Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	ghost_n	holy_a	joy_n	5,983	5	6.9330	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75536	Comfort for beleevers about their sinnes & troubles. In a treatise shevving. That true beleevers, how weake soever in faith, should not be opprest, or perplext in heart; by any thing whatever befalls them; either in sinne, or afflictions. Together with divers other comfortable observations; gathered out of that counsell, given by Christ to his Apostles: and in them, to all beleevers. In John chap. 14. verses 1,2,3,4. / By John Archer, Master of Art, sometime preacher of All-hallowes Lumbard-street. London.	Archer, John, Master of Art.	1645 (1645)	Wing A3612; Thomason E289_7; ESTC R200122	80,025	82

his nature and the of springe of his person Whereas the promises are the issue of his mind will he is the expresse image of the Fathers person whereas the promises are but the expression of his purpose wherefore faith joyning the Soule immediately to Christ must needs greatly strengthen against trouble in that it derives the sweetest strongest most pure comforts Thus much for the Second Reason THIRDLY Faith in Christ is such a speciall antidote against 3. Reason Bec. Faith in Christ brings the holy Ghost trouble because it brings the Holy Ghost into the heart in that it joynes the Soule to Christ as to an head or roote whose Spirrit the holy Ghost is and so conveyes him into them as the ingrasting an impe or science into a stock derives the sapp of that stock into the science Gala. 3. 14. Now the holy Ghost gives strength to the Soule as bancks doe to water which of it selfe is weake Which strengthens the Soule yeilds falls asunder but strenthened with bancks becomes strong and mighty Therefore Eph. 3. 16. he beggs their strengthning by the Spirrit not onely in the naturall spirrit but in the Inner man the regenerate spirrit needs strengthening from the holy Ghost in that it also is a creature yea besids or over above the holy Ghost sometimes vouchsafes such a presence reall sence of himselfe of the things of Jesus Christs as fills the heart with glorious and inexpressible joy as the Sunne doth a roome with light when it ariseth which is a joy very differing from and better then that which faith gives of which we spake before being a glimpse first fruites of heaven a presence of God whereby the heart is lifted up aboue the reach of any feares or greife which so bore up the Apostles in all their suffrings as in the Acts. Thus Faith in Christ uppon these grounds gives stronger comfort Thus faith in Christ gives c. then any thing else can doe And faith in Christ doth it more then faith in God That is faith in Christ as come in the flesh yeilds stronger comfort then faith in God promising Christ because through Christ come is that actually done which is the meritorious cause ground of conveyance of all communion with God and comfort from him Wherefore more must be conveyed then when this was but to be done and in the promise Therefore now God dispenseth more of the Spirrit and gives clearer revelations of Christ then ever he did before So that as it is said of the Gentiles that their conversion was an hiden misterye before though it yet was knowne darkely Even so the misterye of Christ his Person Righteousnes Merrits c. was not knowne before his comming in comparison of what it now is nor the priviledges by him wherefore there could not be so much comfort then as now may be Christ in the flesh come is called Gods arme Isa 53. 1. because he thereby strengethneth himselfe to give us more grounds of comfort and strengthneth our hearts to take more comfort then every any before Christs comming could have Therefore the Arke which did tipify Christ is called the Arke of Gods strength Psal 78. 61. 132. 8. Wherefore when ever troubles assaile you that are beleevers fly presently to Christ even to him in the word and promise In troubles fly to Christ which holds him forth in his Person Natures Workes Offices and leane thereon And fly not first or onely to the particular promises of good things to these in the second place goe by faith but to Christ in the first place To pitch faith on God the promises is so to doe as they did that were Jewes before Christs comming but to pitch your faith on Christ is the Christian way It is folly unkindnes since God hath given us his Sonne to leane first on his word in the second place which they had not of old that yet wee doe it not ye doe Else you slight him and Gods mercy in g●ving him slite him Gods mercy in giving him if you doe not pitch your faith on him Indeed before Christ came faith was to be pitcht on God his promise of Christ but now Christ is come ye must pitch your faith on Christ himselfe then on particular promises wherefore the New Testament makes Christ the object of our faith and this indeed is to honor the Sonne as ye did the Father John 5. 23. that whereas before Christ his comming the Father was beleeved in Now the Sonne should be beleeved in and therefore it is that beleevers are so heart-eaten heart-broken with troubles because they fly not presently by faith to Christ and why though they put forth in particular promises they oft get noe stay because they trust not in the promises in the second place in from and through Christ Now because Directions how to use improve faith faith in Christ is so prime a meanes of helpe against all troubles I will give you some directions how to use improve your faith in Christ so as it may preserve your hearts from trouble First Set before you the objects of your faith namely Christ the 1 Sett before you the objects of faith promises rest not content with your knowledge of them or that you have lookt on them heeretofore but when ye are freshly assaulted with trouble set them afresh before you againe Christ in his Person Natures Offices Workes and if you can find out particular promises for your present particular case for particulars best helpe and come most home and since God hath condescended to speake to particulars wee should also looke into them find them out but if you cannot find out particular promises for your case then set the general promises before you as Heb. 11. 13. see them looke on them and gaine your hearts to be perswaded of them that is of the reality and truth of them then imbrace them that is relye on them as yours I say put forth all these acts afresh as ye have fresh occasions for faith is to be from faith to faith Rom. 1. 17 and beleeving in Christ is called eating drinking John 6. because it is to be renewed as strength decayes or now strength is required new fresh veiwings This gives fresh vigor and acting uppon those objects gives new fresh vigor Secondly make your reason discourse worke uppon those 2 Make reason worke on those objects objects which your faith setts before you even as when an object is before the eye the Soule rests not in viewing it but the phansy and understanding worke uppon it about it deduceth drawes divers conclusions from it even so when Christ the promises are by faith set before you ye must use reason discourse to inferr and draw thence such forces of cōclusions as may arme the heart against the assaults of

reason but that in the whole worke ye expect nothing from your owne worke but being emptied of all sufficiency or fitnes in your selves ye doe wholy onely expect the fruite from the holy Ghost his assistance as Fayling in some of this a cause of not having help he is the Spirit of Christ pertaining to you as united to Christ by faith The fayling in some of this is the reason why beleevers doe consider discourse on the objects of faith and yet have no helpe or strength come thence Wherefore be carefull Wherefore 1. Not to leane on your owne spirit memory wit no nor on your grace but know that ye must have a fresh influence from the Spirit 1. Knowe the Spirit must assist and his assistance As your faith cannot act it selfe for naturall things cannot worke with out a fresh concurrence of God in him we move Wherefore his suspending and not assisting the fire caused it not to burne the three children though he put no impediment in its way And though grace be stronger then nature yet it cannot act or move it selfe without the concurrence assistance of the holy Ghost for it comes from Christ as light from the Sunne by an effluxe Mal. 4. 2. which ever supposeth a fresh act to every shining The grace is in Christ though it worke in us as the light is in the Sunne though it shines on us 2. Tim 2. 1. Wherefore Christ must by a fresh act put it forth if it worke in us Wherefore all things are said to be done by Jesus strengthning Philip. 4. 13. not onely by strength which he had given but which he is at the present in a continuall giving Every act of faith requiers the power of God afresh administred 2. Thes 1. 11. fullfill the worke of faith with power that is Gods power for one act of faith is to evidence things which to doe he begs strengthning by might from the Spirit Eph. 3. 16. 17. And as the holy Ghost must assist the grace of faith before it can act so must he doe some what to the objects of faith before they can worke upon faith as the light must shine on colours before they can move the eye that is the Spirit must shew them to the Soule which is called a revealing of them 1. Cor. 2. 10. 12. not onely at the first but every time that they draw forth faith he must reveale them which is done by giving in convincingly his owne testimony of those things which presents them to the Soule as light doth colours to the eye Wherefore he so prayes Ephes 1. 17. 18. that by the Spirit they may have revelation to know the things they beleeved hoped for So that without the Spirits ayde nothing can be done in beleeving as in praying it must be in the holy Ghost Jude 20. that is in his strength assistance So also must it be in beleeving therefore he joynes building up in faith praying because without praying we cannot make progresse in our beleeving 2. Consider That the holy Ghost assists onely as he is Christs 2. As Christs Spirit spirit that is sent from him merited by him as he is God and man the head of the Church For in no other way or respect doth the holy Ghost assist Wherefore all that he doth is said to be of Christs John 16. 14. and it is called Christs strengthning Phil. 4. 13. 19. whereas it is the Spirit which doth it Eph. 1. 17. 3. 16. if thus he be not considred he is taken under a wrong notion and Christ is wronged for he glorifies not Christ John 16 14. and he will not assist 3. Ye must be carefull to consider that the holy Ghost assists 3. As members of Christ you as members of Christ by vertue of your union with Christ by faith for how can the spirite of the head come into one but by its union with the head and how comes the sapp to flow from the roote into the branch but as it is joyned to the roote Eph. 4. 15. 16. from the head being joyned to it is edified 4. And lastly Ye must be carefull to looke up unto the holy 4. Looke up to the holy Ghost Ghost to assist you cast an eye on him as ye doe on that whose helpe you expect and in the expectation thus of him must ye sett upon the worke of acting your faith This is the second direction how to improve Faith Thirdly get your Faith to be evident add a reflect act to the 3. Direction Get saith to to be evident direct act of faith That is labour to know that ye doe beleeve as well as to beleeve For Election being evidenced by Faith and a title to Christ and all promises depending on beleeving the soule cannot be perswaded of its propriety interest in God Christ the Promises and so cannot be comforted against troubles till it knowes it beleeves Faith may save but it is evidence of faith which onely comforts Wherefore this is one maine end of rhe evidence of faith comforts first Epistle of John as is exprest Chapt. 5. 13. these things I have writt to you that beleeve that ye may knowe ye have eternal life beleeve that is and beleeve that ye beleeve This reflecting act whereby we can looke on what we doe consider it take comfort in it is a maine excellency of a reasonable creature by which we excell bruite beasts should be exercised by us Unto the doing whereof we must labour For which 1. To knowe the act of faith what it is and to knowe that it is 1. Labour to knowe the act of faith what it is not the strength but the truth of faith which evidenceth election Acts. 13. 48. those ordained to life beleeved some with more some with lesse faith but every degree of it betokened life eternal and gives title to Christ happines for faith is but an hand or eye which toucheth or looks to Christ that he may worke all its works which a small faith doth as truely as a strong wherefore we never find in Scripture that Christ rejected any for the smallnes of their faith 2. Labour to view your owne hearts and see if you have not put 2. See if you have done it forth that small act of faith faith may be seene in its selfe its owne act aswell as in its fruits effects though these also may must be considred Wherefore John putts beleevers much upon signes By its selfe fruites of faith in his first Epistle which was writt to helpe to the evidence of faith and sometimes faith is best perceived by its fruites By its fruits Yet some times it is best seene by its selfe its owne act of relying on Christ and a carefull search into the heart whither such an act be put forth or no would oft discover it but neither

by it selfe nor by its fruites can it be discerned except the holy Ghost assist helpe us to perceive it Therefore 3. Ye must labour for the helpe of the Spirit Who as he onely 3. Labour for the help of the spirit reveales these things to us 1. Cor. 2. 10. 12. So he onely can reveale them or shew them to be in us He is the Lords candle in the innermost parts or chambers of the belly Pro. 20. 27. he in this sence aswell as ours in that because he onely can shew to us the grace that is in us As light onely can discover to a man the things that are in his house Who onely shewes us the grace that 's in us He must shine on our faith its fruites before we can have evidence of them he must give his divine testimony to us of them that they are right before we can beleeve it as he must of God Christ the Promises before we can beleeve them our owne spirit though renewed by grace cannot witnes alone to us except the Spirit of God Not our owne spirits alone doe joyne with it in witnes Rom. 8. 16. which is the ground of those sayings Rom. 9. 1. when he was to witnes But heere the Question is Whither in this coeworking of the holy Ghost with our spirits to make evident our grace It is requisite A Question resolved that he should be as clearly knowne to be the holy Ghost who warrants our grace as we know it to be the Sunne when it shines Indeede in the immediate assurance which is grounded on his divine testimony alone it is certaine it must be so or else it cannot give full assurance put out of all doubt But that in this assurance which is mediate and only witnesseth with our grace shewes that to us That it should be so evident that it is the holy Ghost that is the question if it be not enough that the grace be made so evident as that according to the Scriptures the heart is confident it is true though it be not most sure that it is the holy Ghost who saith it is true Now that ye may have this witnes of the Spirit ye must 4. Labour unto all obedience to shune every sinne and doe every 4. Labour unto all obedience out of love to Christ duty and that out of love to Christ John 14. 21. then will he manefest himselfe to you that is by his Spirit he will then give you evidence of himselfe of his love to you of your interest in him happynes by him General obedience fruitfullnes accompanied which carries with it much evidence and comfort with growth increase carryes with it much evidence much comfort John 15. 8. 9. 10. And besids it brings in by way of a meetenes preparation more of the witnes evidence of the holy Ghost for though the holy Ghost be given to beleevers absolutely and not with respect to their obeydience on which condition he abode in Adam in innocency yet his manifestations in comfortable evidences are dispenced according to their obeydience growth fruitfullnes for such comforts are wages respect working As. The Apostle 2. Peter 1. 5. to 12. exhorts them to a constant diligence to increase graces therefore he saith giving all diligence because The 2. of Peter 1. 5. to 12. expounded it will make them fruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ verse 8. That is in the comfort evidence of their interest in Christ happines by Christ whereas the want of these things verse 9. deprives of assurance comfortable evidence He that lackes these things is blind c. that is he cannot behold his evidence assurance nor can he see a farr of that is he cannot comfort himselfe in thoughts of his happines to come So neither can he be comforted by that that is past He forgets that he was purged that is he looseth the assurance of Justification Therefore 1. John 1. 7. we must walke in light then Christs bloud sensibly clenseth from guilt Whereas else though he remembers that there was such a thing and so in that sence forgets it not yet he cannot be comforted by the remembrance of it and therefore is sayed to forget it as they are said in Scripture to forget Gods Commands who though they remember that there are such yet are not ordered by them And this Exhortation to provide for their comfort by this meanes the Apostle Peter yet inforceth farther verse 10. By expressing what it is in its effect It is a making sure their Calling Election He that gives all diligence to add to Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge c. as was before exhorted to doth but diligently make sure his Calling and Election whence will follow that they shall never fall namely into dispairing doubts and questions about their estate nor into a state of darkenes and losse of comfort because as he adds verse 11. By this meanes they shall have an aboundant entrance ministred to them into the everlasting kingdome of Christ that is not ment of a locall enterance into heaven For heaven is no where called the Kingdome of Christ but the Fathers Kingdome Christ resignes his Kingdome at the last day of this World 1. Corrinth 15. 24. and the opposition verse 9. shewes that it is ment of assurance and a making sure our Calling Election Wherefore it is thus ment that by thus doing ye shall have a filling measure of the joy of assurance of your eternal salvation which Joy is so vaste as ye must enter it it cannot enter into you but yet ye shall have an abundant entrance into it wheread if you doe not thus ye shall be debared enterance into it which joy of assurance is the kingdome of Christ as Rom. 14. 17. called indeed Gods kingdome that is Christs as the next verse shewes given him by God the Father who is also God as well as his Father And this Kingdome of Christ though in this world and resigned at the last day is yet as heere so oft else where called everlasting in Why Christs Kingdome called everlasting many respects and heere especially in this because its joy happines shall be perfected swallowed up in the everlasting happynes of heaven Wherefore though ye cannot ever growe sensibly yet persue after growth fruitfullnes humble your soules under the want of it give not over but make it your busines to presse to it renew upon a failing your purposes indevors after it this is evangelically to doe it and you shall obtaine the evidence seale Evangelicall obevdience what of the holy Ghost the joy whereof will abundantly strengthen your hearts against all trouble Thus I have inlarged my selfe unto the helping of you to improve Faith In Christ his choicest medicine agt. heartakeing himselfe being the matter of it Therefore slight it not

3. 18. Seeing by Faith a Divine Revealation Christs Glory and be turned into it is made the Summe of all Christianity Gal. 2. 20. Christ lives in him And he lives by Faith in Him So Ephes 1. 17. 18. 19. Increase of Life is all put in the apprehensions by Faith of Revealations of Christ the Glory with him and so Eph. 3. 16. 20. Now the Life of Christianity lying in this The Consolations fetcht hence must needs be most effectual and most lively and most proper as humane Consolations are most proper to a Man These breed the best Spirits in that they carry the best Spirits with them even the Life it Selfe USE Vse To Blame For not using And Exhort Wherefore Beleevers are to be Blamed for not Vsing And to be Exhorted to Vse more These kind of Antidotes and Cordials These are the proper Phisick of this State of the Gospel Christ hath come and opened to us His Fathers Bosome and shall not we study To use more these Antidotes and beare up our selves by them The Prophets who did but fore see fore heare them were so much taken with them as that they exceedingly labored to prye into them 1. Pet. 1. 10. 11. The Words are significant enquired scearcht intimating 1. Pet 1. 10. ●●●dained both great desire and labor to find out the one Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifing a seeking out by inquirye or question persuing by Questions till it is fully found out And the other Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 implying an exact seeking as for hid things untill one hath every hinte or doite 1. Cor. 2 10. both which implye the utmost exactnes in seeking And the Glory they sought to find is in the greeke Vers 11. latter end exprest in the plural number emphatically shewing its transcendency Yea the Angels desire to looke into these things Vers 12. latter end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by bowing downe to prye in an industrious and most heedfull pryeing alludeing as it is thought to the Cherubs about the Arke who bowed or turned their Heads Faces to the Arke which signified Christ Now we have them spread open before us Can. 5. 1. and seldome cast our eyes on them to comfort us by them I appeale In Gods Name before Whome we now are Who knowes all your course When did you fetch These heavenly Consolatiōs are more generall more strong Comforts then any in Comforts againsts Your Feares Troubles by revolving these heavenly spiritual Treasures of Yours But have ye not still by some other way sought to beare up your Spirits What ingratitude yea what folly is this These Heavenly Consolati●ns are more General more Strong Comforts then any ye can take in First They are more General For they conteine All Comforts whereas 1. More General For they cōte●ne all Comforts as other Consolations carry in them but some perticular Comfort and serve against but some perticular Affliction But These equally helpe against All Troubles and so are much better as the Paraselsian Phisick or that which repaires strengthens whole Nature and repells all Weakenes is beyond your other Phisick which topically is applied onely to some perticular part for some perticular disease And as They are more General So. Secondly They are more Strong Comforts then any though they 2. More Strong For they cōfort in every perticular serve all turnes yet they doe comfort in every perticular much more full through then others which reach onely to the perticular As the Light Heate of the Sunne though it serve every Creature in the World yet it better serves any perticular then a Candle doth Psal 4. 7. The Light of Gods Countenance putts more Gladnes in then aboundance of any worldly thing For these Comforts are Spiritual Immortal Being immortal So reaching the Spirit and so reach the Spirit as it is in it selfe other Comforts onely refresh in such a case and as the Spirit is in by the Body subjected to such or such a state indeed therefore never soake into the intimacy of the Spirit solidly to cōfort that they sprinckle Comforts about the Heart but never put Gladnes into the Heart there is noe suiteablenes twixt them the Soule But These heavenly spiritual Comforts are suited to the Spirit reach it to the full therefore doe most strongly refreshit Also these spirituall Comforts are so vast greate that they take up fill the Soule all other Comforts are to small for the Soules Filling the Soule great Capacity but these fill every corner of the Heart Also these Cōforts doe present to the Soule such great Gloryes Happynesses as hir owne Presenting great Gloryes Happinesses as that they greaten the Soule For such as are the Objects with which the Spirit converseth such is the Spirit Therefore Kings have high great Spirits because they looke on great singular things as their owne Wherefore the Soule looking on these heavenly Things it raiseth the Spirit so that it becomes to bigg highe for troubles from below to bring under whereas all other Cōforts being but from things of the Earth are below the Spirit and may enfeeble abase it but cannot greaten or strengthen it Yea and these heavenly spiritual Comforts are the Comforts which spring from the cheifest Good from the Perfection End Issue of all Therefore are much Stronger then other Comforts which are but the refreshment of the Way to our End And as These heavenly Comforts are more strong So they are more strengthning nourishing to the new Creature in us then any other Cōsolations Strenthening nour●shing the new Creature These as ye have heard carry the very Life of Christianity in them and therefore must most of all revive cherrish the Inner Man These at first bred therefore doe best feede nourish the new Creature as was said before in another case ordinary phisick removes the cause of a disease and so the sicknes but no way repaires or strengthens Nature but the Paraselsian Phisick cures by reparing and strengthning Nature And so doe these Consolations helpe the Soule against Troubles by strengthning the Inner Man The best Christian may observe that the new Creature in them is never so much renewed as by the meditation on these heavenly spirituall Considerations Wherefore I beseech you resolve it and hold to it to use more The Use further pressed these kinds of Cordials when your Spirits droope in any Trouble Why should ye rather choose to drinke downe the extracts of Farth then of Heaven of the Creature then of God Christ Oh doe not so but labor to know understand these kinds of Consolations and to acquaint your selves better with them and to make them more familiar with your spirits and to growe into more assured perswasiō of your interst in them Which that ye may doe ye must both obtaine the holy Ghost to reveale them to you for he onely knowes them as a mans spirite doth

the things of a man 1. Cor. 2. 10. 11. and ye must use that Faith which is the evidence of things not seene Heb. 11. 1. which Faith helpes your Soule as the prospective glasse helpes the eye to see these heavenly things which else are so farr off that the Soule cannot perceive them and this act of Faith which makes these heavenly things evident to you will draw in your Soule unto an appropriation and application of them It is a mistake to thinke we may see them by true Faith and not A mistake about Faith in heavenly Comfortes C●●●●● applye them to our selves or that we first applye them and after that see them No No the evidencing of them by true faith spiritually will draw in the Soule to applye them Every Man Creature on whome the Sunne shines takes in the blessing of his influence for his share as pertaining to him The Apostle discribes that Faith which applyes justifies of which he gives many instances throughout the 11. Chap. to the Hebrewes he discribes that very Faith to be an evidence of these things Because where there is such a seeing these things the Heart is brought to embrace and applye them therefore he joynes the evidencing these things hope togeather because this evidencing them will bring forth hope and Vers 13. the seeing them and the being perswaded of them and embracing or saluteing them as their owne are conjoyned for they ever goe togeather because indeed the holy Ghost never reveales them spiritually and as they are to any but to them who have bine chosen to them and shall have a propriety in them Yea it is the same Grace of true holy Faith that makes them evident and shewes them to us and that applies them to Justification though it be a diverse act of the same Grace of Faith yet it is the same Grace For what Faith can the Apostle describe Heb. 11. 1. but that Faith of which he speaks before Chap 10. 38. by which the Just live and that which he exemplifies throughout the 11. Chap. both which are Justifiing Faith Therefore it must be that the Faith which Justifies Sanctifies doth shew evidently spirituall things to us though by a several distinct act from that by which it Justifies Therefore being the same Grace when it hath shewed us spirituall things it will goe on to draw us to applye them to our selves Wherefore get exercise that act of Faith which makes ye see evidently heavenly Things and this will make ye applye them and draw Comfort from them Now in this Worke it is the Gospel which setts the Objects or the heavenly Things before us Then the holy Ghost his Worke in convincing or perswading of the reallity of those Things to our Vnderstandings Is as the Light which shines on those Objects and makes them visible And Faith by His Conviction or Perswasion is as the prospective glasse which inables our understandings to perceive the reallity of them which else it could not Wherefore with this Light of the holy Ghost and this prospective Glasse of Faith with your Spirits Vnderstandings view in the Gospel againe againe the Things of Heaven of Christ and thence fetch Comfort in every Distresse Now to the end ye may be helpt to doe thus I shall in the following Observations open to you divers Things about Heaven and our Glory there which Christ revealed to His Disciples in this Text By doing of which I shall sett the Things before you Which are able aboundantly to Comfort your Hearts But they will be as glorious sights in darkenes to them that cannot see except ye obtaine the holy Ghost to shine on them as the Sunne on Colours And gett that Act of Faith which is the Evidence of Things not seene to lift up or inable your Soules Eye the Vnderstanding to looke on them Which Favour I desire the Lord to afford you And so I proceed THE Discription of HEAVEN And the heavenly Condition of true Reade the Epistle BELEEVERS at the last CHRIST Revealeth in this TEXT Thus. FIRST It is Discribed by the Place it selfe Heaven is an House so called in opposition to a Tent or Tabernacle to shew its Stability and the Stability of their State who live in it Wherefore it is said to have Foundations Heb. 11. 9. more then one many and yet one gives Stability And 1. Pet. 1. 4. It is said to be Incorruptible Vndefiled that fadeth not away This Stability is for Ever and without all Change As appeares both by the Time in which it was Created In the Beginning Gen. 1. 1. That is in the First of all Time and of all Creatures Now all that God first made He made Immortall as the Angels Chaos these Heavens As also by the Manner of Gods making it for he did not extract it out of other things as he did all visible things in this World he made drew them out of the Chaos But he put them forth Immediately from himselfe as he did the Chaos the Angels Mans Soule Now all that God Immediately puts forth makes of Nothing is Immortall Whereas all other things returne unto their first Principles SECONDLY It is Described by Its Relation to God It is Gods House so called Both because He made it Heb. 11. 16. As also because He dwels in it That is in it he puts forth His cheifest Glory as a Prince doth in his Pallace where he dwels much more then in a Tent or other part of his Kingdome So that Its Glory must be as much above any of this Worldly kingdoms As Gods utmost Power Majesty Wisedom Riches which he can put forth are above mans THIRDLY It is Discribed by Its speciall Appropriation to the First Person in Trinity the Father It is God the Fathers House Both because he made it For Creation being the first Worke done on the Creature is specially appropriated to the First Person the Father Also because it is to be His The Sonnes and holy Ghosts being in this World and resigned at the last day that God the Father may be All in All as He is First in the Motions about the Creature 1. Cor. 15. 28. The Fathers People That is the Elect are to dwell there and His Love in Election to be shewed forth there Therefore it is called The Fathers Math. 13. 43. though yet the Sonne holy Ghost are included in it FOURTHLY It is Discribed by Its speciall Relation to Christ though it be God the Fathers House yet He is Christs Father and so it is Christ his Inheritance and Beleevers Inheritance As 1. Pet. 1. 4. in that They be One with Christ Sonnes Heires Insomuch that these Disciples had they loved him as they should would be glad of his departure since he went but to his Father John 14. 28. FIFTLY It is Discribed by Its Capeablenes of

heart as a friends trouble is to his friends for every beleever as he is Abrahās sonne so he is Gods friend as Abraham was Iam 2. 23. a friend to God the Father So to Christ John 15. 15. So to the holy Ghost as appeares by his dealing with them in that he comes into them and he onely immediatly for Christ the Father dwell in them onely by through him I say he comes into them to dwell in them to reveale secrets to them 1. Cor 2. 9. 10 and is greived when they doe amisse Ephes 4. 30. Secondly It frustrats Christs works in a great parte for Christ● 2. It trustrates Christs worke in a greate part works tend not onely to save beleevers from hell when they dye and at the day of judgment but also for present to carry them through this world with out all oppressing or perplexing feares or greife Luke 1. 74. 75. hence said to be called to peace 1. Cor 7. 15. Phil 4. 6. charged to be carefull in nothing for since beleevers be in good tearmes with God and have Christ for their head pertake of divine nature 2 Pet 1. 4. and are clothed with Christs righteousnes are Gods sonnes Christ hath so wrought that as God Christ are in heaven in an vnmixt and undisturbed state of ioy so should beleevers be in a measure so that though they be toucht with troubles yet they should not be borne downe by them as they be led captive by sinne but no sinne raignes in them as there is a seede of God in them which sinnes not 1. Iohn 3. 9. so their may be a touch of trouble but not a subduing by any trouble this hath Christ prepared now whilst they attaine it not they doe frustrate Christs worke for them Thirdly It unfitts them for their Christian service which is to eate 3. It unfitts for their Christi an service the holy things keepe a continuall feaste all their life long 1. Corinth 5. 7. 8. that is to feede by faith with ioy continually on the righteousnes passion merrits of Christ which were tipified by the holy sacrafices feasts Now as none that were sad were to eate of those things Deu 26. 14 wherefore Hanna eate not 1. Sam 1. 7. so none doe so enjoy Christ and his good things as they ought who are perplext with any sinne or trouble whatsoever they doe not as becomes beleevers in Christ Fourthly It brings a consumption weakenes upon their spiritual 4. It brings a Consumption upon the spirrituall strength strength even as it doth on the natural strength for as the joy of the Lord that is ioy in the Lord Christ is our strength Nehe 8 10. and strengthens loynes as a girdle doth Psal 30. 11. So is sorrow and feare our weakenes doth disinable to every worke it puts the soule out of joynte so that it cannot doe And as joy is as oyle to wheeles or wind to sayles or wings to birds so sorrow feare are as waights which depresse or as fetters which manacle make weake unable to doe such oppression contracts streightneth the heart as joy doth enlarge it maks it listles and unwilling to any worke as weakenes of spirrit doth the body 5. It casts an evill report on God Fiftly It casts an evill report on God for its language is that either Gods providence is not in over every thinge which beleevers doe or befalls to them be it sinne or sorrow or elce God overrules and orders it not the best way for them for if it were so how could they be opprest 6. It gives occasion to corruption and the Divell Sixtly It gives occasion to the corruptions of beleevers and to the Divell to send forth divers filthy fumes of impatiency and discontent pride envy unbeleefe to hinder our submission to God for if the heart be opprest it cannot so submit and be quiet as becommeth Vse 1 This is of use by way of Information to such as are not beleevers and are prejudiced against the way of faith holines with this that Of Information to them that judge the way of faith a sad state its a sad state and they must for ever bid adieu to all mitth when once they embrace that way Now I confesse that many beleevers give too great an occasion confirmation to this cavill and it is an aggravation of their folly in such perplexityes that they strengthen the ill opinion of the way of Faith which the world hath but let all unbeleevers and unholy ones know that the way of faith holynes is the onely state of joy and quietnes and that in it onely is the heart armd against all sorrowes feares yea it is contrary to it and a sinne for any in it to be opprest or perplext with sinne or sorrow or feare whatever where as it is a duty for unbeleevers unholy ones to mourne cry as Iam 5. 1. and it is their madnes and folly to laugh and be merry Eccle 2. 2. Indeed faith at first sadds the heart more then any thing because Faith at first sadds more then any thing it letts in the Spirrit of bondage and presents the reallity of sinnes evill and Gods wrath but it heales againe the wound gives sollid everlasting grounds of peace joy and the Spirrit of bondage never returnes againe Rom 8. 15. Sometimes they may fall into trouble by Satan their owne unbeleeving Spirrits but it s a groundles trouble but a dreame of bondage in truth by the Spirrit of God they never are againe led into bondage but now the unholy unbeleever is ever a child of sorrow feare though he be for a while senceles of it as a stone which lyes up in the bladder though it be not felt yet it growes and falls downe at last into the neck of the bladder and torments and kills Sorrow and feare is their duty their due they shall have it yea though they are elect yet being unbeleevers they shall be prickt at the heart and have a spirrit of bondage before they can be saved but the beleever may and ought never to be opprest or perplext Vse 2 This is especially for Exhortation unto true beleevers how weake little soever their faith be that they would not be opprest or For exhortat●on not to be perplext with sinne or sorrow perplext what ever sinne or feare or sorrow by any change may beset them not raise false groundles feaces greifes to themselves I acknowledge that God may leave beleevers to greater falls and sinnes for the matter of them then many unbeleevers though yet God may leave beleevers to greater falls and sinnes for the matter of them then many unbeleevers Yet with greate difference there is a greate difference the one sinning with his whole heart and the other having a seede in him

him gave to him to be his ofspring spowse so through and from him to be indowed with all the riches of the promises though God loved chose them all to injoy the promises yet in Christ through by for him to inherit Ephes 1. 4. he did not choose us with him but in him Wherefore as the Isralits must come to enjoy the promises not by laying hold first on them but by being First borne of Isaac having that union of flesh with him And as a woman hath right to the mans estate not immediately but by being first made one with him even so must people be first of Christ married to him borne of him drawne out of his loynes which is by beleeving therefore borne of God beleeving are conjoyned John 1. 12. 13. before they can lay hold of or claime title to any promise For as the Covenant of Works was made with Adam in The Covenāt of grace made with Christ and in him to his leede through him with those who came out of him So the Covenant of Grace is made with Christ therefore called the Second Adam in through him with all that come out of him by faith are borne of him and it is more necessary to be first made one with Christs person before we can have claime to the promises then it was to be one with of Adam before we could inherite from him because the promises of Grace are more confind first to Christs person that without the person of the Elect then the Covenant of Works was to Adams person without respect to his ofspring For Adam his ofspring were onely considered in a priority of time and order differing Adam before them but not in different state of dignity or favor with God wherefore Adam did noe more then they did in with him but Christs person is more excellent and more loved of God then beleevers did more for to injoy the promises then they his Person becomming incarnate clayming them as due and merriting them for the Elect Therefore much more must it be that we must first lay hold on Christs person before we can on any promise then we need be borne of Adam before we can have title to any of his estate So that it is a dangerous error not to pitch by faith on Christ first and then in the second place on the promises Christ in his Pitch faith on Christ first then on the promises Person Natures Works Merrits must be first layed hold on Indeed it is true that faith cannot lay hold on Christ but in and through a word promise Therefore my meaning is not to carry ye to Christ without or not by the word promise for without this ye never can come to him but meete with Satan as an Angel of light Ye must first close by faith with such a word promise in Scripture as carries exhibits Christ to you but you must not first before through the word and promise ye have closed with Christ by faith lay hold on apply the promises of any good things as Heaven pardon of Sinne the Spirrit or any Grace Thus ye see how faith gives immediate union with Christ himselfe Christ the fountaine of Joy in 2 Respects Now this Christ I say is the onely immediate fountaine of all Joy And that in Two Respects First because all the promises are in him onely he is that one Sea First Bec. all promises are in him out of which doe issue all the springs of promises wherefore in him must be all the springs of ioy comfort as they are all said to be in the Church because of his presence there Psal 87. 7. Yea the promises are better in him much more strong to comfort then they are out of him not onely because he is the cheife best promise himselfe his Person is better then all the promises but also 1. Because the promises in him are in their roote in him they live 1. In the Roote and so are best in him as the Sunne beames in the Sunne the streames in the spring are better live more then in themselves having indeed no being but in from him 2. Because in him they are Eternall as was before shewed have 2. Eternal bin promises actually existing from Everlasting so they are in no other respect and so cannot be disanuled by the Law Sinne which came in but in tyme as the Apostle reasons in a lesse regard Gal. 3. 17. 3. Because in him is their efficacye towards us they being his onely 3. Having their efficasye were not sure to us till he had confirmed the bequeathment of them to us upon his death for on that supposition were they bequeathed to us as ye heard before 4 Because in from Christ they are exhibited administred performed 4. In him exhibited to us to us as he is their owner testator who by his death ratifies them unto us makes them surely ours So he is the executor and administrator of them who dispenseth them to us John 14. 14. He doth it and therefore he saith all power that is of administation and of execution in heaven and earth is put into his hands Therefore the promises and through him streames forth the most sweete comforts In which respects he is the immediate springe of all joy Secondly he is the immediate springe of all joy in an higher greater respect Secondly in respect that Christ is the Seate of that Joy which is communicable Because Jesus Christ is the seate receptacle of that joy which is communicable from God to the creature whatever comfort or joy God intended to make the creature pertaker of he put it all into Jesus Christ as the light of the world is in the Sunne as in him dwells the fullnes of the God-head bodily Col. 2 9. so with it dwells in him all the fullnes of joy comfort For it being all from God it must be all in him in whome dwells the God-heads fullnes thence come to us as because all our light is from the Sunne who conveyes his light to us through the aire therefore all the light we have is in the aire as in Christ are hid all treasures of wisdome knowledge Colos 2. 3. so are all treasures of joy comfort as he is the light that inlightens every one John 1. 4. 9. so is he the comfort that comforts every man with any true comfort God is indeed the first original whence but Christ is the immediate fountaine in which is Christ the immediate fountaine of all Joy all joy Colos 3. 3. our life is hid in God but with Christ So that indeed Christ is not onely the roote of all promises but of a better comfort then the promises yeild For Christ is nearer to God then the promises are for he is of