of Scripture we are called to come to Christ and he is the Bridegroom Again God sometimes speaketh of himself as a Father to men sometimes as a Husband Christ is sometimes called the Husband and sometimes a Brother which relations seem inconsistent and do much put me in the dark how to apprehend God when my heart would agree with him and close with him Answ It may be very well said that men do come to God or close with him and yet they come to Christ and close with him They may be said to come under a marriage relation unto God and unto Christ also who is Husband Father Brother c. to them and there is no such mystery here as some do conceive For the better understanding of it consider these few things 1. Although God made man perfect at the beginning and put him in some capacity of transacting with him immediately Eccles 7. 29. Gen. 2. 16 17. Yet man by his fall did put himself at a perfect distance from God and in an utter incapacity to bargain or deal any more with him immediately 2. The Lord did after Adams fall make manifest the new covenant in which he did signifie that he was content to transact with man again in and through a Mediatour and so did appoint men to come to him through Christ Heb. 7. 25. and to look for acceptation only in him Ephes 1. 6. ordaining men to hear Christ He being the only party
the lips whilst the heart is far away from him 5. I grant both cordial and verbal transacting with God will not make out a mans gracious estate unto him so as to put and keep it above controversie without joynt witness of the Spirit by which we know what is freely given unto us of God yet this explicite way of transacting with God joyned with that heart-closing with him in Christ contributes much for clearing up unto a man that there is a fixed bargain between God and him and will do much to ward off him many groundless jealousies and objections of an unstable mind and heart which useth affrontedly to deny this hour what it did really act and perform the former hour This explicite covenanting is an Instrument taken of what past between God and the soul and so hath its own vantage for strengthening of Faith As for this express covenant we shall 1. Shew that is a very warrantable practice 2. We shall shew shortly what is preparatorily required of those who do so transact with God 3. How men shall go about that duty 4. What should follow thereupon As to the first I say it is a warrantable practice and in incumbent duty expâ—â—â—ly and by word to covenant with God which appeareth thus 1. In many places of Scripture if we look to what they may bear according to their scope and the analogy of Faith God hath commanded it and left it on people as a duty Isa 44. 5. One shall say I am the Lords Isa 45. 24. Surely shall one say In the Lord have I righteousness and strength Jer. 31. 4. Wilt thou cry unto me My father thou art the guide of my youth Zech. 13. 9. They shall say The Lord is my God Hos 2. 16. Thou shalt call me Ishi and in many places elsewhere Now since God hath so clearly left it on men in the matter of the word they may be perswaded that it is a practice warranted and allowed by him and well-pleasing unto him 2. Arg. It is the approved practice of the Saints in Scripture thus expresly to covenant with God and they have found much quiet in that duty afterwards David did often expresly say unto God that he was his God his portion and that himself was his servant Thomas will put his interest out of question with it Joh. 20. 28. Yea I say the Saints are much quieted in remembrance of what hath past that way between God and them Psal 73. 25. Psal 142. 5. we find it often in the Book of the Canticles Now shall the chief Worthies of God be so much in a duty breeding so much quiet and satisfaction to them in many cases and shall we be under the New Testament unto whom access is ministred abundantly and who partake of the sap of the Olive shall we I say lie behind in this approved piece of freedom with God Since we study to imitate that cloud of witnesses in other things as faith zeal patience c. let us all imitate them in this 3. Arg. The thing about which we move here is a matter of the greatest concernmen 〈◊〉 all the World It is the life of our Soul Deut. 32. 47. Oh shall men study to be express explicite plain and peremptory in all their other great businesses because they are such and shall they not much more be peremptory and express in this which doth most concern them I wonder that many not only do not speak it with their mouth but that they do not swear and subcribe it with their hand and do not every thing for securing of God to themselves in Christ and themselves unto God which the Scripture doth warrant Isa 44. 5. This also may have its own weight as an argument to press this way of covenanting with God The business of interest in Christ and of real and honest transacting with him is a thing which in experience of Saints is most frequently brought upon debate and in question Therefore men had need all the ways they can even by thought word and deed to put it to a point This also may have place here for pressing this as a duty that God is so formal express distinct and legal to say so in all the business of mans salvation viz. Christ must be a near kinsman to whom the right of redemption doth belong he must be chosen called authorized and sent Covenants formally draw between the Father and him the Father accepting payment and satisfaction giving formal discharges all done clearly and expresly Shall the Lord be so express plain and peremptory in every part of the business and shall our part of it rest in a confused thought and we be as dumb beasts before him If it were a marriage between man and wife it would not be judged enough although there were consent in heart given by the woman and known to the man if she did never express so much by word being in a capacity to do so Now this Covenant between God and man is held out in Scripture as a marriage between man and wife Hos. 19. 20. 2 Cor. 2. The whole Song of Soloman speaketh it The Lord useth similitudes to signifie unto us what he intends and surely this is a special requisite in Marriage that the wife give an express and explicite consent unto the business The man saith so I take thee to be my lawful wife and do oblige my self to be a dutiful husband The woman is obliged on the other Part to express her consent and to say Even so I take thee to be my lawful husband and do promise duty and subjection It is so here The Lord saith I betroth thee unto me in faithfulness and thou shalt call me Ishi my husband Hosea 2. I will be for thee as a head and husband if thou wilt not be for another Hosea 3. the man ought to answer and say Amen So be it Thou shalt be my God my head and Lord and I shall and will be thine and not for another Cant. 6. 3. And so this making of this Covenant with God is called a giving of the hand to him as the word is 2 Chron. 30. 8. which doth hint a very express formal explicite and positive bargaining with God So then we conclude it to be an incumbent duty and a very approved practice necessary for the quieting of a mans mind and his more comfortable being in Covenant with God and more fully answering Gods condescendence and offer in that great and primary promise I will be your God and ye shall be my people Not only may and should people thus expresly close with God in Christ for fixing their heart but they may upon some occasions renew this verbal transacting with God especially when through tentations they are made to question if ever they have really and sincerely closed Covenant with God as they are to put out new acts of faith embracing Christ as the desirable portion and measure and also upon other occasions so were
it expedient especially if there remain any doubt about the thing that by viva voce and express word they determine that controversie and say of the Lord and to him that he is their refuge and portion Psalm 91. 2. Psalm 142. We find the Saints doing so and we may imitate them especially 1. In the time of great back-sliding people were wont to renew the Covenant with God and we should do so also Our heart should go after Christ in the promises of reconciliation with God for he is our peace upon all occasions and our Advocate and we are bound to apprehend him so when we transgress 1 Joh. 2. 1. and to express so much by word as Saints did in their formal renewing of the Covenant 2. When people are in hazzard then it were good that they should send out their heart after him and express their adhering unto him for securing their own heart We find Joshua doing so when he was to settle in the land of Canaan in the midst of snares Joshua 24. so David doth in his straits Psal 57. 1. 3. When men apprehend God to be at a distance from them and their Soul be under withering and decay then it is safest heartily to close with Christ and embrace him by faith for securing of the Soul and it were good to put it out of question by the expressing of the thing This is the ready way to draw sap from Christ the root for recovering of the Soul and for establishing the heart before him The Spouse in the Song of Soloman doth so thus asserting her interest in him when in such a condition Professing and avouching him to be hér beloved Cant. 5. 4. At the celebration of the Lords Supper men should thus cordially close with God in Christ and speak and express so much For that is a feast of Love And then and there we come under a solemn profession of closing with God in Christ personally and openly and do receive the seal of it it is therefore beseeming at that time to bring up both heart and tongue to second and answer our profession apprehending God to be our God and resigning over our selves to be his and at his disposing We shall not confine the Lords people to times and season of this duty The Lord may bind it upon them at his pleasure Only there is hazzard that by too frequent express covenanting with God men turn too formal in it Therefore it is not so fit that people should cordially at full length renew that explicite transacting with God but rather to declare unto God that they adhere unto the Covenant made with him and that they do maintain and will never revoke nor recal the same and withal they may hint the sum of it in laying claim unto God in Christ as their own God and this they may do often even in all their addresses to God and probably this is the thing designed by the Saints in their so ordinary practice in the Scripture whilst they assert their interest in God as their God and portion And it is fit that men in all their walk hold their heart at the business by heart-cleaving to God in Christ The life we live in the flesh should be by faith in the Son of God Gal. 2. 20. As to the second thing viz. what is preparatorily required of him who is expresly to transact with God Here besides what we spake before as previous to a mans closing with Christ Jesus we only add 1. That he that would explicitly bargain with God must know that to do so is warranted and allowed by God as we shewed before If this be wanting a man cannot do it in faith and so it will be sin unto him Rom. 14. 23. 2. The man must labour to bring up his heart to the thing that it do not belye the tongue It will be a great mocking of God so to draw near him with the lips whilst the heart is far off from him Isa 29. 13. The third thing to be considered in this express verbal covenanting with God is the way how it is to be performed and managed And beside what was said before in heart-closing with Christ I add here 1. The man should do it confidently not only believing that he is about his duty when he doth it But also that God in Christ Jesus will accept his poor imperfect way of doing this duty he do accept a man according to what he hath if there be a willing mind 2 Cor. 8. 12. a mite is accepted since it is all the poor womans substance Mat. 12. 44. yea if it can be attained the man should believe that the issue and consequence of this transacting shall prove comfortable and all shall be well and that God who engageth for all in the Covenant since he hath determined the man to this happy choice will in some measure make him forth-coming and will perfect what concerns him Faithful is he who hath promised who will also do it 1. Thess 5. 24. If this confidence be wanting the matter will be done with much fear and jealousie if not worse and will still prove a disquieting business to the man 2. It should be done holily It is called the Holy Covenant Luke 1. 72. The holy things of David Acts 13. 34. Here it were fitting that what is done in this express transacting with God should not be done passingly and on the by but in some special addresses unto God the thing should be spoken unto the Lord Psal 142 5. It is beseeming in so great a business that a piece of time were set apart for confessing and supplication before God yea also the person so transacting with God should labour to have high apprehensions of Gods greatness and soveraignty 2. Sam. 7. 22. although he thus humble himself to behold things in Heaven and Earth and these high and holy thoughts of him will and should be attended with debasing and humbling thoughts of self although admitted to this high dignity 2 Sam. 7. 18. It is no small thing to be allyed unto and with the great God of Heaven and his Son Christ as David speaketh when King Saul did offer his Daughter unto him 1 Sam. 18. 22. Yea further there should be special guarding and watching that the heart keep spiritual transacting with God there is great reason for this holy way of performing the duty For men are ready to forget themselves and to shape the Lord according to their own fancy and to turn carnal in the business since it is a marriage transaction held out in all the ordinary expressions of love as in the Song of Soloman Isa 62. 5. Zeph. 3. 17. The fourth thing we shall speak a word unto is what should follow upon this express verbal Covenanting with God I say beside that union and communion with God in Christ following upon believing if a man explicitly by word transact with God 1. He should thenceforth be singularly careful to abide close by
God in all manner of conversations For if a man thenceforth do any thing unsuitable he doth falsifie his word before God which will stick much in his Conscience and prove a snare If a man henceforth forget God and take on him to dispose of himself since he is not his own and hath opened his mouth unto the Lord he makes enquiry after vows and devoureth that which is holy Prov. 20. 25. 2. He who transacteth with God should hold stedfast that determination and conclusion it is a shame for a man whose heart hath closed with God and whose mouth hath ratified and confirmed it solemnly before him to contradict himself again and to admit any thing to the contrary he ought boldly to maintain the thing against all deadly Then let me beseech you who desire to be established in the matter of your interest in God that with all conveniency you set apart a piece of time for Prayer before God and labouring to work up your heart to seriousness affection and the faith of the duty to make a Covenant and to transact with God by express words after this manner O Lord I am a lost and broken Creature by Nature and by innumerable actual transgressions which I do confess particularly before thee this day And although being born within the visible Christ I was from the womb in Covenant with thee and had the same sealed unto me in bapsïsin Yet for a long time I have lived without God in the world senseless and ignorant of my Obligation by vertue of that Covenant Thou hast at length discovered unto me and bound upon my heart my miserable state in my self and hast made manifest unto my heart the satisfying relief thou hast provided by Christ Jesus offering the same freely unto me upon condition that I would accept of the same and would close with thee as my God in Christ warranting and commanding me upon my utmost peril to accept of this offer and to flee unto Christ Jesus Yea to my apprehension now thou hast Soveraignly determined my heart and shaped it for Christ Jesus leading it out after him in the offer of the Gospel causing me to approach unto the living God to close so with him and to acquiesce in his offer without any known guile And that I may come up to that establishment of Spirit in this matter which should be to my comfort and the praise of thy glorious Grace Therefore I am here this day to put this matter out of question by express words before thee according to thy will And now I unworthy as I am do declare that I believe that Christ Jesus who was slain at Jerusalem was the Son of God and the Saviour of the World I do believe that record that there is life eternal for men in him and in him only I do this day in my heart plead and acquiesce in that device of saving sinners by him and do interest my soul unto him I do accept of reconciliation with God through him and do close with thee as my God in him I chuse him in all that he is and all that may follow him and do resign up my self and what I am or have unto thee desiring to be divorced from every thing hateful unto thee and that without exception or reservation of any thing consistent with my knowledge or intended reversion Here I give the hand to thee and do take all things about me witnesses that I whatever I be or have hitherto been do accept so Gods offer of peace through Christ and do make a sure Covenant with thee this day never to be reversed hoping that thou wilt make all things forth-coming both on thy part and mine seriously begging as I desire to be saved that my corruptions may be subdued and my Neck brought unto thy sweet yoke in all things and my heart made chearfully to acquiesce in whatsoever thou dost unto me or with me in order to these ends Now glory be unto thee O Father who devised such a Salvation and gave the Son to accomplish it Glory be to Christ Jesus who at so dear a rate did purchase the out-letting of that love from the Fathers bosome and through whom alone this access is granted and in whom I am reconciled unto God and honourably united unto him and am no more an Enemy or Stranger Glory be to the Holy Ghost who did alarm me when I was destroying my self and who did not only convince me of my hazzard but did also open my eyes to behold the relief provided in Christ yea and did perswade and determine my wild heart to fall in love with Christ as the enriching treasure and this day doth teach me how to Covenant with God and how to impropriate to my self all the sure Mercies of David and blessings of Abraham and to secure to my self the favour and friendship of God for ever Now with my soul heart head and whole man as I can I do acquiesce in my choice this day henceforth resolving not to be my own but thine And that the care of whatsoever concerns me shall be on thee as my Head and Lord protesting humbly that failings on my part against which I resolve thou knowest shall not make void this Covenant for so hast thou said which I intend not to abuse but so much the more to cleave close unto thee and I must have liberty to renew ratifie and draw extracts of this transaction as often as shall be found needful Now I know thy consent to this bargain stands recorded in Scripture so as I need no new signification of it and I having accepted of thy offer upon thy own terms will henceforth wait for what is good and for thy salvation in the end As thou art faithful pardon what is amiss in my way of doing the thing and aceept me in my sweet Lord Jesus in whom I only desire pardon And in testimony hereof I set to my Seal that God is True and in declaring him a competent Saviour Let People Covenant with God in fewer or more words as the Lord shall dispose them for we intend no Platform of words for any person Only it were fitting that men should before the Lord acknowledge their lost state in themselves and the relief that is by Christ and that they do declare that they accept of the same as it is offered in the Gospel and do thankfully rest satisfied with it intrusting themselves henceforth wholly unto God to be saved in his way for which they according to his faithfulness If men would heartily and sincerely do this it might heartily through the Lords blessing help to establish them against many fears and jealousies And they might date some good thing from this day and hour which might prove comfortable unto them when they fall in the dark afterwards and even when many failings do stare them in the face perhaps at the hour of death 2 Sam. 23. 5. It is much if a man can appeal unto God and
say Thou knowest there was a day and an hour when in such a place I did accept of peace through Christ and did deliver up my heart to thee to write on it thy whole Law without exception heaven and earth are witnesses of it Remember thy word unto thy Servant on which thou causedst me to hope Object I dare not adventure to speak such words unto God because I find not my heart coming up full length in Affection and Seriousness So I should but lye unto God in transacting so with him Answ It is to be regreted that mens heart doth not with much bended sail of Desire and Affection embrace and welcome that blessed offer and portion Yet for answer to the objection remember 1. That those to whom the Lord giveth the new heart forming Christ in them the whole heart is not renewed There is Flesh and Spirit lusting against each other the one contrary unto the other so as a man can neither do the good or evil he would do with full bended sail Gal. 5. 17. It is well if there be a good part of the heart going out after Christ desiring to close with him on his own terms 2. That there is often a rational love in the heart unto Christ Jesus expressing it self by a respect to his Commandments 1. John 5. 3. when there is not a sensible prevailing love which maketh the soul sick Cant. 2. 5. Men must not alwayes expect to find this I say then although some what in your heart draw back yet if you can say you are convinced of your broken state without him you want a righteousness to cover your guilt and you want strength to stand out against sin or to do what is pleasing before God You also see fulness in him in both these respects You dare say somewhat within your heart would be fain at him upon his own terms and would have both Righteousness for Justification and strength in order to Sanctification and what is within you contradicting this is your burden in some measure and your bondage If it be so your heart is brought up to a tolerable length Go on to the business and determine the matter by covenanting with God and say with your mouth that you have both Righteousness and Strength in God as he hath sworn you shall do Isa 45. 24. It is approved Divinity to say unto God I believe when much mis-belief is in me and the heart divided in the case Mark 9. 24. Withal shew unto God how matters are in your heart that so you may be without guile before him concealing nothing from him and put your heart that is in his hand to write his Law on it according to the Covenant For that is the thing he seeketh of men that they deliver up their heart to him that he may stamp it with his whole Will without exception And if you can heartily consent unto that judging Christs blood a sufficient ransome and satisfaction for Mans Trangression You may go and expresly strike Covenant with God for your Heart and Affection is ready engaged Object I dare not so Covenant with God lest I break to him Yea I perswade my self if such a tentation did offer so and so circumstantiate I should fall before it and succumb Therefore to transact so with God whilse I foresee such a thing were but to aggvedge my condemnation Answ 1. You have already entred Covenant with God as you are a member of his visible Church And what is now prest upon you is but that you more heartily sincerely particularly and more expresly covenant and transact with him You are already obliged heartily to close with God in Christ And if you do it in heart I hope the hazzard is no greater by saying that you do so or have done so 2. What will you do if you shift hearty transacting with God in Christ and do not accept his peace as it is offered You have not a second of it in the World Either you must do this or perish for ever And if you do it with your heart you may also say it with your tongue 3. If people may scare at Covenanting with God because they will afterwards Transgress then not one man should Covenant with God for surely every one will transgress afterwards if they live any length of time after the transaction And we know no way like this to secure men from falling For if you Covenant honestly with him engageth beside the new heart to put his fear and Law therein To give his Spirit to cause you to walk in his way And when you Covenant with God you deliver up your self unto him to be sanctified and made conform to his will It is rather a giving up of your self to be led in his way in all things and kept from every evil way than any formal engagement on your part to keep his way and to hold off from evil So that you need not scare at the Covenant the Language whereof is Wilt thou not be made clean Jer. 13. 27. And all that shun to strike Covenant with God do thereby declare that they desire not to be made clean 4. As it is hard for any to say confidently they will transgress if such a tentation did offer so and so circumstantiate because men may think that either God will keep a tentation out of their way or not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able to bear or give to them a way of escape Psal 46. 1. 1 Cor. 10. 13. So the question is not What I may do afterwards but what I now resolve to do If my heart charge me presently with any deceit or resolution to transgress I must lay aside that deceit before I transact with God But if my heart charge me with no such purpose yea I dare say I resolve against every transgression And although I think I shall fall before such and such a tentation yet that thought floweth not from any allowed and approved resolution to do so But from knowledge of my own corruption and of what I have done to provoke God to desert me But the Lord knows I resolve not to Transgress nor do I approve any secret inclination of my heart to such a sin but would reckon it my singular mercy to be kept from sin in such a case And I judge my self a wretched man because of such a boby of death within me which doth threaten to make me transgress In that case I say my heart doth not condemn me therefore I may and ought to have confidence before God 1 Joh. 3. 21. If this be the case I say to thee although thou shouldest afterwards fail many wayes and so perhaps draw upon thy self sad temporal strokes thereby And lose for a season many expressions of his Love yet there is an Advocate with the Father to plead thy pardon 1 John 2. 1. Who hath satisfied for our breaches Isa 53. 5 6. and for his sake God resolveth to hold fast