our works in us and for us Isa 26.12 The property of true Repentance is not only to drop a tear for sin or to lament a little whilst the Soul is under some apprehensions of future Judgement and then in a short time to turn again to folly but it immediately buds and brings forth fruit and so continues to the end Now humility grows on the same Tree which before was heavy laden with Pride now there is Love Meekness Charity exerting and puting forth their several fruits where formerly there was nothing but Envy Hatred Impatiency 1 Cor. 7.11 and Uncharitableness Now the Soul doth not only hate fear and forsake sin but it is constant in bringing forth fruit of obedience to all the known Precepts of God and Christ Jesus Psal 34.14 It departs from sin and doeth good and it seeks peace all the ways that tends to peace 3dly This Repentance may be known by the effects of it in the soul it hath various influences upon the heart and conscience 1. It works a deadly hatred and enmity in the Soul to sin both internal and external sin in it self and in the being of it as well as in the practise of it Rom. 7.15 For what I would that do I not but what I hate that I do here the Apostle had a Combat and was sometimes overcome to do that which he would not but yet he hated it with his whole Soul for he had tasted of the bitterness of sin and therefore could have no Love or likeing for it Psal 119.4 saith the holy prophet I hate every false way and vers 113. I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I Love This goodman had sometime been tutored in the School of repentance and had learned the Lesson of the Rod by which he was Lashed for his transgressions he felt the smart of it and Learned the cause which was Sin and Iniquity therefore now he abhors and detests every vain way therefore you may make tryal by this whether your repentance hath been true for as it is in nature we are apt to hate those things we are sensible have prejudiced or pained us so the Soul cannot but hate Sin which it now finds and is sensible that it is wronged by it Pro. 8.26 2ly A timidity and fearfulness of falling into Sin any more or to be insnared by the devices of Satan This effect Godly sorrow and repentance had upon the Corinthians 2 Cor. 7.11 For behold this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a Godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you what indignation yea what fear The Soul now is so fearful of Sin when grace is active that it is afraid to look upon temptations therefore it crys out with David Turn away mine Eyes from beholding vanity When the Soul hath been scorched with a sence of Gods wrath and displeasure for Sins and Iniquitys perpetrated and committed against him it is made afraid of Sin when before like the silly Child it could play with the fire of Sin till it had burned it self and brought griefs and wounds upon the Soul the Soul is so terrified at the sight of Sin that it flys from the very appearance of Evil 1 Thes 5.2 3ly It works a watchfulness in the Soul against all Sin for the future 2 Cor. 7.11 For behold this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a Godly Sorrow what carefulness it wrought in you The word signifies a careful Studiousness with great intensness of mind O how careful and watchful is the Soul now Magna animi intentio desiderium Phil. Mel. lest it be caught in the Devils Trap again it is very mindful of that duty Christ injoyned his disciples to be found in Mat. 13.33 Take ye heâ—d watch and pray vers 37. what I say unto you I say unto all Watch. The true repentant lays a charge and command upon every faculty of the Soul and every member of the Body to stand upon their particular guard because of the Enemys continual assaults 4ly Fixed resolusions and covenanting with God to keep his Law in violably as far forth as the Soul is assisted by the blessed spirit David saith I have sworn and I will perform it Ezra 9.4 5 6. to 15. that I will keep thy righteous judgments in the 9. Chap. of Ezra Ezra and the People were assembled together and they confessed and bewailed their sins and transgressions in the bitterness of their Souls and in the 10. Chap. They are covenanting with God vers 3. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God They were ready to covenant with God to put away all their abominations and to keep his righteous judgments The like we find in the 9. of Nehem. They had kept a sollemn Fast and the Levites confessed Gods goodness and their wickedness in departing from the Living God vers 38. And because of this we make a sure covenant and write it and our Princes Levites and Priests Seal unto it What effect this true Godly sorrow had upon them in general where it is right it hath the same upon every one in particular the Soul that hath smarted by Sin and sincerely lamented over it and repented for it O what resolves what ingagements what sollemn promises doth it make that it will not live in Sin but will walk in the paths of Gods commandments and keep his precepts to the end This is the resolved purpose I say of every individual person that hath evangelically repented of his transgressions 5ly Another effect is a constant Love to and sincere desires after holyness 2 Cor. 7.11 what vehement desire saith the Apostle hath this Godly sorrow wrought in you a desire after holyness after more grace the Soul pants after it because it loves it there is Sacra fames non auri sed sanctimoniae a greedy and a vehement appetite not after Gold but after Grace and Sanctity 2 Pet. 1.4 Heb. 12.14 Exod. 15.11 now it clearly perceives that holyness is a most excellent thing a beam of the Son of Righteousness a Ray of Glory the Finger-work of the divine Spirit the very Image of the Eternal being the nature and essence of the glorious Jehovah the meet quallification of those who expect a fruition of the beatificial vision Where this hath gotten possession there is peace exhaltation tryumphing in God and Christ therefore the Soul loves it with a permanent and fixed Love shee greatly Loves it and also the means that tend to the obtaining of so great and glorious a good The Soul Loves the Spirit because he is the efficient the word of God which is the instrument Psal 119.9 6thly and Lastly Peace of conscience by the application of the Blood of Jesus Christ now there is a sweet and pleasant calmness in the Soul when before there was nothing but continual preturbations one wave tossing and rolling upon the neck of another scil Trouble and vexation of Spirit Where Lusts domineer and corruptions prevail there
said to Thomas Believe me for the very works sake what works were they why they were such as are almost incredible and to many seem impossible as giving sight to the blind strength to the weak health to the sick life to the dead c. but it would be tedious for me to relate all the miracles he did upon the bodies of men and women he did and doth effect greater things upon the Soul Luk. 4.18 for he enlightens darkned understandings heals broken hearts likewise there are his works for the good of his Church My Father saith Christ worketh hitherto and I work Joh. 5.17 Christ is continually working for the glory and happiness of his beloved ones for he protects them as the apple of his eye and sends his Spirit who conveys celestial treasure into their souls fills them with grace and conducts them over the raging waves of this tumultuous World to the haven of rest Joh. 16.13 14 15. and the land of eternal felicity Christs care is continual towards his Church and therefore he hath and doth and will work wonders for it Thus his divine works prove that he is more than a creature yea that he is the Creator Joh. 20.28 5th Argum. The fifth Argument to prove his Divinity is deduced ex honore Divino from the divine honour given to him God the Father saith I will not give mine honour to another i. e. Is 4.8 Joh. 5.23 any creature yet it is said of Christ Jesus That all men should honour the Son even in the same manner and in the same measure as they honour the Father he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him He is not only to be honoured as a person designated to the office of Mediatorship but also as he is the true living God For as Christ said to Philip He that hath seen me hath seen the Father so that one said concerning the Trinity ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Naz. I cannot think of one but presently I am invironed with the glory of three I cannot discern three but immediately I am carryed to adore the glorious Unity The Angels are said to adore and worship him Heb. 1.6 When he bringeth his first begotten into the world he saith let all the Angels of God worship him i. e. give divine honour to him Is 6.3 The Angels did cry holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts Now the divine Apostle saith that it was the glory of the Lord Jesus that the Prophet did behold in that glorious Vision Joh. 12.41 When the Angels were thus magnifying and adoring him for they are but ministring Spirits in Rev. 5.12 13. we have the whole regiment of them celebrating his praise Heb. 1.14 as one worthy of divine honour 2ly Saints Militant do pay the tribute of divine honour to him who is their Lord and Saviour As 1 Faith this is accounted part of divine honour as a learned Divine hath defined it Cultus qui tendit in Deum anquam in bonum nostrum Ames Medull Theol. saith he it is a worship which extends to God as our present good Now that Faith is proper to Christ as part of divine worship I need not say much to prove because the scriptures are so clear in it as Joh. 14.1 Ye believe in God believe also in me i. e. believe that I am the second Person in the blessed Trinity therefore am able and faithful to perform what I have said and promised unto you Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Now we know that the Scripture saith it is sin to trust in man Act. 20.21 and a curse to them that rely on him for salvation nay to believe or depend upon Angels because they are but creatures Jer. 17.5 and it would derogate from the honour of God that we should believe for salvation from any but from him who is all-sufficient and all-mighty to save 2ly as Faith so Prayer which is part of divine worship is frequently made unto Christ Prayer as one saith is made up of two species or kinds Orationis species Duae sunt Petitio gratiarum actio Ames Phil. 4.6 scil Petition and giving of Thanks Be careful for nothing but in every thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God for he alone is the true object of all religious services as Christ told Satan It is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve But I suppose Mat. 4.10 this granted by all Oratio est voluntatis nostrae religiosa representatio coram Deo ut illa Deus quasi afficitur Ames Medul Theol. that Prayer is a religious Act. And thus that excellent Author defines it Prayer saith he is a religious representation of our will before God that he may as it were be affected with it My work then is to enquire whether this part of divine honour be given unto Christ Jesus as 1 Petition in the 2 Cor. 13.14 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen so 2 Thess 3.18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen 2 Tim. 4.22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thee All which prove that petitions are made to Christ and that for the highest mercy scil grace and peace Tim. 1.2 Rom. 16.20 21. 2 Thes 1.2 which comprehend most spiritual blessings and seeing the Apostle prays for these things it proves that he is a divine Person from whom he requests them or else he could never give such mercies for who can give grace but God alone who is the fountain of grace Eph. 2.13 14 16. now grace peace flow from the Lord Jesus to poor sinners for he has made peace by the blood of his Cross it is he that has purchased peace for believers with his Father and grace in an abundant measure Joh. 1.16 I am come that they might have life that they might have it more abundantly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gratiam super gratiam life is put here for grace other spiritual blessings for it is out of his fulness we all receive and grace for grace There is a fulness of redundancy that dwells in the Lord Jesus and well it may for there dwells in him the fulness of the God-head Bodily Col. 2.9 Rom. 9.5 Therefore the servants and true worshippers of God make their petitions to the Lord Jesus for Grace who is God over all Blessed for ever Secondly The other part which is thanksgiving and praise is by the Apostle Ascribed to him 2 Tim. 4.18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me 2 Tim. 4 18. unto his heavenly Kingdom unto whom be glory for ever and ever Amen The context makes it evident that it is applyed to the Lord Jesus Heb. 1.6 When he bringeth his first
though never so Barbarous they Worship and Adore something for a Deity there is such a divine Impress left upon the Conscience of Man that Lactantius lib. 2. Div. Instit Cap. 2. observed when they Swore or Cursed or Prayed or Wished any thing heartily especially when in affliction their manner was to say God Deus non Dii not Gods other Arguments they have as the Finis Vltima and the Summum Bonum the last end and chief felicity of man and also from the consideration of good and evil vice and vertue and the reward in equity due to the one and the Punishment belonging to the other but I must not inlarge for I intend only to declare the Darts Satan hath to shoot at Poor Souls and sometimes he casts them at the elect upon their conversion or some time of weakness or sore afflictions but they are in the end repulsed by the power of Divine grace and are extinguished by the shield of Faith But now he fills others who live in wickedness with some secret conceits that there is no God that will call them to a strict account therefore they persevere in their evil Practices and totally neglect coming to Christ 27. If they step so high as to grant there is a God who is supream and the Author of all things then he is ready to perswade them that he concerns not himself with Democritus Heroclitus Epicurus and Lucretius acknowledged a Numen or Deity but denyed the providence of the same nor observes humane affairs as there have been many that he has deceiv'd by this Argument and so they have thrown off the Yoke of obedience and wholly neglected their Souls so there are many to be found at this day who have such strange conceptions of God therefore they neglect coming to Christ they are ready to say as in Job 22.13 14. How doth God know can he judge through the dark Clouds thick Clouds are a covering to him that he seeth not he walketh in the Circuit of Heaven There are many such who are deceived with this to think that God is bounded within the circuit of Heaven deny unto him all Prescience Omnipresence and Omniscience that Fancy God doth not observe their minute and eye every singular action of theirs therefore they freely live and dayly delight in Sin and hearken not to the calls of Christ by his Ministers inviting them to come unto him this is another obstacle of Satans by which he impedes many I fear of those who go under the notion of Christians for this may be gathered clearly if we do but view their actions O how greedily do they fall upon Sin both Publickly and Privately without any abashedness or remorse which they could never do if they understood and believed that God sees and observes all their ways Job 34 21. For his eyes are upon the ways of Man and he seeth all his goings Moreover that he will render according to each ones deeds as 1 Pet. 1.17 But whoever thou art that dost cast thine eye upon this Book and Satan doth suggest such a thing to thee as that God doth not reguard the actions of Men here below sheild thy self against this Dart by giving credit to the Word of God Job 31.4 Doth not God see my ways and count all my Steps Prov. 5.2 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings And thus considering that God beholds all thy actions and will call thee to account for them and that thou art not able to answer him one of a thousand when he enters into judgment with thee will make thee more diligently seek after Christ Jesus that thou maist be secured from perishing in for thy iniquity 28. If that will not do then Satan perswades the Sinner that he hath no Soul distinct from the Body in Nature and Essence but they are the same substance thus he hath deceived many with a base perswasion that they are no better than the bruits that their Soul is no other thing then their Blood or Breath or some such like thing and is not of a spiritual nature which can exist seperate from the Body therefore there is no necessity of Christ to save it it is not a spirit as many foolishly conjecture then what need any care for the Salvation of it thus the Sadduces of old were deluded by Satan that Father of Lyes and Lying Spirits that there are no Angels or Spirits Acts 23.8 Which made them neglect Christ who came to save the Spirits of all them that believe in him to confute this and remove this obstacle out of the way read Eccle. 12.7 Then shall the dust meaning the Body return to the Earth as it was and the Spirit shall return unto God who gave it Hear are these things observable in these Words 1. Here is the Nature of the Soul it is a Spirit the Spirit shall return to God 2. The Author and Donator of it scil God who creating it infused it and by infusing it created it the Soul is not communicated by the seminal vertue in the conjunction of both sexes as some vainly immagin but it is a spirit created by God Immediately and infused into and united to the Body which unition makes a compleat man ☜ 3. That it doth exist distinct from the Body after the dissolution of it for it returns to him that gave it even when the Dusty Body the House of Clay is mouldred into Earth which was the Materia prima the first matter of it Now if it were not a distinct Imaterial substance it could never be said to return to God Luk. 12.4 Fear not them that can kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul Which words declare that the Soul and the Body are two distinct things although being united they constitute one man Now seeing thy Soul is of a Spiritual nature that can exist seperate from the Body eject and abominate this brutish Argument of Satan who to the end he might bring thy Spirit into the Place of Torment with himself seeks to perswade thee thou art no degree higher than a Beast and so neglect coming to Christ by whom Salvation alone is to be expected 29. If they are convinced that the Soul is of a Spiritual Nature which no serious and rational Man can deny then he Labours to perswade them that it is Mortal and that when the Body dies the Soul is annihilate or at least dies with the Body till the resurrection which is a time most uncertain if any such thing be So he perswades the Sinner to neglect Christ and indulge his Sences for if the Soul is Mortal or must not appear till the general Resurrection it need not be solicitous about a future being for what man will take care to provide a Mansion or Build a stately Fabrick when there is none to inhabit it so who would busy their anxious thoughts about Eternity when
they themselves shall be utterly extinct in time as concerning an immortal State when they are mortal and shall one day totally cease to be By this false Argument he overthrows many a Soul and intangles them in the Labyrinth of their Lusts one continually attending the other upon the consideration that the Soul is Mortal but let it not be thy case thus to hearken to the wicked suggestion of Satan but believe truth and the word of God which evidently manifest that the Soul is Immortal 2 Cor. 5.6.8 We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord. If the Soul were not Immortal the Apostle would not desire to be out of the Body that so he being a believer should be present with the Lord. So the Scripture before spoken to fully manifests the Mortallity of the Soul Eccle. 12.7 Phil. 1.23 To prove this at Large I leave you to that excellent treatise of Mr. Wadsworth concerning the immortallity of the Soul But if the Soul be as certainly it is Immortal that by the decree of God it shall never die or utterly cease to be then that it may live for ever with Christ in bliss and hapiness come unto him now he is pleased to invite thee 30. And the next Impediment is this that there is no such Heaven and Hapiness for the Righteous as they imagin neither is there any Hell to be a tormenting place for the Wicked He sometimes is so bold as to set upon gracious Souls with these Falsities of his but Christ brings them off victorious and in fine fixes the Crown of Glory upon their Heads but hear Satan implicates and insnares the Sinner as may be daily seen if observed for how few by their conversation do discover that they believe and expect the Glory of Heaven and an immortal state or that they fear the torments of Hell for if they did it would make a wounderful change in the Heart Words and Actions the promises of Glory do not prevail with them to leave their Lusts nor the threatenings of Eternal Torments terrify them from the ways of Sin but they go on vigorously in Satans Service But O Sinner be not deceived for there is certainly a reward for the Righteous even Heaven Life and Glory for ever Ro. 2.7 Certainly there is a Heaven where God resides in magnificent Glory Mat. 25.34 Lok 12.32 Christ exalted at his Right Hand with Angels Adoring and Saints admiring him and where all Christs beloved ones shall be and reign for ever 1 Thes 4. 16.17 And so shall we be for ever with the Lord. Rev. 3.21.30 Likewise there is a place of Torment prepared for the Wicked which is called Hell Psal 9.17 The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Mat. 25.41 Then also shall he say unto them on the Left Hand depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Dâ—vil and bis Angels Therefore seeing it is certain there is a Heaven and a Hell come unto Christ that thou mayest escape the one and possess and enjoy the other 31. By perswading them there will be no resurrection I mention this because Satan is so subtil that if he cannot prevail with the Sinner by these Arguments as that there is no God or that he doth not intermeddle with or observe humane affairs or that he hath not a Soul which is distinct from his Body or that it is not immortal and also that there is no Heaven or Hell I say if the Sinner gets above all these and is able to confute the subtle Sophyster then he comes with the impossibility of the resurrection of the Dead and so overthrows the faith of some A Temporary and commom Faith Whilst the Watchmen were a Sleep or absent we find he sowed this seed among the Corinthians which was the occasion of the Apostles wrighting that excellent Chapter to prove it 1 Cor. 15. To which I refer the Reader and if thou art one whom Satan seeks to keep in Sin and neglect of coming to Christ upon this false Argument labour to shake it off and come to Christ that thou may'st be raised and thy Soul and Body reunited in that great day The Sadduces were of this opinion that there is no resurrection Act. 23.8 But Christ confutes them by that inferrence consequential from the Scripture that God being the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob he was so of them Living i. e. in their Souls and at the general resurrection their bodys should be raised in Glory and with their Souls united together 32. And lastly he deters them by perswading them there will be no future Judgment I should not have particularized thus but have contracted and joyned some two heads in one but considering that the Tempter is malicious and subtil and that means by which he doth impede one he doth not lay to obstruct another but considering our complection inclination and disposition the place where the time when with all the circumstances and state of our condition he most pollitickly bends the force of his Temptation accordingly so that if one will not do he will not fail it possible to do by another therefore I say one he may hold with that Argument that there is no resurrection of the Dead and by that means he perswades him to all licentiousness and another by this there will be no future Judgment therefore thou maist take thy fill of Sin and never look after Christ Jesus for if there is no Judgment there is no need of Christ O how many are there in this day of Sin and Abomination that are impeded by some one of these Arguments but I beseech thee let it not be thy case but Read and beg that thou maist believe these Scriptures Heb. 9.27 Rom. 14.10 2 Cor. 5.10 Act. 17.31 Eccle. 11.9 and 12 14. And bare upon thy Spirit that of Jerom surgite Mortui venite ad Judicium Arise ye Dead and come to Judgment And also consider this that if thou hast a Soul that is immortal and if there be a God which certainly is true then his Faithfulness Righteousness Love and Kindness to his People do ingage and oblige him to make good his Word fulfil his Promises and execute his Threatenings Therefore begg grace that thou maist repulse all the Darts discover all the baits and devices of Satan against thy Soul and also that thou maist come unto Christ and accept of him upon the terms of the Gospel 3ly I come now to the third external obstacle or hinderance which impedes the Sinner from coming unto Christ and that is the World 1. The men 2. The things 1. The men of the world have been great obstacles and that 1. By their corrupt Doctrines as those Luk. 11.52 Mentioned by Christ with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wo to you Lawyers for ye have taken away the Key of knowledg ye enter not in
them unto Christ vers 37.39 All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World so 1 Pet. 1.2 God hath elected and made choice of thee if thou art come to Christ Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee Gods Love was fixed from all Eternity and he manifests it in time unto the Soul in drawing it unto Christ Jo. 6.37 All that the Father hath given him shall come unto him God hath chosen them and given them to his Son therefore he draws them to him Sinners are not able to move hand nor foot Zyon-ward unless God draws them they cannot come unto Christ 2ly If thou art come unto Christ the holy Spirit hath been at work upon thy Soul 1. To illuminate and inlighten thy understanding 2. Convince thy Conscience 3. Incline thy will 4. Sanctify thy affections 5. Work grace in the inward Man 1. The Spirit doth inlighten the understanding By nature Man is darkness Eph. 5.8 Therefore he must be turned from darkness to light Act. 26.18 And this is done by the Spirit of God he opens the Sinners Eyes that he may know himself Know thy self descended from Heaven it is said concerning the Prodigal Luk. 15.17 When he came to himself then he thought of returning home to his Father not before so it must be with every Sinner he must come to himself to know what he is before he will come to Christ if thou art come to the Lord Jesus thou hast been made to see thy miserable and deplorable condition by nature that thou art a Child of wrath Eph. 2.3 subject and obnoctious to the wrath of God deservest nothing but wrath and it were justice in God to execute wrath upon thee even for thy natural pollution and defilement much more for that contracted filth and impurity in thy conversation that thou art lost and shalt perish for ever without a Redeemer a Jesus to save thee that thou art an enemy to God Rom. 5.10 and needest reconciliation with him through the Blood of Christ that thou art unregenerate and without regeneration no seeing the Kingdom of God Jo. 3.3 miserable all over nothing but Wounds and Bruises and Putrifying Sores miserable because in thy flesh Rom. 7.18 dwelleth no good thing Sin Raigning Satan Captivating at his will the World allureing and perswading and thou art without strength or ability to resist and overcome these and many more I might number up are the evils which in Puris naturalibus in thy Natural condition make it deplorable therefore the holy Spirit brings thee first to know thy self before thou comest unto Christ 2ly To know and understand the Scriptures is another effect of the Spirit upon the understanding of those who are come to and have closed with the Lord Jesus As it is said Luk. 24.45 He opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Therein all things concerning Christ are revealed Jo. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think to have eternal Life i. e. the knowledge of eternal Life and they are they which testify of me Now the Spirit doth open the Eye of the understanding that it may in the glass of the Scriptures see those things clearly which are necessary to Salvation to wit repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Act. 20.21 it declares the mind and will of God fully and directs poor Sinners who are stung in the Wilderness to look up to the BrazenSerpent scil the Lord Jesus Jo. 3.14 it declares that there is Salvation in none other I do not here say Act. 4.12 that the Spirit teaches all to read the Scriptures who are adult and grown into a capacity of exercising their Reason for there are many who I am perswaded have closed with Christ Luther Tertullian and others were converted from Papism and Gentilism by being brought to understand the Scriptures that could not read the Scriptures but this I assert that the understanding is inlightened by the Spirit to discern the things of God and Christ when preached or read to them out of the holy Scriptures for without a right understanding of the Scriptures there can be no apprehending the right way of Salvation All the Phylosophers of old with all their profound Learning Arts Sciences did not know Christ so consequently they were ignorant of the way of Salvation because Christ is the only way 3ly Thou art brought to understand and know thy duty in a great measure thy duty towards God thy duty towards thy Neighbour and thy duty towards thy self 1. Towards God that thou oughtest to Love him for himself to Love him as thy Creator and as a bountiful Benefactor to thee to Love him primarily superlatively and above all as the Text saith Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Mind and with all thy Strength Deut. 6.5 To love him fervently and permanently if thou art not come to Christ besure there is none of this sincere love in thee for as God loves not the Sinner but as chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 so the Sinner can never love God as he ought but in and through Christ and as God sees no lovelyness in the Sinner considered out of Christ so the Sinner perceives no amiableneness in God but in the Face of Jesus Christ for God is a consuming fire to Sinners if they be seperate from Christ so that I say Heb. 12. ult thou art taught to love God as an infinite good 2. To fear him not with a Bondage Slavish fear Rom. 8.15 but with a Filial and Holy fear such a fear as becometh Gods Children a reverential fear a fearing to displease him such a fear Christ Jesus had in his humiliation state Heb. 5.7.8 and such a fear have all his members who are come unto him and are implanted in him 3. Taught to serve him before thou wast the Servant of Sin and Satan but now the Servant of the living God Rom. 6. now thou desirest and indeavourest to obey him constantly as to the time fervently faithfully as to the manner and universally as to the Practice of them in all holy dutys as it was said of Zachary and Elizabeth They walked in all the Commandments of God Luk. 1.6 So it is thy care and Study to obey him in all things he requires from thee 4. Thou art taught to glorify God as being the chief end of thy Creation For he hath made all things for himself Psal 16.4 Thou indeavourest to glorify thy Soul and Body which are his according to that command 1 Cor. 6.20 Glorify God in your Bodys and in your Spirits which are Gods Thus Christ Jesus did as he saith Jo. 17.4 I have glorified thee on Earth so he saith of his Disciples Jo 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bare much Fruit so
from secret Sins Which Petition implys that Sin though never so secret defiles the Soul moreover the holy Prophet hath not only regard in the word secret to those Sins which the Eye of man had not seen but to those Sins which were secret to himself which in thought Word or deed he had perpetrated and yet not observed Psal 51.2 Wash me throughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin vers 7. Purge me with hysop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter then Snow Which Scripture doth evince that Sin doth defile and therefore the Soul needs cleansing which cannot be done but by the Blood of Jesus Christ 1 Jo. 1.7 The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin The Prophet Isaiah witnesseth this truth when he beheld the glory of the Lord Jesus Isa 6. proved by Jo. 12.41 he cryed Wo is me for I am undone because I am a Man of unclean Lips Isa 6.5 When he had a vision of the Lord Jesus and was nigh unto him then he exclaims that he is unclean so it is with thee if thou art come to Christ thou art convinced that Sin hath polluted and defiled thee the conviction of which drives thee to that Fountain viz. the Blood of Christ laid open for Sin and for uncleanness Every Sin commited is against the blessed Trinity and the goodness love wisdom and Patience of God Zach. 13 1. 4ly Thou art convinced that Sin is against God Psal 51.4 Against thee thee only have I Sinned and done evil in thy sight Agreeable to this is that of the Prodigal Luk. 15.18 I will arise and go to my Father and say unto him Father I have Sinned against Heaven and before thee Thou art convinced that every Sin is against the Essence and Being of God contrary to his nature and to his revealed will I leave thee to inlarge upon this in thy private meditation 5ly Thou art convinced of the dangerous consequences and effects of Sin if persisted in for then there is nothing to be expected but wrath confusion and eternal destruction wher 's Malum culpae the Evil of guilt preceeds and goes before Malum penae the Evil of punishment follows after If the preceeding sins be not repented of and the Soul washed with and justifyed through the blood of Jesus Ro. 2.8 9. To them who are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every Soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile Ro. 1.18 The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodlyness and unrighteousness of Men who hold the truth in unrighteousness here is nothing but wrath upon wrath threatned against disobedient Sinners 6ly Thou art convinced of Righteousness as Jo. 16.8 When be it come he shall convince the World of Righteousness Thou art convinced that a righteousness thou needest a righteousness thou must have both internal which is wrought by the Spirit and external which is wrought by Christ God is a righteous God and his Law is righteous and there is no standing the tryal without a compleat and perfect righteousness the Law will admit of no repentance as the gospel doth it requires full satisfaction in point of suffering or compleat and perfect performance in point of doing if the offence be but one and against one clause of the Law there is a breach of the whole Jam. 2.10 and how shall the poor Sinner do now who hath broken all the Spirit convinces the Sinner of the righteousness of Christ which is apprehended by faith and he inables the Sinner to lay hold of it and to say Christ was made Sin for me who knew no Sin that I might become the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 Paul was thus convinced when he said I would not be found in my own righteousness but in the righteousness of God which is by Faith in Christ Phil. 3.8 9. Thou art convinced of the necessity of a perfect righteousness if thou art truely come unto and hast closed with Christ 7ly and Lastly thou art convinced of Judgment Jo. 16.8 he convinces of Judgment Heb. 9.27 It is appointed for Men once to dye and after death comes judgment a particular as well as a universal and it shall be a righteous judgment Rom. 2.5 speaking of the Sinner who is impenitent Thou treasurest up wrath against the day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous judgment of God now being convinced of this thou expectest preparest dayly for it because it is the day in which thou shalt be acquitted but the enemys of Christ condemned For there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus Rom 8 1 But there is no standing forth ungodly in Judgment Psal 1.5 That which is the ground of terror to the wicked scil the day of judgment is a ground of comfort and consolation to the righteous the Apostle James doth exhort the afflicted Brethren to be patient upon this consideration that the coming of the Lord was at hand the Judge standeth before the Door Jam. 5.7.8 9. 3ly If thou art come to the Lord Jesus then the holy Spirit hath inclined thy will and made it flexible Psal 110.3 They shall be a willing People in the day of thy Power Cantic 6.12 The Margent of some Bibles read it thus My Soul set me on the Chariots of my willing People It is true that the will remains still in Man Wollebius Mansit quidem arbitrium hominis liberum à coactione sed non ad bonum malum idem but it is as true that it is depraved as one saith Mansit Voluntas sed depravata the Spirit doth not coact or inforce the will for the will of Man remains free from compulsion but yet not equally so both to good and evil for it is free only to evil Now I say the Spirit hath not drawn compulsively but willingly lead thee unto the Lord Jesus of unwilling by nature he hath made thee abundantly willing through the Work of grace 1. Thou art made willing to part with thy Sins to shake hands with them and bid adieu to all thy former vanitys which by nature thou art Prone to there is a purging out of the old leaven For the Temple of God is holy 1 Cor. 3.16 17. And believers are that Temple it is inconsistant for Sin and Christ to dwell together for Christ came to destroy Sin and to redeem his People from it Tit. 2.14 2ly Thou art made willing by the holy Spirit to renounce thy own ragged and imperfect righteousness for as I have declared before this keeps back many from coming fully to the Lord Jesus but there must not only be Sin cast away but self-righteousness also for it is the ruin of many and hath been so that they relye more upon their own righteousness then on Christs righteousness the Jews lost themselves by this Rom.
is nothing but perpetual Commotions and distractions but when this Legion is ejected and cast out and the Soul hath bathed it self in the tears of Repentance and is made pure by the Blood of the Lord Jesus O then what inward sedateness and tranquility is there Sin whilst a Man remains in an impenitent State and condition like a Mad-man rageth in the Soul but when Christ brings the Soul to himself by the weeping-cross of Repentance he then saith to it as he did to the Sea Peace be still or as he did to his Disciples Jo. 14.1 Let not your Hearts be troubled and Vers 27. My peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you let not your Hearts be troubled The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of peace Rom. 10.15 and Eph. 6.15 Because it proclaimeth Peace and speaks peace from God and Christ unto poor wounded and distressed Consciences the Blood of Christ is the only sanctifying Medicine which the Gospel holds forth to cure wounded consciences Thus I have finished the first particular I come now to the second particular grace by which a person may know that he is come to Christ and it is this the Spirit hath wrought the grace of Faith in the Soul for it is by Faith the Soul apprehends and lays hold upon the Lord Jesus Although there are four kinds of Faith yet there is but one true Evangelick and saving Faith and my business must be to acquaint you how you may discern this from the others which will never end in salvation and I shall do it with as much brevity as may be for the discussing so great a question as this is how may I know that I have saving Faith I answer it may be known these four ways 1. By the Author or Efficient 2. By the Objects 3. By the Nature of it and 4. By the effects 1. By the Author and he is the Spirit of God for no Man can work Faith in his own Heart or can believe by his own Power it is a supernatural and Divine work Faith is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 It is the work of the Spirit of God Gal. 5.22 The Fruit of the Spirit are Love Peace Joy Goodness Faith If the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father hath not been at work upon thy Soul never conceit thy self to have any Grace we find this work once attributed to Christ Heb. 12.2 Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith but this must be understood Agit filius per spiritum sanctum Ursin * that Christ doth it by his holy Spirit and the Spirit works powerfully and with the irresistable efficacy he makes the Soul believe those things now which all Men or Angels could never have done if they had Preached Millions of years it now believes unseen things an unseen Jesus and an invissible glory 1 Pet. 1.8 If you have no more Faith then what your own reason or judgment helps you to or the teachings of men hath principled you with do not conclude it to be saving but Sinful the Spirit is the Efficiently and works instrumentally by the word of God by which he brings the Soul to believe in and close with Jesus Christ 2ly It is known by the objects of it 1. The Word of God that is an object of true Faith the Soul is brought to believe the verity and certainty of it therefore it believes not because Man saith so and so you must believe but because the word of the Living God saith it as the Apostle 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy to which ye do well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place Materia quae objecti rationem habet communiter quidem Dei verbum est propriae vero gratuitae promissiones in Christo fundatae Wol. de fide salvis until the day dawn and the day Star arise in your hearts Shee believes the reports of men no farther than they concur with the clear and evident truth of the word of God for as the Prophet saith to the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 2ly Faith eyes the promises therein contained which relate unto and are founded in Christ as one saith the material cause of saving faith which may be termed an object is commonly the Word of God but properly the gracious promises founded in Christ It is said 2 Cor. 1.20 All the promises of God are in him i. e. in Christ Saith God by the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 43.25 I will blot out thy transgressions for my one name sake and will not remember thy Sins 2 Cor. 5.19 The Apostle tells us God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them So that we see what God promiseth in one place to do for his own name-sake in the other we find made good in Christ promises of Peace Pardon Grace and Glory upon the account of Christ are the objects of a saving Faith For indeed it is by laying the mouth of Faith to the brest of the promises that the Soul sucks and draws nourishment by which it grows in grace for had not Faith a promise of such and such mercys benefits and Priviledges to go to at all times it would grow languid and decay it would pine away The promises by the assistance of the holy Spirit keep Faith alive and active vigorous and strong as it is said of Abraham that Father of the Faithful Rom. 4.15.20 He staggered or doubted not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God But how came he to be so strong but by Eying the Promise and the power of that God that made it vers 21. And being fully perswaded or knowing most certainly that what he had promised he was able certainly to perform It was the apprehention of the promise that held his head above water so I say if thy Faith be of a salvific and evangelic kind it hath an Eye to the promises of God which contain those spiritual Blessings made over through Christ to the Soul 3ly And that principally it hath Christ for an object Act. 20.21 Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ He is the foundation for Faith to build upon as 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ The Gospel throughout directs the Eye of Faith unto the Lord Jesus Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith Joh. 3.16 God so Loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not Perish but have everlasting Life That is no saving Faith which hath not an Eye to the Lord Jesus But having spoken more fully to this before I shall pass it over and come to the third particular by which it may more evidently be discover'd 3ly The nature and propertys of
a slave to men well but come unto him and he will exalt thee even to his own throne Rev. 3.21 8. Motive To excite poor Creatures to come unto Christ who invites them is this consider what you shall have if you come unto him but hear I may say with the Apostle in another case Who is sufficient for these things I want understanding to conceive it 1 Cor. 2.9 and words to express it For as the Apostle saith Eye hath not seen Ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him I may as well think to number the days of eternity as Imagin to declare all the Immunities Priviledges and Benefits those will Partake of who come unto the Lord Jesus Christ they shall know more fully when they come to glory but I will lay some of them before thee 1. If thou comest unto Christ thou shalt have Pardon for thy Sins Act. 13.38 39. Through this man is Preached the Forgiveness of Sin That is through the man Christ Jesus vers 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things O Sinner here is pardon and justification if thou wilt but come to and believe in him and how desirable is a pardon to a condemned Malefactor thou art undon for ever if thou art not pardoned now it is alone by Christ Exod. 34.6 and upon his account that thou caust expect to obtain it the Lord is a sin-pardoning God but there is no man can come to the Father for this Pardon but in and through Christ Jo. 2.1 If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 2ly Thou shalt have peace for thy Conscience not such peace as the World gives but the peace of God God is called The God of Peace 2 Cor. 13.11 Because he gives peace to his People thou shalt be at peace with God at peace with thine own Conscience and what would a wounded Conscience give for this peace but it is too pretious to purchase for Silver or Gold My peace saith Christ I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you Jo. 14.27 The World can afford no such fruit for it is brought forth by the Spirit in the heart of the believer Gal. 6.22 This peace is permanent Isa 26.3 I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayd upon me now Worldly peace is deceitful it is uncertain but this is true and abiding because rt is from God at peace with God upon the account of the Lord Jesus But I intend not to be large in these particulars only my great desire is Sinner that I might induce thee to come unto Christ 3. Thou shalt have Grace in abundance and what can be more desireable or what dost thou need more on this side Eternity it will beautify and make thee lovely in the sight of God Virtus clara aeternaque habetur Salust Angels and Saints Thy Soul is deformed by Sin but this will make thee comly Grace will inrich thee with a Divine treasure as Christ said to the Church of Smyrna Rev. 2.9 Virtus intaminatis fulget honoribus Hor. Thou art Rich Rich in Grace although poor in worldly Treasure as Jam. 2.5 Poor in the world yet rich in faith now these riches come from the fulness of Christ Joh. 1.16 Out of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isocrates It will establish the Soul in shaking times Heb. 13.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is an excellent and good thing to have the heart established with Grace I should burthen you and prevent my self if I should here treat of the Excellencies of the graces as faith love hope patience and all the other graces which are the golden Chains and Pearls which adorn the Soul of a Believer only consider this that all grace is from God through Christ by the Spirit conveyed and wrought in the Soul 4. If thou comest to Christ thou shalt have life so saith Christ I am come that you may have life and have it more abundantly Life naturally is much desirable but how much more life spiritual and life eternal Thou art spiritually dead Eph. 2.5 and it is from him thou must receive quickning Joh. 11.25 Jesus saith unto her I am the Resurrection and the Life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live Vers 26. And he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die Here Soul is spiritual and eternal life for thee and wilt thou not come unto Christ for this what dost thou not reguard life life everlasting Mat. 25.46 the righteous shall go into life everlasting O let the consideration of this excite and stir up thy Soul to come unto Christ for all those that come unto him shall obtain this blessed priviledge of living for evermore Our days here are but a shaddow Vita ipsa qua fruimur brevis est Salust Pulvis umbra sumus we soon pass away into Eternity and is not life eternal much more to be esteemed of then to be everlastly in a dying state of misery and yet never die 5ly Thou shalt have joy Rom. 15.13 Act. 16 25. The God of peace fill you with all joy in believing In the midst of outward troubles and afflictions this joy will keep thee company as it did Paul and Silas in Fetters they Sung praises to God this joy will be strength to thee Neh. 8.10 The joy of the Lord is our strength It is not like the worldlings joy which is transient and momentary but it is everlasting joy Isa 35.10 The Ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Indeed after thou dost come to Christ Psal 42.5 and hast tasted of this joy whilest thou art here Sinning God may for a time hide his Face but when thou dost return again by repentance and humiliation he will again lift up the light of his countenance upon thee and put more gladness into thy Soul then all sublimary consolations can Psal 4.6.7 and when thou dost come above the Clouds thou shalt then rejoice for ever Psal 16.11 In thy presence is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Satietas laetitiarum fullness of joys or as the Word sinifies fullness to Satiety Thou wilt have it in abundance then therefore defer not thy coming to Christ 6ly If thou comest unto him thou shalt have a Crown and Kingdom Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed of my Father Mat. 25.34 inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World Christ has prepared the Kingdom for you and by your coming to him he prepares you for the Kingdom I say from the word of God thou shalt have a Kingdome
him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you See here what a mercy this is to have the blessed Spirit for thou canst have no true comfort here but from him it must flow thou canst not know nor understand the way to Zion but by his Divine assistance 1 Cor. 2.14.15 it is he who is spiritually inlightened that can discern the Excellency of Divine objects thou canst not pray without him Rom. 8.26 Then is it not a blessing greatly to be desired to have the blessed spirit without whom thou canst not perceive thine own misery sufficiently nor apprehend Christ a Saviour satisfactorily it is the Spirit that searches the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 and reveals them to his Children as much as is for his glory and their Eternal good Now I intreat thee in the name of Christ let this consideration that God will be thy God Christ will be thy Saviour and the Spirit thy guid and Comforter excite thy Soul to come to Christ 8. If thou come unto Christ thou shalt have an eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the words cannot be well expressed in English but it is as if the Apostle should have said thou shalt have Hyperboly's of Glory Glory upon Glory ineffable such as hath not entred into the Heart of Man to conceive neither can Tongue utter it but observe this it shall be a weight and an eternal weight of Glory not transient and momentary like unto worldly Glory which depends upon the estimation of poor silly Mortals as it is usually said Honos est in Honorante Honour is in him that gives Honour not in him that receives it but the greatest Glory of this World is not to be compared nay rather to be contemned in comparison of that Glory believers shall be Crowned with the greatest part of their Glory shall be in this That they shall see God and be made like unto him 1 Jo. 3.2 What canst thou be humbly ambitious of more then this That thou shalt be like unto God in holyness and Righteousness and that for ever Thou shalt have a Crown of Righteousness upon thine Head 2 Tim. 4.8 Rev. 3.21 and thou shalt sit down with Christ in his throne Here Soul it is lawful for thee to run for this prize Phil. 3.14 To fight for this heavenly Crown Take but a serious view of what thou shalt have if thou comest to Christ and then refuse if thou canst see if the world can offer more then what Christ doth to incourage thee to come unto him if the World or Satan can promise and give more and better things then these I have mentioned from the word of God then imbrace them and let Christ go but if they cannot why dost thou make delays in coming unto him 9ly and lastly 9. Motive consider the misery thou dost involve thy self in if thou dost not come unto Christ thy Misery is great in this Life thou art a Child of wrath a Servant to Satan Eph. 2.3 a Servant to Sin thou art an Enemy to God and God is an Enemy to thee Rom. 6.20 Rom. 5.10 the Curse of the Law abides upon thee Gal. 3.10 Read and consider canst thou be content to be in this estate hast thou no pity for thine own Soul no love to God who sent his Son to dye for Sinners Jo. 3.16 no love for Christ who came to sacrifice himself that thou mightest have access to God by him but consider further thy misery will not end in this Life nor with it for the wrath of God will follow thee to the Grave and tumble thy Soul into everlasting Flames That is a terririble word Jo. 3.36 The wrath of God abideth on him that believeth not in Christ He doth not say it shall be for a little time for a year or a hundred or a thousand years but it abideth on him and so it will for ever 2 Thes 1.8 9. See what will be the doom of those who obay not Christ that is who believe not in him Now I say Sinner come unto Christ least that terrible word be said unto thee in the last day Pro. 1.24.25.26 Because I have called and ye have refused I have stretched out my hands and no man reguarded But ye have set at nought all my Councel therefore I will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh So much shall suffice for the first Doctrine That Jesus Christ graciously invites Sinners to come unto him 2. Doctrine It is the duty of all heavy laden Sinners who look for Rest and Salvation to come unto Christ for the obtaining of it If the invitation will not prevail with thee to come unto Christ yet let his command and the consideration of thy Duty Christ hath not left it mearly to their own wills but he commands them The Method that I shall proceed in is as followeth 1. I shall prove the point 2. Shew many of those obstructions which keep Sinners from coming to Christ with their unreasonableness 3. Answer some objections 4. Apply all and I shall bring in the two other Doctrines in the application 1. To prove that it is a duty Jo. 6.29 This is the work of God that ye believe in him whom he hath sent 1 Jo. 3.23 This is his Commandment that ye believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ I shall demonstrate the point by these propositions 1. It is the great duty incumbent upon all to seek the eternal well-being of their immortal Souls this is granted I think by all sober persons it is made our second principal end in the Assemblies Catechism 1. Glorify God 2. Save our own Souls Phil. 2.12 Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling God requires this from all men whether they be Princes or subjects Rulers or ruled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Arminians do pervert this Text. 1 Tim. 2.4 He willeth all men to be saved So the words may be read and they have relation to the foregoing verses where the Apostle exhorts to pray for all degrees of Men for Kings and those in authority for God willeth all Men all sorts of Men to seek after their Salvation for he is no respecter of Persons in that sence but he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness and believeth in his Son shall be saved Act. 10.35 Jo. 3.36 He that believeth the Son hath Life 2. Prop. Is that it is the duty of all to make use of means in order to the attaining of this great end scil the Salvation of their Souls God hath ordained the means as well as the end and he hath injoyned it as our Duty to make use of the means God hath given his Son to dye for us and doth command us to come and believe in him 1 Jo. 3.33 3. Prop. is that Christ Jesus is the only way for sinners to attain eternal life by
sâ—t down on the Right hand of God Which Scripture declares that the finiteness of Christs suffering in the reguard of the time made in finite satisfaction and it is proved from the particle after which implys the work first done and then after that he sate down for ever on the Right hand of God the Father 14. v. By one offering he hath Perfected for ever them which are sanctified That is to say really and effectually purge from all their Sins reconcile to God and justify all Gods Children 2dly The Person that suffered was an infinite Person therefore his suffering Proved above because he is God although but for a Time was infinite and made compleat satisfaction for it is as Rational to conclude that the sufferings of an infinite Person though but temporal should satisfy for infinite Transgressions as that one offence of a finite Person done against an infinite God should merit and deserve infinite Punishment for as the offence is according to the greatness of the circumstance and the Person offended Had Christ always suffered then he could never be satisfied so is the suffering accounted according to the magnitude of the Circumstance and the Person who suffers I shall further illustrate and make this plain by this Simile suppose a person lies in Prison for ten thousand Tallents of Gold and there he is to remain till the Law be satisfied and the Debt Paid but he is no way solvent or able to discharge himself or make satisfaction Reason will here conclude it to be no injustice in the Creditor to keep this man in Prison though it were to eternity because he cannot pay the Debt but if in the interim a Man comes who is sufficiently able and with all freely willing although no way obliged to pay this great Sum in the behalf of the Debtor common Reason will here also conclude it most equal that the man should be set at liberty because the Law is satisfied and the Creditor has his full Debt and yet the man that discharges the Debt doth not lye in Prison one Minute but will reason apprehend and conclude this most equitable and not the former which is as clear and evident as this for thus I apply it the Debtor is the Sinner who has contracted an infinite Debt and is liable to infinite punishments because he cannot himself any way pay it and it is most just with God to inflict condign punishment and exact infinite satisfaction and lay eternal torments upon him but Christ who is able and willing to discharge the Debt and satisfie the Law in all its demands pays the uttermost Farthing and contents the Creditor scil God much more then if the Sinner had suffered to all eternity for the Damn'd in Hell are suffering but can never satisfie the justice of God but Christ hath done it compleatly for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price he paid was his Life Mat. 20.28 The Blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Therefore let not this ungrounded reason keep thee from coming unto the Lord Jesus 3ly I cannot understand how the Righteousness of another can be made mine and that by imputative Righteousness I shall stand Righteous and justified in the Sight of God must not every one have his own personal Righteousness for according to the works will God judg and it cannot be the Righteousness of another imputed to me that can save me I shall not stand long in answering this because it it learnedly handled and answered by our Divines But know this that thy own personal Righteousness will not save thee nor justify thee in the Sight of God for it is imperfect 1. In that all thou dost is mixed with Sin the very good as Eccle. 7.20 There is not a just man upon the Earth that doth good and Sinneth not Even in his doing of good as one excellently observes Dr. Manton But let us observe this Scripture well and we shall find enough in it to confute the self-justiciaries and perfectionists in the World both Papists and Quakers 1. It is to be granted that the Pen-man of this Scripture was guided by an Infallible Spirit for all Scripture was given by divine inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 and 2 Pet. 1.21 and if so then the true explication of it is to be believed 2. He doth not say there is not a Man or there is not an ungodly Person upon Earth that doth good and Sinneth not but there is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Just or a Righteous man as in Isa 41.26 these just and righteous men called Dr. Kinchi * Tsadikim * where such ‑ who gave themselves to the study of the Scriptures 2ly Psal 103.17 They would conform to what the Law required as to the external Part of it I think these went as far as any who pretend to perfection and yet they came short of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they Sinned notwithstanding they were such whom the Lord is said to Love Psal 146.8 for the same word is used for a righteous Man 3. Here is this also to be taken notice of Not a just Man upon Earth which must not be taken only for that present time in which Solomon wrote this for that would be to limit the Text to too narrow a compass but it must be taken for all those who are numbred among the Righteous ones ever since Adam throughout all generations Christ only excepted that none of them do good and Sin not 4. Doth Good The word sometimes signifies to prepare as if he had said there is no just Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 although he prepares himself with great diligence to do good that doth it and yet Sinneth not in the doing of it from which we gather this That there is no meer Man who hath a compleat personal righteousness by and for which he shall be justified in the sight of God Therefore there is need of a more perfect and compleat Righteousness adequate and commensurate to the whole Law of God and there is none other that is perfect but the Righteousness of the Lord Jesus which must by imputation of God and apprehension of Faith be made thine or else thou art miserable for ever 2. It must not be by the Works of the Law that thou canst be justifyed as the Apostle asserts Gal. 2.16 By the Works of the Law shall no Flesh be justified Here he is peremptory he excepts not any one let him be who or what he will Jew or Gentile there is no hopes of being justified by his own Righteousness which can be no other but the deeds of the Law I question not but those Jews the Apostle mentioneth Rom. 9.31 who followed after the Law of Righteousness Do but watch and examine thy heart one quarter of an hour every day for a Moneth and then tell me whether thy own Righteousness is not imperfectt so as to be justified by it were as exact circumspect and upright in
the highest even with all the Heart with all the Mind and with all the Strength God and Christ are to be beloved beyond all measure as one saith the right manner of Loving God is Modus diligendi deum est ut diligatur quantum potest diligi Bern. that he may be beloved as much as he can be beloved This evangellick Love seats it self in the most superlative place of the Soul there is no comparison between this Love and the Love of the Creature 4ly This Love is sincere Grace be with all those who Love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity Eph. 6.24 If there is not Sincerity at the Root besure the Fruit is corrupt Hypocrisie is the distruction of many but Sincerity Integrity and Uprightness preserveth the Soul wherefore were Noah Job and others counted Perfect it was not because they were Perfect in their obedience but because their Love was Sincere this makes the Scripture give such an excellent Charactor of them Sincerity is as it were the Salt which seasons every duty and a Sincere Love although but weak in the actings is that which savours of a right Gospel Spirit 5ly It is a fervent Love Rom. 12.11 Fervent in Spirit Serving the Lord. It is true that this Love may not always Seraphin like be in a bright burning flame but yet where once it is wrought by the Spirit it never after is quite extinguished for when it flames not it does burn and when it burns not clearly there are some scintilla's and Sparks which keep it from quite going out and when the Cinders of Corruption are blown away it kindles up into a flame again Let one who hath this fervent Love through invigilancy fall into Sin or neglect duty it cools and damps the fire of his affection for a time but let him come again to the ordinances and by Faith Drink a draught of the warm Blood of Christ and by Prayer blow up the heat of his affections it will prove but like the Water the Smith Casts upon the fire which seemingly Puts it out but when he hath blown a while it flames more violently I say not this to incourage any to make tryal by Sin but if it be so with any that now find their Love but cold which formerly was fervent they may see the cause be wise to improve and apply the Remedy this Love I say is Ardent Love which warms the heart for it is a ray from the Sun of righteousness which sets the Soul all in a Divine feaver 6thly This Love is total I mean it is with the whole heart God hates a divided Heart or as the Hebrew hath it a Heart and a Heart one as it were for God and another for the World and Sin but God will have the whole or none therefore it is said Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God Mat. 22.37 Deut. 6.5 with all thy Heart with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind See here how many Times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all is expressed as God is of an indivisible essence so he would not have that which is his due to be divided now the true Saint is very well content that God should have all he would have none to be Copartner with God and Christ but desires that his Love and affections may wholly be fixed and set upon the right objects when God saith to the person who hath this Love my Son give me thy heart he is ready to respond and say Lord here am I take the whole of my heart nay take the all of my all let me be but thine and that for ever 7thly and lastly It is a constant and permanent Love as Christ said unto his Disciples Jo. 15.9 Continue ye in my love so may I say to you See that this love abide and continue in you For if your Love be of an Evangellick nature it is a permanent Love 1 Cor. 13.8 Love never faileth Christ spake of some whose Love should fail them but that which is durable ends in Salvation Mat. 24.12.13 Because Iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall wax cold but he that indures to the end the same shall be saved He whose Love keeps warm and abideth shall certainly obtain Salvation as the love of God towards his People is an everlasting love Jer. 31.3 So he expects that their love should be a permanent love God hates those who draw back Heb. 10.38 but it is the nature of this love to press forward to increase and aspire till it comes unto the Center from whence it came He that hath this love maintains it in adversity as well as prosperity when the Clouds do darken the Face of God as well as when the Sun-shine of this love beams forth upon the Soul many of the Saints have experienced this they have found their love hottest when their afflictions have been heavyest when most shaken by the World they have been most confirmed in their love to God and Christ I come now to the objects of this spiritual evangelick love and I shall speak of them first negatively shewing what are not the objects of this love 2ly possitively what they are 1. Negatively what are not the objects 1. Not Sin neither in ones self or in another The Soul that hath this Divine love in it cannot but hate all Sin Psal 119.101 and 104. I have refrained my feet from every evil way v. 104. I hate every false way v. 113. I hate vain thoughts but thy law do I love As God is said to be of purer Eies then to behold Iniquity so the Saints are of purer Hearts then to love Iniquity Sin hath brought bitterness to their souls therefore they now abhor it they have no love or liking at all for Sin it doth not fix upon Iniquity as a delectable and lovely object but hates and flees from all base lusts which seek to insnare the Soul 2ly It is not fixed upon Satan for although no Creature mearly as a Creature is to be the object of our hatred because it declares something of the wisdom and power of the Creator in giving existence and being to such a Creature yet Satan in his Sinful lapsed State and condition as an Enemy to God Christ and the well being of our immortal Souls ought to be the object of our hatred 1 Pet. 5.8 For he goes about like a Roaring lyon seeking whom he may devour He makes it his great imployment to effect the ruin of poor Souls therefore he is become the object of hatred 3ly It is not placed upon this teâ—rene dying and perishing world love to God and Christ in that measure and degree as it should be cannot consist with an eager and earnest love of the world Jam. 4.4 Ye Adulterers and Adulteresses know ye not that the Friendship of the World is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a Friend of the World is the Enemy of God This is further manifest in 1 Jo. 2.15 Love not the World neither
the children of the most high 6ly Faithfull Ministers of the Gospel in an especial manner have an interest in this love The persons that have this right love cannot but esteem of the Ministers of Christ and love them because they are Messengers and Embassadors sent from God for the good of their Souls 2 Cor. 5.20 Now then we are Embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled unto God Their feet are beautiful because they proclaim the glad tidings of Salvation and are Co-workers with God in the conversion of sinners from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to serve the living God 1 Cor. 3.9 for we are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Co-labourers with God now upon these and the like considerations this Evangellic Love flows forth toward the Ministers of Christ and it is manifested three ways 1. by obeying them in the Lord and doing those things which they injoyn from the word of truth as Christ saith He that heareth you heareth me and he that receiveth you receiveth me and he that keepeth my sayings will keep yours also Jo. 15.20 Obedience in these things is a great demonstration of a real and sincere Love 2. It is manifest by the high estimation of them 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and Doctrine There is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Maximè principally those who are laborious in preaching the Doctrines of the Gospel it is evident that we do not love that person who we esteem not according to his deserts and degree 3. In allowing them a chearful and competent maintenance according to the capacity of them over whom the Lord hath set them to feed them in the way to life eternal 7ly The objects of the Love are the word of God and his Commandments and this is a certain rule to try thy Love by for if a person should propose this Question to me how may I do to know whether I have a true Evangellic Love which is a fruit of the Spirit of God I would answer by this See if you love the Commandments and the word of God as the Apostle John saith 1 Epist 5.3 By this we know we are the Children of God if we love God and keep his Commandments he that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings Here we may clearly and evidently perceive that a Love to the Commandments doth demonstrate our Love to God and Christ to be real and if it be so then we may conclude that it will never fail as 1 Cor. 13.8 But will indure for ever How did David declare himselfe to be a man after Gods own heart but by this in expressing the greatness of his Love to the law of God as in Psal 119.72.97 vers 163. O how I love thy Law it is my Meditation all the day long I love it above Gold and silver So in Psal 19.10 But how few Davids are there How few are there of his Spirit to be found in the World on the contrary most trample under foot the Law of God and esteem Gold and trash and Lusts above it but yet the true believer and disciple of Christ doth greatly love that holy law and with the Apostle delights in it after the inward man Rom. 7.22 8ly This Love has Souls for its objects As it was the greatness of Christs Love to Souls next to the obedience to his Fathers will which brought him from Heaven to Earth and made him willing to devest himself of his glory and take upon him the form of a Servant Phil. 2.6 7 8. So they who have this Love of Christ wrought in their Souls by the holy Spirit are vehemently carried out with Love and desire after the good of Souls He that in some measure apprehends what a great thing 't is to be saved cannot but desire the Salvation of all others If upon inquiry you find no sensible and real Love to Souls then conclude there is but little of this grace of Love within you The person in whose heart this grace is implanted pants after nothing more than the eternal Salvation of his own Soul and the Souls of his Relations Friends and acquaintance It may be said of them as it is of God 1 Tim. 2.5 They would have all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth What was it that made the Apostles and Servants of Christ in all Ages suffer so much and yet willingly It was these two Principles First their Love to Christ 2 Cor. 5.14 For the Love of Christ constraineth us Secondly their zealous love and desire of the everlasting salvation of Immortal Souls they were willing according to that Scripture to lay down their Lives for the good of the Brethren scil Believers Now see if your Love be such that you earnestly desire the well being of the Souls of those who are about you or related to you 9ly The objects of this Love are all the institutions of Christ O how lovely are his Ordinances to his beloved ones Prayer is Lovely and aimable because it is the Key that unlocks the Gates of Heaven and opens the very Bosome of God so that he is ready to confer plentiful treasures of grace upon this divine Lover hearing of Gods word is delectable to such an one because therein the Love glory and Transcendent excellencys of Christ are displayed and the will of the Father clearly revealed to the Soul and thence the Soul derives finds grace communicated out of the fulness of Christ because it is the means of conveyance the Sacraments are amiable because they are Seals of Heaven by which God makes over himself and all to believers assures them of the stability faithfulness and everlastingness of his Love in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper the believer by Faith beholds Christ broken and bleeding for his Sins and it becomes nourishment to the Soul in it the Soul injoys communion with God Christ and Blessed Saints these Priviledges render the ordinances very lovely delectable to Believers I might run through others as Reading Meditating and holy conferrence which are all very lovely to the Evangellic Lover 10ly and lastly Grace and Holyness these bare so much of God in them that the Apostle calls them the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given to us exceeding great and pretious Promises that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the corruption that is in the World through Lust Grace hath a lovely aspect and holyness shines forth like a Beam of Heaven in the Eyes of them whose Hearts are full of Love to Divine objects Grace and Holyness being the Image of God and the way and means through Christ to Heaven and happiness are intirely beloved the Divine Lover is so enamoured with the excellency and true worth of Grace that he esteems it above all terrene
Rev. 3.21 He that overcometh shall sit down with me in my Throne Thou shalt Raign with Christ in that Kingdom for ever now this Kingdom is a transcendently glorious Kingdom it is the Court of the great Jehova it is a rich Kingdom full of treasure no want there read but Rev. 21. It is an invincible Kingdom all the Black Regiments of the infernal Prince cannot overcome it Lastly it is an everlasting Kingdom it will abide as long as God is and that will be to all Eternity and thou shalt be Crowned with a Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 I could be much larger in every one of these Particulars but I have much exceeded what I intended being desirous to exalt Christ in thine estimation and allure thee to come to and close with him seeing he so graciously invites thee 7. Thou shalt have God Christ and the blessed Spirit and what a priviledg is this to have God to be thy God this is the great blessing of the new covenant Jer. 31.33 This shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my People See hear Soul what a blessing thou wilt obtain God will be thine what canst thou desire if he be thine then his power is ingaged to defend and protect thee Psal 84.11 Psal 73.24 Psal 103.13 Exod. 34.36 I will be a Sun and a Shield saith God to those that walk uprightly And such are the Souls who come unto Christ his wisdom shall direct thee his love Pity thee his Mercy pardon thee but what shall I say I might run through all the Attributes of God for some way or other they are imployed for thy good Happy is that Soul whose God is the Lord for he can bring good out of Evil to thee he can make all things work together for thy good I cannot number up all the mercys which are contained in this one but let me tell thee in a word it is the Mercy of Mercys for if we seriously consider that those people ever since the lapsation of Adam were looked upon as the most miserable who were said to be without God as the Apostle speaks of the condition of the Gentiles before the Gospel came among them Eph. 2.12 They were without God in the World i. e. They had no saving knowledg of God as Christ saith Jo. 17.3 This is Life eternal to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent They had no knowledg of God in Christ moreover the words implys they had no God in covenant with them they were Aliens to the commonwealth of Israel now seeing this is so miserable a condition to be without God to have no interest in him no access unto him no smiles from him it must on the contrary be granted that it is a signal blessing to have God to be our God now this inestimable benefit is confered upon the Soul in and by the Lord Jesus as in Rom. 5.1.2 Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus vers 2. By whom also we have access unto that grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God Thus we see when the Soul comes to Christ by Faith then it is justifyed and hath free access to God which before it had not It now can cry Abba Father Rom. 8.15 2. Christ himself will be thine and thou shalt be his 1 Cor. 3.23 Ye are Christs and Christ is Gods Christ will be a head to communicate Life unto thee and also to rule thee he will be a Mediator and Intercessor at the Right hand of the Father in thy behalf 1 Jo. 2.1 O consider what it is to have Christ to be thine for if he be thine he will be a hiding place for thee from all those tempestuous storms that may arise against thee Isa 8.14 He is called a Sanctuary this must be for his own Isa 22.2 A man shall be for a hiding place and for a Covert from the Storm this Man is the Lord Jesus Col. 3.3 Our Life is hid with Christ in God Now Christ will be a hiding place a sanctuary From 1. The wrath of Men that may be inraged against his Servants Pro. 18.19 The name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous flee into it and are safe Thus he defended Luther from all malice of the Pope and his Emissaries and many more instances I could give out of History the word of God but I should be too prolix and tedious then but as he has been to his Servants so he will be to thee if thou comest unto him 2. From the wrath of God which will inevitably destroy and consume all those who are out of Christ 1 Thes 1.10 Jesus who redeemeth us from wrath to come It must be Christ alone that can hide thee and defend thee from the wrath of God 1 Pet. 5.8 3. From the wrath and malice of Satan who goes about like a Roaring Lyon Christ keeps his Sheep from being destroyed by him Jo. 10.28 I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never Perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hands 2. If thou hast Christ he will be a Redeemer to thee Rev. 5.9 Who has redeemed us with his Blood he paid a sufficient price 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 1.18.19 Tit. 2.14 Gal. 3.13 Jo. 15.19 Jo. 14.16 it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with his own pretious Blood He is a Redeemer from Sin from the World and from the Curse of the Law and he hath redeemed thee for everlasting Glory 3. He will be a Mediator between God and thee he will Mediate for Pardon for thy Sins for acceptance with God for grace for thy Soul for his Spirit to guide thee for perseverance that thou mayst hold out to the end Jo. 17.15 Christ prayed that Peters Faith might not fail lastly Jo. 6.35 he mediates for a Crown of Righteousness what priviledges are all these wilt thou not come to Christ upon these terms if thou hast Christ he will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 food for thy Soul he will be Righteousness to thee 1 Cor. 1.30 God has made him to be wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption unto every one that believeth in him In a word Christ is all and in all Col. 3.11 Therefore thou wilt be no looser but an infinite gainer if thou hast the Lord Jesus for thy Portion for he is the Eternal delight of the Father the glory of Angells the admiration of Saints 2 Thes 1.10 3. The holy Spirit will be thine saith Christ Jo. 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever ver 17. Even the spirit of truth whom the World cannot receive because it seeth
Luk. 15.19 My heart condemns me 1 Joh. 3.20 But do thou justify me upon the account of thy free grace in thy Son the Lord Jesus 6thly and lastly It doth in all still declare God to be just let his proceedings be never so severe Neh. 9.33 speaking there of the Afflictions God had brought upon the Children of Israel for their sins Howbeit saith he Thou art just in all thou hast brought upon us for thou hast done right but we have done wickedly Psal 51.4 That thou mightest be just when thou speakest and clear when thou judgest I have sinned and it is just with thee to condemn me whatsoever thou bringest upon me yet thou art just for I have transgressed thy commands 2dly The second Property is to depart and turn away from iniquity Man since the fall hath a natural pronity and propensity to follow sin and vanity but in true repentance there is a forsaking and turning from sin which the Schoolmen call the Terminus à quo the Term from which every sincere penitent doth turn there must be a tergiversation and forsaking all Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity There are these four things implyed in our departing from Iniquity 1. A turning from it and forsaking of it a bidding adieu to all and every sin Acts 26.18 To turn them from darkness unto light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 3.26 God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning every one of you away from his Iniquity Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous Man his thoughts in which Scripture it is evident that to depart from sin is to forsake it utterly not to depart from it as a man doth from a Friend only for a while and with intentions of returning again but it must be a forsaking of it as one would do a strange and unpleasant Country designing never to return to it more 2. Cleansing ones self Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness Isa 1 16. Wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man therefore purge himself from these scil sins he shall be a vessel to honour sanctified and meet for the Masters use There must be a purifying and cleansing where there is right departing from iniquity not only the outside but the inside must be washed ‖ Jam. 4.8 the heart as well as the hand the fountain being corrupt and defiled it must be purified before any pure streams will issue there 3. The abstaining from all evil both internal and external 1 Thes 5.22 Abstain from all appearance of evil If but the shaddow of sin doth appear we must post away from it the very thoughts of evil God takes notice of therefore they are to be abstained from for they are as really sins as if they were acted externally Jer. 4.14 How long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee Vain thoughts are offensive to God and they are transgressions of his holy Law Prov. 24.9 The thoughts of foolishness is sin As to External sins I know it will be granted by most if not all that we should abstain from them 2 Tim. 2.22 Flee youthful lusts but follow righteousness 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly Beloved I beseech you as strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which War against the Soul 4thly and lastly The absession or departing from Iniquity is to go the quite contrary way scil the way of righteousness and holiness 2 Tim. 2.22 Flee youthful lusts but follow Righteousness Faith Charity Peace with them that call on the Lord with a pure heart As there is the departing from the one there is a walking in the other it is not enough to cease to do evil but there must be a learning to do well Isa 1.17 There is a way called the way of holiness which the righteous must walk in Isa 35.8 A high-way shall be there and a way and it shall be called the way of holiness the unclean shall not pass over it Christ hath redeemed his not only from Iniquity but that they should be Zealous of good works Tit. 2.14 3dly The next property of Evangelic Repentance is with the whole heart to turn to the Lord and this is called the Terminus ad quem the Term to which every true penitent does turn there were some we read of who returned but not to God Hosea 7.16 They returned but not to the most high It may be they turned from the gross and notorious sins to private and seemingly lesser sins the Prodigal turns covetous and the openly prophane become secret hypocrites but this is no repentance for there must be a total turning to the Almighty as in Jer. 4.1 If thou wilt return O Israel saith the Lord return unto me to me and to none other for else it is but a mocking of God and cheating our own selves to rest any where short of God is not real Repentance for it is the nature of it when wrought by the Spirit to lead the Soul home to God Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the Man of Iniquity his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will multiply to Pardon There must be a converting to God the Lord for he is the Center of the Souls happiness as the needle once touch'd with the Loadstone turns to the North Pole continually so the heart once touched with true Repentance turns evermore to God The understanding will and affections are all now God-ward as being the chief Good 4thly The Nature of it is to bring forth fruit Mat. 3.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bring forth fruit meet for Repentance It may be rendered Therefore make manifest fruits worthy of Repentance Let the fruits of Grace Righteousness and holyness declare your Repentance to be true when the Tree brings forth no fruit we conclude it dead and sapless so if there is no fruit to be found no amendment of life no love to God and goodness then we may certainly conclude this work is not done upon the Soul for the true tears of Repentance do so water and bedew the Soul that forever after it is most fertile it is not as a Plant in a dry ground but as a Tree planted by the Rivers of water which brings forth fruit in due season Psal 1.3 If the ground brings forth nothing but Briers and Thorns it is near unto cursing if sin doth still predominate over the Soul and it is lead captive by lusts and enormities then it is far from blessing or partaking of that Evangellic grace of Repentance for where it is wrought by the Spirit of God it doth certainly bring forth fruit in some thirty in some sixty and in some a hundred fold to the eternal glorification of that God who works all