degrees and measures of its working is very different and uncertain Some know more of the Terrors of the Lord than others and some are held longer in Prison before they are brought out though no Soul knows more or is held longer than God sees needful to its thorough Humiliation We must be laid low and yet we shall not be quite sunk God's wounding and healing of our Spirits is not always performed with the same speed as all Convictions are not alike sharp God does not limit himself in this case to any stated Rules which are known to us but acts as he thinks fit towards various Persons He hath said he will not contend for ever but yet we cannot punctually tell how long he will contend His dealing with one Soul must not be alledged as the exact Pattern of his Dealing with another Some Dispositions are more rough and stubborn some sins have been more hainously aggravated perhaps their Chains may be the heavier and not so soon taken off Common Parents consider the Tempers and Crimes of their several Children and proportion their Rebukes accordingly SERMON XVIII March 9. 1697. GAL. IV. vi And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father 3. THE Spirits usual way of evidencing our Sonship to us is nbot by any vocal Testimony or immediate Revelation Every Servant must not look to be as his Lord in this respect who had the Spirit of God visibly descending upon him at his Baptism with a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son c. Matth. 3.16 17. What sudden Divine Suggestions to this purpose filling the Soul in a moment with extraordinary Joy may be sometimes afforded to some peculiar Persons at peculiar seasons I will not dispute it may be when a Soul is under strong and violent Temptations from Satan to throw up all its hopes or after long Attendance upon God in some soleme secret Duties or before our Entrance upon some very difficult and hazardous publick Services but such things are not commonly to be expected God does not tie or confine himself to ordinary means but yet he generally makes use of them and works by them 'T is possible some may be wone without the Word 1 Pet. 3.1 but yet the most are born again by the Word chap. 1.23 so 't is possible that the Spirit may in some cases reveal himself to our Comfort without the Word though never against it but this is not the Method which he commonly takes 4. The usual way of the Spirit in the declaring and confirming of our Sonship to us is by a particular powerful Application of Gospel Promises to us and an illustration of his own Fruits in us 1. By an Application of Gospel Promises There are many Promises to the same Effect with that 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father to you and you shall be my Sons and Daughters c. This avails but little to us till by a Spirit of Faith we are enabled to take hold of it 't is great and precious in it self but we are not at all the richer till it is applied and set home with a mighty power upon the Soul then 't is an inestimable Treasure a Mine a Spring of everlasting Consolation The Spirit takes of Christ's and shews them unto us not only Christ's things but Christ's words too and that word among the rest John 14.8 I will not leave you comfortless Gr. Orphans Such a word as this is enough if he do but imprint it 2. By an illustration of his own Fruits These are the Marks of our Adoption which the Word refers us to and so the Spirit speaks according to the Word in helping us to argue from them As the Grace of God in Truth is by his Operation so the discovery of the Truth of Grace is by his Light reflected upon it that Christ formed in the Soul may be even felt as when the Babe leaped in Elizabeth's Womb at Mary's Salutation Luke 1.44 The Spirit of God submits his witnessing Act to be tried by what he hath wrought in us which is no more dishonour to him than it was to Christ who requir'd the Jews to believe him for his Works sakes John 14.11 As Jacob's Sons pointed him to the Waggons which Joseph sent for a proof that he was alive Gen. 45.27 5. The Spirit of God is very Arbitrary both in the giving and continuing of his Divine Testimony He is an infinitely free Agent as to both He shines as well as breaths upon whom he pleases and when he pleases 1. The Spirit acts Arbitrarily after a Sovereign way in the giving of this Testimony concerning our Adoption The Liberty of the Divine Will appears in the Communication of Grace and yet more in the dispensing of Comfort The Spirit of God is not at our command any more than the Wind which Christ compaes him to and which God is said to gather in his Fists Prov. 33.4 and to bring forth out of his Treasure Jer. 10.13 He is not such a Witness as Men may summon and produce to clear and strengthen their Cause in Humane Courts who sometimes are oblig'd under certain Penalties to appear and give in their Evidence There can be no necessity laid upon him as God sometimes holdsl his peace and is still when he might answer by terrible things so the Spirit of God might be silent in our Hearts when he cryes Abba Father 2. The Spirit Acts after the same Arbitrary manner in the continuing of this Testimony after 't is once given He can weaken and abate it he can suspend and with-draw it at his own Pleasure He that bears Witness at one Time may not do it at another Evidences may be darken'd and obscur'd which were very bright and plain hidden Manna like that in the Wilderness is not constantly gather'd every Day but very often is like that Vessel in Peter's Vision which was let down thrice to the Earth And then received up again into Heaven Acts 10.16 This makes the Ebbings and Flowings in our Hopes and Joys 6. The Spirits testifying of our Adoption is therefore distinct from our Adoption it self and not indispensibly Essential to it The Truth of the Relation does neither include nor depend upon our Knowledge of that Relation A Man may be really a Child of God and not know himself to be so by the infallible Declaration of the Spirit of God he may have as Job had Chap. 16.19 A Witness in Heaven and a Record on high and yet want a legible Copy of it in his own Bosom for his present Satisfaction The Spirits witnessing is not that which makes us the Children of God but supposes us to be so before he Witnesses that we are Children and therefore we are not the less Children though he should not Witness it We should lose the Comfort of our Sonship very much indeed but the fundamental Priviledge it self would remain however Things which for a
Vera Effigies TIMOTHEI CRUSO Aetat 40. 1697. T. Forster delin N. White scuÌ„lp TWENTY-FOUR SERMONS Preached at the MERCHANTS-LECTURE AT Pinners Hall By the late Reverend Mr. TIMOTHY CRVSO LONDON Printed by S. Bridge for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside MDCXCIX TO THE READER THese Sermons are some of the Reliques of one who is gone to receive the Fruit of his Labours who hath left Sowing for the sake of the Harvest wherein he is now reaping Though this is a Posthumous Piece yet it speaks out the living Praise of the dead Author whose it was without any Alteration or Addition being Printed from his own Notes If I may use the Phrase in Fashion he lived too fast not as too many do who shorten their Days by their Debaucheries and sinful Excesses but as a Taper which wastes it self to give Light to others His Bodily Constitution was too weak to undergo the Service his Soul put it to in constant Studies and hard Labour that he might Answer the Restlesness of his Mind which was always aspiring to greater Knowledge and higher Attainments whereby he laid greater load upon his Flesh than its weakness could bear and so sinking under the burden he died in the midst of his Days There is no need of my Epistle to Midwife these Excellent Discourses into the World nor had I had any hand in it had it not been to answer the Desires of some Relations of his to whom my Obligations will not allow me to deny any thing And also to take this occasion to Vindicate what I spake and published in his Funeral Sermon about the Vnion of the Spirit of Christ with the Dead Body of a Saint which hath by some been greatly stumbled at and called in question as a new Doctrine I therefore thought it Charity to such to remove this stumbling Block not by any Arguments further than what I have therein already urged but by calling in the Judgment of others in this matter and I shall look no farther back than to the Learned Men of our own Times Mr. Rutherford speaking of the Covenant of Grace Treatise of the Covenant of Grace p. 216. says It is thus Eternal in that the dead Parties Abraham Isaac and Jacob are still in the Covenant of Grace and there remains a Covenant Union between Christ and their rotten Flesh sleeping in the Dust Mr. Calamy says Morning Exercise of Giles in Fields Ser. 24. p. 548. The Bodies of the Saints shall be raised by vertue of their Union with Christ for the Body of a Saint even while it is in the Grave is united to Christ and is asleep in Jesus and shall be raised by vertue of this Union And in p. 557. If thou gettest into Christ while thou livest thou shalt die in Christ and sleep in Christ and be raised by Christ into Eternal Happiness Mr. Case speaking of the Vnion between Christ and Believers Case his Mount Pisgah first Part p. 38. says Not only in Death but even after Death this Union holds the Saints are said to sleep in Jesus that part of the Saints which is capable of sleep is not capable of Separation from Christ While their more noble Part is united to Christ in Heaven among the Spirits of Just Men made perfect Christ is united to their inferiour and more ignoble Part in the Grave their very Dust they sleep in Jesus Mr. Stedman says Stedman's Mystical Vnion of Believers with Christ p. 191. Death it self shall not separate Believers from Jesus Christ but still they are entirely in him even when they are dead As it was in the death of Christ himself though it made Separation between his Body and Soul yet it did not separate the Humane Body from the Divine So it is in the death of the Saints though it rend the Spirit from the Flesh yet it can part neither from the Son of God The very Bodies of Believers are united to Jesus when they are dead Dr. Collings on those words of our Lord Pool 's Annotations on John 11.26 He that believeth on me shall never die says Though his Body shall die because of sin yet his Spirit shall live because of Righteousness and God shall in the great Day quicken again his Mortal Body through the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in him and is united to him Dr. Thomas Goodwin Dr. Goodwin 's first Fol. on Ephes 1.14 p. â—â—1 Doth the Spirit dwell in you now When you are laid in the Grave that Spirit dwelleth in you as he did in the Body of Christ I do not say in the same manner The Spirit of God did dwell in the Body of Christ in the Grave and raised it up he never left him Though his Body was a dead Carkass without a Soul yet that Body was Hypostatically united to the Godhead therefore it was called Holy One My Holy One shall not see Corruption Now the Comparison is If we have the Spirit of Christ and if he dwell in us the same Spirit shall never leave our Bodies till he hath raised us up also Nay while thy Body is dead and rotten in the Grave the Holy Ghost dwells in it And hear what a great Man of the Church of England in his Day saith Christ's Deity was united to his dead Body his Resurrection was perform'd by the Power and Spirit of the Father God reached out his hand to him and raised him up Here then is our Comfort the same Spirit of God is communicable to us the same Arm of Power may be reached out to us He will imploy the same power for us as he did for Christ Ephes 1.19 And again in p. 210. His Spirit dwells in you The Inhabitation of God's Spirit that is the Ground of our Resurrection because it is Vinculum unionis the Spirit is the Bond of our Union and Conjunction with Christ By it we are Incorporated into his Body and made Members of it Now then if our Head rise all the Members must rise with it if the Head be in Heaven the Members shall not for ever perish in the Grave This Union by the Spirit is like the touch of a Load-stone it will attract and draw us to him that where he is we shall be also It is spoken of his Hypostatical but it is true also of his Mystical Union Quod semel assumpsit nunquam deposuit Christ will part with none of his Members Bishop Brownrig 2d Vol. p. 204. And again in the same Page Our Bodies by this Inhabitation are Consecrated to be a Possession of the Holy Ghost and the Temple of God must not be destroy'd God's Spirit takes Pleasure not only in these living Temples but owns them when they are dead takes Pleasure in the dead Bones and Favours the Dust of them I could multiply Testimonies of elder Date to prove the Truth of this Doctrine and that it is no new Notion but there needs no Proof from Humane Testimony
that these Places do not intend the advancing of immediate Illumination in defiance to instituted Means the teaching of God are not to be oppos'd to the teachings of Men for even in the New Testament the teachings of Men are often mention'd as subordinate to the teachings of God He that heareth you says Christ to his Apostles heareth me Luke 10.16 And though Men are Ambassadors for Christ it is as though God did beseech you by them 2 Cor. 5.20 2. The sence of these Places therefore must be that the Effusion of the Spirit under the Gospel would be so plentiful not as to exclude humane Teaching or render it unnecessary but so as vastly to exceed and out-do it that in comparison it should be as no Teaching for Believers that are taught of God though they despise not external Ministrations yet may say to their Ministers as the Samaritans to the Woman John 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ c. 2. Though it be in the use of outward Means yet 't is an internal discovery there is an Application not only of Words to the Eye or Ear but of Conviction to the Mind God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts c. 2 Cor. 4.6 So Paul says of himself with respect to the Time of his Conversion When it pleased God to reveal his Son in me Gal. 1.15 16. This inward Revelation is of a perfectly different kind from the bare revealing of Christ to us in the Letter of the Gospel though it be the same Christ who is reveal'd both to us and in us for in the Work of Faith God inspires the Soul with new Perceptions of Divine Objects so that there is communicated and imprinted another Sense and sight of those very Things of which we had formerly heard The Spirit secretly suggests that which we never knew concerning that which we did sleightly and superficially know All the great Transactions of God which accompany Salvation are within us unseen and unknown to any but our selves 'T is the inward Man which is transform'd and renewed in Knowledge and the Spirit who does all this for us is said to be dwelling in us 3. The Spirit Works freely in making this discovery Though we are tyed to use the Means he is not oblig'd to work by them always upon every one that does enjoy them He divides his Gifts and Graces to this and that Person severally as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 He is compar'd to the Wind which bloweth where it listeth John 3.8 'T is not in vain that the Spirit and the Wind have the same Name in the Original Languages of the Scriptures and in that extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit Acts 2.2 There came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty Wind which fill'd the House because as the Wind is not at the command of any Creature with reference to its moving or ceasing blowing one way or another so the Spirit of God is a free Agent in all his Operations he is under no necessity of enlightning those whom he does enlighten he does it for one and not for another in the hearing of the same Word to shew that he Acts with the highest Liberty Mat. 13.11 It is given to you to know the Mysteries c. but to them it is not given 4. The Spirit Works effectually in these Discoveries He makes dead Letters to become lively Oracles There is an Excellency of Power which goes along with the Word when he causes it to be receiv'd According to his working which worketh in me mightily Col. 1.29 The thick scales of Ignorance and Infidelity like those of the Leviathan Job 41.17 stick so close that it must be a strong Hand which removes and separates them from our Understandings There never was any saving Revelation of Gospel-Truths to any Sinner in the World from the very beginning of it without a Revelation of the Arm of the Lord Isa 53.1 But wheresoever this Arm of God is revealed the Report of the Gospel is both understood and believ'd This Omnipotent cause never fails of producing its intended Effect So Christ expresly says John 6.45 Every Man that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me Every Man without one Exception 5. The Spirit Works in this Case suitably to the Nature of our Faculties he does not destroy or force them but enlarge and improve them He does not put out the Eye of our Minds but open it Our foolish Hearts are naturally darkned and he does not impose upon them but clear them Every Believer can testifie this to the Honour of Christ that his sight hath not been taken away but restor'd as he boldly said to the Pharisees John 9.25 One thing I know that whereas I was blind now I see We were blind before and thought that we saw now we really see and know that we were blind The Understanding of a Man is the workmanship of God and he does not overthrow that when he makes us new Creatures The Demonstration of the Spirit is such as we cannot resist and yet it offers no Violence to us The Judgment is truly convinc't and we can say We know whom we have believed 2 Tim. 1.12 6. The Spirit in discovering of such Truths Works alone and by himself There is no Conjunction or proper Co-operation of second Causes with him It is here as it was with those in Mat 20.34 Jesus touched their Eyes and immediately they receiv'd sight 'T is the touch of Christs Hand only which recovers us from spiritual blindness Nature contributes nothing to the efficacious workings of Grace and therefore 't is observ'd that many of the Holy Women whom our Lord descended from were barren to shew that they Conceiv'd not by the strength of their own Womb but by vertue of the Promise As Sarah Rebeckah Rachel c. So we are Light in the Lord Eph. 5.8 But we do not help towards the creating of it in our selves We are meerly Passive in the first Reception of Divine Light as the Eye of the Body is truly Passive in the taking in of natural Light All Light is brought into the Eye so it springs in from Heaven into the Mind which is no better than a very Dungeon of it self 3. What kind of Knowledge is that which is the Effect and Fruit of this discovery of saving Truth by God to the Soul This is the rather to be insisted on a little because it may be of great Advantage to us in the Trial of our State that we may make a right Judgment of our selves whether under the Conduct of Flesh and Blood or of the Father 1. That Knowledge which proceeds from the special inward Revelation of Divine Things is a more assuring Knowledge than any other The end of Luke's Writing his Gospel to Theophilus was That he might know the certainty of those things wherein
own Conceits God will disable those from doing any thing praise-worthy that give not him the Praise 4. The setting up of Duties in the room of Christ This we are exceeding apt to do Disciples need to Learn that Lesson of being Converted and becoming as little Children Mat. 18.3 It was very truly said by Mr. Rutherford that Deadness to good and gracious Works and lively Activity in the Performance of them seldom meet together high Degrees of inherent Holiness and a full devolving of the Soul upon Christ's imputed Righteousness rarely Kiss each other 'T is well where they do but 't is a Provocation to God to abandon us where they do not If we would run in the way of God's Commandments we must remember that it is not of him that runneth if we would be assisted in the Duties of Obedience we must bear it upon our Hearts that we can never be entitled to Heaven by them We forfeit the Spirit of Faith if we imagine that Faith it self the noblest of all Graces does enrich us any otherwise than as a Vessel which holds the Treasure Sicut olla paecuniis referta hominem locupletat Calv. 5. Spiritual Sloth is another Cause in the disuse of Gifts not exercising of Grace and neglect of Duty This is the contrary extream to that Self-Confidence mention'd before as that was a Conceit that we could do all Things in our own Strength this is to sit still and do nothing We must stir up the Gift which is in us if we would preserve it God uses to help the Industrious but he abhors the Sluggard Seneca a sober Heathen calls Idleness the Grave of a Living Man Dr. Arrowsmith an Holy Divine stiles it the Hell of a Living Christian We hazard the taking away of our Talents when we do not employ them To let our Graces lye asleep is not the way to nourish but to starve them Many have almost lost the Spirit of Prayer by the restraining of Prayer Arise and be doing and the Lord will be with thee 1 Chron. 22.16 If we leave God to do all God will leave us to our selves if we fold our Hands together we cannot expect that his should be stretcht out for our Assistance 6. Sleightness and Formality A sincere Believer who is so in the Main and Acts as such for the most Part may yet sometimes imitate the Hypocrite too much i.e. his Heart may be too little engag'd in approaching unto God We too often pour out Words in Prayer without suitable Affections too often attend on God's Word without bending our Minds to it or taking heed how we hear Now by our resting so much in the outward Forms of Religion we lose the Spirit of Power by going in a Road of Duty and performing this or that Act of Worship because we are accustomed to do it we put our selves out of the Way of Divine Influences When we do not serve God with our Spirits we may well expect to be depriv'd of his Spirit when we do not seriously and earnestly pursue Communion with God in Duties how can we expect to enjoy any We put off God with a little bodily Exercise God puts off us with a visible Church-Priviledge we lift up our Hands in the Sanctuary without our Souls he lets us see nothing of his Power and Glory there 7. Worldliness and Carnality The minding of Earthly Things clips the Wings wherewith we should mount up towards Heaven So far as we are joyned to such Idols we may look to be separated from God we open our Bosoms to them and he hides his Face from us Hence it is that that Condition of Life which does most please and gratifie the Flesh does most expose to the withdrawings of the Spirit because when our Portion of good Things in this Life is very large we are very prone to rejoyce inordinately in it and when the World smiles much upon us we commonly grow fond of the World Therefore a low or afflicted State hath been oftner bless't with sweet incomes from Heaven than the height of Prosperity 2 Cor. 1.5 As the Sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ some have enjoy'd so much of God in Prisons as that Martyr in Bonner's Coal-hole that they have been unwilling to receive their Liberty But 't is very usual that according to what Men gain in Temporals they lose in Spirituals 8. Base and sinful Compliances for the avoiding of outward inconveniencie This is as great an Offence to the Spirit of Christ as Peter once was to Christ himself in a like Case The affording of a Man's Presence at false Worship may justly provoke God to deny his wonted Communications to us when we are joyning in the true If a Man partake of the Table of Devils what Divine Fellowship can he look for at the Table of the Lord The woful declinings of many Persons who have been meerly led by Fear to Build up what they formerly destroy'd have been too plain a Testimony to this Truth Sulpitius the Historian who liv'd with St. Martin tells us that after he had joyn'd in Communion with Ithacius the persecuting Bishop through the Threatenings of the Emperor Maximus there was a remarkable Suspension of those Influences and Graces for which he was eminent before Dr. B. Answer to Letter of the Ass Gen. p. 29. The best Way to retain the Spirit is to retain our Integrity whatever we hazard by it 9. Vnbelieving Dejection wilfully indulg'd There is a saying of the Hebrew Doctors mentioned by Drusius Spiritus Sanctus non residet super hominem moestum the Holy Spirit does not delight to dwell with one of a Sorrowful Spirit and 't is in great measure true The Spirit of God is not a Spirit of heaviness 't is no Pleasure to him to see any of his Saints go mourning and bowed down when their Hearts should rather be lifted up in the ways of God Nehemiah was sore afraid when the King took Notice of the sadness of his Countenance Chap. 2.2 And Mordecai would not enter the Court-gates with his Sackcloath on Esth 4.2 An Holy Joyful Frame and Garments of Praise are always comely for Upright ones and most acceptable unto God As David's Musick drove away the Evil Spirit that troubled Saul so Christian Alacrity not vain and foolish Levity is a means of having the good Spirit to abide with us Hardening our selves in Sorrow is giving Way to Unbelief the Sin of which he especially reproves SERMON X. April 7. 1696. JUDGES XVI xx last Clause And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him 10. REjecting the Present Motions of the Spirit which ought to be instantly embrac'd and followed All the Spirits Motions are seasonable and therefore not to be put off for Delay is a kind of denial and savours of such ungrateful Contempt as must needs be very displeasing to him When thou saidst Seek ye my Face my Heart said unto thee thy Face will I
persuaded of his receiving us in the next World when we are Jealous of his rejecting us in this Who can look into Eternity without Horrour that now looks upon God as one afar off Though the Passage be safe it will be unavoidably Dark and Stormy though the Victory be certain yet the Conflict will be sharp and grivevous The last Enemy will terrifie though it cannot hurt and the Serpent will hiss though it cannot sting The deserted Believer enters into Peace when he Dyes but he goes out of the World with much Disturbance He is in Bondage as to his Frame though at Liberty as to his State he stands trembling on the Brink of the Grave because not upheld with God's Free Spirit Psalm 51.12 IV. How far may Believers be insensible of those Departings 1. They may not be instantly sensible of them they may not perceive God to be departed assoon as he is so they may conclude him to be still present when he is not We are not only incident to such mistakes but 't is possible to persist in them for a while and this is permitted by God though he does not give us up to such strong nor to such lasting Delusions as other Men. A Man in a swooning fit does not miss the Things which are taken from him just at that Moment when they are taken but afterwards he recollects what he had and considers what is wanting So 't is here at the very Time of God's Departure we may still Fancy that all Things continue as they were but after he hath been some time departed we shall discern a notorious Change 2. They may not be throughly sensible of them for a much longer Time When the Soul is in a drowsie Frame though it begins to be allarmed there is however some distance of Time before it can shake off its slumbers and perfectly open its Eyes Spiritual Distempers creep upon Believers by Degrees and so they go off again by Degrees also they neither seize nor leave us all at once but 't is most unquestionably true that they are sooner Contracted than Cur'd for the most Part. 'T is an easier Matter to stupifie than it is to rouse us A Saint may first be convinc't by the Effects that God is departed and yet some time may pass before he is duely humbled for the Causes of that Departure he may see in some measure what his Condition is a great while ere he seriously Reflects how he came into it 3. The Sense of God's departings may not abide so long upon them as it should do As it may need to be increas't after 't is wrought so it may need to be renew'd We are too prone to wear out Impressions of this Kind and to forget what we have felt This is contrary to what God expects from us the Church did not quickly lose the Taste of her Wormwood and Gall but cries out My Soul hath them still in Remembrance Lam. 3.19 20. God's joyful returns are not to deface the Memory of his mournful Departures 'T is good to call to mind what is past that we may the better enjoy and value and improve the Present When the doleful sorrow of God's Absence is gone there is a becoming Sense of it to be still preserv'd and retain'd V. How is it that Believers come to be so insensible of these Things 1. That which they are insensible of is some Reason of their insensibility When God departs it is not to be suppos'd that our spiritual Senses should be so vigorously Exercis'd as at other Times We know when our natural Spirits are obstructed and retire bodily Sense is taken away by it so in this Case when the Spirit of God hath left us there is more than ordinary dulness and benummedness which by that means seizes upon us The Soul is therefore unapprehensive of God's forsakings because God hath forsaken it and 't is a token for good that he is about returning when the Soul begins its enquiries after him 2. The Devil is very busie in contriving Diversions for us at such Times or in making us think that me are well enough though we should never be better than we are Satan hath a great many Deviees to keep us from attending to the Dispensations under which we are or else to misrepresent our Condition to us When a Believer is in his best Estate then his Work is to accuse and disquiet when a Believer is at his worst then he labours to Flatter and Deceive When God testifies his Love to us then he is suggesting Wrath when God is angry he speaks nothing but Peace 3. Believers themselves are oftentimes too much wanting in the careful Examination of their own State and so there happen sad Alterations and they know them not We are ready to trust too much to former Trials whereas we should be frequently communing with our own Hearts in order to a farther search It ought to be part of our daily Exercise that we may see what ground we get or lose Reviews of our spiritual Condition can never be superfluous but neglect of it may be very dangerous for so it is that many are brought extreamly low before they are aware VI. Vse I. Information 1. The Presence of the Blessed God is the spring of a Creatures Blessedness in both Worlds When John is describing the Happy State of the Church in Heaven or the happiest State of the Church on Earth he expresses it by this God himself shall be with them and be their God Rev. 21.3 If we have God with us we cannot be miserable if we have him not we must of Necessity be so 'T is an Heaven upon Earth to enjoy him an Hell upon Earth to want him 2. How great is their Misery whom God is at an Etcrnal distance from The Spirit comes and strives for a Time with many upon whom he never rests and when he once goes away he does not so much as strive more And then where no Fruit grew before there can no Fruit grow hereafter the Earth must always be as Iron when the Heaven over it is as Brass When the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul he came not again but an Evil Spirit in his Place 1 Sam. 16.14 3. The new Creature is no more able to sustain it self than the old Man to transform himself He restoreth my Soul he leadeth me c. Psalm 23.3 Restoring and Leading are both the Acts of God Believers are not like Engines which the Artificer sets a moving and then they are left to go by themselves All that God hath done for us in Conversion will be undone by us if he do not continue doing He that first makes the difference between us and others must keep it up to the last 4. God hath other ways to visit the Sins of his own Children than by Everlasting Destruction This is that Wrath of God which comes upon the Children of Disobedience Eph. 5.6 But there are milder Effects of fatherly
and his Kindred and Friends whom he had call'd together ver 24. But how did he fall on them Peter himself explains it Chap. 11.15 As on us at the beginning i.e. in a miraculous extraordinary Manner So Christ had said Mark 16.17 These Signs shall follow them that believe in my Name shall they cast out Devils they shall spake with new Tongues c. Not only they that Publisht the Gospel but they that receiv'd it were many of them thus eminently gifted by the Holy Ghost and this was much for the Honour of Christ whom they believed in and serv'd to rescue his Gospel from that Contempt and Reproach which the World was so apt every where to pour upon it 5. By the admirable Patience and Resolution both of the Apostles and other Believers in the extream Sufferings which they underwent for Christ and the Gospel I think says Paul that God hath set forth us the Apostles as it were appointed to Death 1 Cor. 4.9 He protests for his own Part that he Dyed daily Chap. 15.31 Stood in jeopardy every Hour ver 30. Others to whom he writes endured great fights of Afflictions Heb. 10.32 Not little Skirmishes but continual Combats What vast numbers of them crown'd all at last with Martyrdom which is the most peculiar Notion of witnessing And with what meekness and undauntedness was all this done as by Men that had fully learnt to despise their own Lives and dearest Comforts together with the greatest Cruelties of their Adversaries But whence did all this proceed From the Spirit of Glory resting on them 1 Pet. 4.14 As Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost saw the Glory of God when his Murderers gnash their Teeth Acts 7.54 55. Their dying witness to Christ was through the special Assistance of his Blessed Spirit 4. How does the Spirit witness to Christ even now in our own Times For there is a never failing Testimony which he gives still and will always give to the End of the World Not by Voices Dreams or Enthusiastick Inspirations which are usually dangerous Delusions where they are pretended and rested on but in such Ways as are safe and clear and highly beneficial As 1. The Spirit witnesses at this very Day to Jesus Christ in the written Gospel This is the standing Memorial and Register of all Divine Testimony There the Doctrine of Christ is preserved uncorrupt and is the same in writing to us that it was originally to the first Christians and here we have a sufficient History of the Miracles which recommended and backt this Doctrine I say a sufficient History sufficient to Answer the End though not a compleat History of all that was done John 20.30 31. Many other Signs did Jesus in the Presence of his Disciples which are not written in this Book but these are Written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Son of God c. They were not only wrought but are written in Order to our Believing this puts it out of doubt that we are bound to Believe upon the Testimony of those Miracles which we never saw as faithfully related if they were to be renewed in every Age the commonness of them would make them lose their End and every Generation after they are ceased might challenge a Repetition of them as well as one and to what Purpose should Persons be enjoyn'd to tell the wonderful Works of God to their Posterity if they were not oblig'd to give Credit to them As Exod. 10.2 And many other Places 2. He witnesses to Christ by the Operations and Effects which the Gospel hath upon all the chosen of God for hereby it is distinguisht from the Word of Man even by its Effectual Workings 1 Thess 2.13 There is no Comparison between them in their Natures For what is the Chaff to the Wheat Jer. 23.28 Nor in their Operative Vertues For is not my Word like as a Fire saith the Lord and like an Hammer c. ver 29. This shews the Power of the Spirit attending it this is that which puts an Edge upon the Word and gives a force to it which makes it quick and mighty sharp and searching in the Work of Conviction hereby it takes hold of Sinners Casts down Imaginations and brings every thought into Captivity to the Obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10.5 The Word alone would not do this but as it comes in Power and in the Holy Ghost 1 Thess 1.5 There are Impressions of the Majesty and Authority of God upon the Word stampt by the Spirit but the same Spirit must enable us to discern them as a Stranger must Learn to know an Artificer's Workmanship from himself 3. By giving us an inward Experience and feeling of the Things of Christ Spiritual Sences are a great Advantage to those that have them and whoever have them are beholden to the Spirit for them Hence it is that the Things of Christ are called the Things of the Spirit of God which the natural man neither does receive nor can know 1 Cor. 2.14 A meer notional acquaintance with them is vain and insignificant and yet this is all that any Man in the World by Nature without the help of the Spirit can Rise up to We know them by receiving them they are strange Things till they are taken in and made Familiar to us by real and experimental Knowledge Therefore 't is said He that believeth on the Son of God hath the Witness in himself 1 John 5.10 That Verbal Testimony which is without him in the Scripture is then transcrib'd within him on his own Heart he is satisfied from himself which is the highest and fullest Satisfaction 4. By the producing of Faith in Christ which is a Work that 's never fulfilled in any Soul where be is not given for 't is one of his Titles the Spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 He infuses the Habit he excites to every Act. Divine Supernatural Faith requires a Divine and Supernatural Agent 'T is he that effectually Reproves for the Sin of unbelief John 16.9 He discovers the Disease he applies the Remedy 'T is a part of the Mystery of Godliness that Jesus Christ is believed on in the World and another part of it is that he is justified in the Spirit 1 Tim. 3.16 But one part Contributes to the unriddling of the other If Christ were not justified in the Spirit he would not be believ'd on in the World Christ is justified in or by the Spirit whenever any one in the World is persuaded to believe they are the Spirits internal Arguments on the behalf of Christ that sway the Soul to a receiving of and closing with him He reveals those Things concerning Christ to us which could not enter into our Hearts to conceive of him 1 Cor. 2.9 10. 5. By the strengthening and increasing of this Faith daily after he hath produc'd it There are gradual Displaies of the Glory and Excellency of Christ to the believing Soul all is not manifested at once there are fresh
Godliness is an excellent Means for the maintaining of Doctrinal Orthodoxy If any Man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine John 7.17 Follow the Spirits Guidance in the Course of your Lives if you would not forfeit it as to the regulating of your Judgments Be govern'd by him as a Spirit of Holiness if you would be instructed by him as a Spirit of Truth 3. Whatever the Spirit in and according to the Scripture testifies against give it no Entertainment That cannot be the Doctrine of Christ which he doth not attest 'T is another Gospel and therefore not to be receiv'd though an Angel from Heaven were the Publisher of it We have a sure Word of Prophesie whereunto we do well to take heed 2 Pet. 1.19 That must be no Article of our Faith which we have not first tried or which upon the Trial is not approv'd by this Rule of Faith According as the Testimony of the Spirit in the Word is we are to Judge of every Cause which comes before us 4. Regard the Witness of the Spirit with respect to Christ in you as well as Christ without you He is a capable Witness as to both for he searcheth all Things he knows the State and Disposition of our Souls towards God as well as the out-goings of the Heart of God to us He that can reveal Christ in us is undoubtedly the sittest to discover us to our selves Therefore what our Conscience bears us Witness in the Holy Ghost as Rom. 9.1 Is to be comfortably acquiesced in as a faithful unerring Report If Conscience it self be as a thousand Witnesses how much more when the Holy Ghost concurs with it 5. Beg the help of the Spirit in Order to the giving of your Testimony to Christ as you ought to do in your several Places 1 Cor. 12.3 No Man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost Obj. What think you then of those that call Christ Lord Lord and do not the Things which he says Ans 'T is true the meer repeating of such words is easie and may be done without the Spirit but if we say it from a right Principle in a right Manner and to a right End it must be by the Holy Ghost And therefore this saying is like that confessing 1 John 4.15 Not a bare Verbal Confession with the Mouth but joyn'd with believing in the Heart 6. Manifest your having of the Spirit by your ready resolute and eonstant witness-bearing on the behalf of Christ. Be not asham'd of the Testimouy of our Lord 2 Tim. 1.8 'T is the greatest Honour to us when we are call'd to any such Service to our great Redeemer A Work which is done by the Spirit of God himself must unquestionably be a Matter of Glory and Reputation to such as we Nor is it only upon solemn extraordinary special Occasions but in the whole Course of our Lives in all that we think speak and do we should testifie to our Lord Jesus In short you who have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you can do no less among a World of Men that ungratefully despise him than by your whole behaviour proclaim your deserved esteem of him SERMON XIII September 8. 1696. MARK X. xxvi xxvii And they were astonished out of measure saying among themselves Who then can be saved And Jesus looking upon them saith With Men it is impossible but not with God For with God all Things are possible To understand the occasion of the Words we must look back as far us ver 17. of this Chapter where we find a young Ruler as two of the other Evangelists describe him Mat. 19.20 Luke 18.18 addressing himself with some Earnestness and Reverence to Christ for his Judgment and Advice in a very important Case What shall I do that I may inherit Eternal life Christ framing his Answer according to the Principles then generally embrac'd of living by doing refers him to the commandments He that put the Question having too good an Opinion of himself confidently affirms his keeping of them all Christ in his Reply to convince him that he was not so perfect as he pretended himself to be offers him a Test which he could not comply with viz. Selling what he had and giving to the Poor and taking up the Cross and following him This was no unreasonable Proof of his Obedience for a resolved Preference of Heaven to all that this World affords and actual parting with all for it when we are called thereunto is every one's necessary Duty But this Ruler was sad at that saying and went away grieved Carnal Men may be sorry that they cannot bring down God to their own Terms when they refuse to come up to his they would reconcile Things in Heaven and Things in Earth and enjoy their Portion in both Worlds Hereupon our Lord applies the rest of his Discourse to his Disciples as being most concer'd for their Satisfaction and Improvement to them therefore he says How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God ver 23. These Words astonisht the Disciples and yet Christ with little Variation repeats them ver 24. And enforces them by a Proverbial Comparison which was yet more startling ver 25. It is easier for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle than for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God Whether that which we render here a Camel should be rather Translated a Cable-rope because the Original Word sigifies both is not much material but certainly a Man with great Possessions loaded with thick Clay might be fitly enough represented by a camel carrying Burdens more for others than himself and the Entrance into Life being strait and narrow may very well be said to resemble the Passage through the Eye of a Needle But this brings us to the Text it self wherein we have two Parts the Amazement of the Disciples at Christ's Doctrine and his own Explication of it 1. The Amazemenet of the Disciples at this Doctrine of Christ ver 26. And they were astonished out of measure saying among themselves who then can be saved The Word here which we render by Astonishment is not the same with that ver 24. But more significant as if the Mind were not only struck but struck out as it were with Horror and Confusion Besides 't is added here out of measure or abundantly and exceedingly for this Doctrine appear'd very rigorous and severe to them as if it shut out all Persons almost from a possibility of Salvation Becaufe 1. Though all Men are not Rich nor perhaps the most yet there are few but what desire to be so and the Love of Riches which is indeed the Disease prevails where there is not the Possession It was very common among the Jews in the Prophet's Time From the least to the greatest every one is given to Covetousness Jer. 6.13 Chap. 8.10 And 't is not less natural to other People 2. The Rich seem
them and those that are below them 1. Creatures that are above them do Service to them Angels disdain not to be their Guardians while they are here as they are to be their more intimate and perpetual Associates hereafter Are they not all without exception the highest Orders of them sent forth as ministring Spirits on the behalf of the Heirs of Salvation Heb. 1. ult Who but they can look to be thus attended Angels of Light do gladly minister to the Children of Light they are deputed by our Heavenly Father to keep us in all our ways and at last to convey us home 2. Creatures below them are directed and over-ruled to serve them also Every one in God's great House on Earth shall though perhaps without your knowledge and against your will promote the Interest of those that are design'd to dwell in Heaven As all things are put under the feet of Christ our elder Brother Ephes 1.22 so we by him recover as much of our lost Dominion as we have real occasion for The whole Creation is more subject to the Heirs of God than to the common Men. 2. To shew that this Sonship of Believers is a Gospel Privilege It is so in a two-fold sense by way of opposition to the Law of Works and by way of composition with the times of the Old Testament Consider it either way it is truely and strictly Evangelical 1. In Opposition to the Law of Works No Soul was ever invested thereby with this blessed Privilege of Adoption This is plain because 1. The Law worketh Wrath and nothing else Rom. 4.15 It speaks no Favour to any Son or Daughter of Adam it breaths out Threatnings but is utterly silent as to Promises The Language of the Law is Judgment without Mercy extremity of Vengeance without any mixture of Kindness Therefore 't is said that as many as are under the Works of the Law who are in the first Covenant and adhere to it and rest upon it are under the Curse who are in the first Covenant and adhere to it and rest upon it are under the Curse Gal. 3.10 Adoption through Grace is perfectly concluded by the Law it will never make Men Children of God but pronounces them Children of Wrath. 2. The Law convinces of Sin and Guilt but gives no Righteousness therefore Sonship cannot come by the Law For Adoption presupposes Justification and is consequent upon it The Children of God are all Righteous with a Righteousness that perfectly answers the Legal Demands viz. the Righteousness of Christ For in him shall all the Seed of Israel be justified Isa 45.25 But now all the natural Seed of Adam before they are adopted to God are Condemned for want of such a Righteousness The Law Sentence goes forth against them and takes hold of them as Guilty Sinners that have broken the Commandment can never keep it 2. in comparison with the Times of the Old Testament 'T is true the Believers in those times were the Sons and Daughters of God and they challeng'd their Privilege Isa 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father but yet it was in so defective a degree that they seem'd more like to Servants than Sons and were trained up under suitable Discipline Hence the Apostle says ver 7. following the Text Wherefore thou art no more a Servant but a Son implying that thou hast been in a kind of servile but art now Translated in these New Testament Times into a more filial State Our Privilege of Sonship under the Gospel excels in Two Regards 1. As to clearness of Manifestation and Discovery The Children of Princes and great Persons many times know little of the Honour and Hopes which they are born to till they arrive at some competent maturity So the Ancient Believers understood a great deal less of Divine Benefits by Jesus Christ than we do now They like Moses had a Veil upon their Faces we behold with open Face if compared with them They were not strangers to the Covenant of Promise but their acquaintance with the things promised fell very short of ours All that is freely given us of God is now made more known and plac'd in a better Light 2. As to Fulness and Amplitude of Enjoyment The Merit and Influence of Christ's Death in all Points extended backwards as far as the First Ages of the World wherein any Believers lived but the Fruits of it then did not so abound as since his coming The Spirit was shed abroad and pour'd out then but not so richly and liberally as now He was given then more sparingly now in a larger measure And consequently their Fruition of this blessed Sonship was not equal to ours though they had such a Privilege they could not use it with so much advantage They were like Heirs in Childhood that have only some smaller allowance during that time we are like those upon the edge of Manhood who have more of their Estate in their own Hands III. How is this Gospel-Privilege discern'd by the help of the Spirit How do we come to know that we have it through the sending of him into ours Hearts Answ In six Propositions 1. The Spirit of God in his dealing with Souls does not ordinarily begin as a Spirit of Adoption but rather as a Spirit of Bondage This seems to be hinted Rom. 8.15 You have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear but you have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father This was written to actual Believers those that were called to be Saints and their not receiving of the Spirit of Bondage again after they had received the Spirit of Adoption supposes they had so received him before The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption are one and the same Spirit distinguish'd only by various Operations noting two different Effects of the same Cause Now usually the former of these does precede and introduce the latter while the Spirit is making use of the Law to bring us to Christ we see our selves in a miserable undone Condition when he hath fully brought us to Christ by the Ministry of the Gospel the Scene is alter'd and we perceive our selves to be the Seed which the Lord hath Blessed Strong Cordials are not so fit to be immediately pour'd into foul Stomachs There is a shaking which goes before the Establishment a making of Trouble before the speaking of Peace a Storm raised in the Soul before a comfortable Calm As Manasseh was taken first among the Thorns and bound in Fetters and carried to Babylon and then knew the Lord 2 Chron. 33.11 13. And as Joseph was sold for a Servant into Egypt and laid in Irons there which made way for his Enlargement and Preferment Psalm 105.17 18. c. so does our Exercise under a Spirit of Bondage tend to Liberty by the Spirit of Adoption if we are the Called according to God's purpose 2. The time of our continuance under a Spirit of Bondage before we receive the Spirit of Adoption with the
Superiour and honour'd accordingly and the more Kind and Indulgent he is the more Honour is due Any behaviour that betrays a slight esteem or a presumptuous Contempt of God is offensive to him and they that carry themselves so have Reason to try and condemn the Spirit which they are acted by He is our Father in Heaven and we his Children on Earth Eccles 5.2 He sits upon a Throne and we must remember that we Worship at his Footstool 7. The Spirit stirs up filial Affection to God in Prayer This makes it a delightful Exercise as indeed it should be Do Children count it a burdensome Task to go to a Father or are they not rather glad of the Opportunity of Converse with those that are so dear to them A Slave indeed hath an Aversion to the Presence of his Lord as the Bond-woman When Sarah dealt hardly with her fled from her Face Gen. 16.6 But when a Child hath to do with a tender Parent 't is quite contrary 't is sweet Employment to pour out the Soul into a Father's Bosom We set about it with Pleasure and a Pleasure which exceeds the Fruition of any Creatures whatsoever The Spirit of Adoption is a Spirit of Love and this Love breaths out it self in Holy Desires to him The Soul loves to commune with him for his own sake even though we could suppose that there were no pressing occasion for it it loves to visit him not only in Trouble when Necessity drives but at all other Times being drawn by internal Motives 8. The Spirit helps us to Pray with unwearied Fervency It behoves us so to do when we are dealing with a Father who will certainly be won and prevail'd upon how deaf or regardless soever he may seem to be for a Time Dull and stupid formality does not suit with the Relation wherein we stand where we look for cold Entertainment 't is apt to cool our Requests but Esau's Opinion of his Fathers Favour made him the more earnest for his Blessing Gen. 27.34 38. The Children of God are baptized with Fire their Hearts burn within them and it would be strange if their Words should freeze Theirs is not an Artificial Zeal which is quickly spent but a Zeal which holds out till the desire comes and by this means they are always Conquerors and as 't is said of I uther Iste vir potuit apud Deum quicquid voluit they can do what they will with God they will take no denial but wrestle and strive till they have obtain'd All this is done by the Assistance of the Spirit of our Father V. Vse I Information 1. The Love of God is to be seen and admir'd in our Adoption as much as in any Thing besides The Love of the Father in predestinating us to it the Love of the Son in procuring it for us and the Love of the Spirit in testifying it to us 'T is God's loving us as Children which is the Foundation and Root of all our Love to him as a Father for his Love descends before ours ascends 'T is marvellous that God should answer to any such Name when we call him by it and that he should give us any such Name himself the Apostle breaks forth into a kind of Ecstasie and Ravishment of Spirit when he consider'd it 1 John 3.1 Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God That in the Place where it was said to us Gentiles Ye are not my People it should be now said You are the Sons of the Living God Hos 1.10 Rom. 9.26 Are such vile Prodigals as we Worthy to be call'd his Sons Luke 15.21 That cannot be suppos'd nor is it for want of other Objects that he bestows this Favour upon us He hath an Eternal Son in whom his Soul delighteth whom he possest with Infinite Joy before all his Works of Old or this Favour might have been directed to fallen Angels but God hath preferr'd us Inferiour Creatures to that which they are excluded from 2. The Dignity of Believers excels all the Titles of Honour in the World 't is of a more glorious Nature and confirm'd by a greater Testimony By Faith Moses refused to be call'd the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter though Pharaoh was a mighty Prince Heb. 11.24 It pleased David to be Son-in-law to the King before he was so but he found little Comfort in it afterwards 1 Sam. 18.26 These Relations to the greatest of Men are poor trifling mean and empty Things in Comparison of Believer's Relation to God Magistrates are called Children of the most High because they bear some little faint Representation of God's Authority Psalm 82.6 But the least of Christ's little ones are God's Children in a sublimer Sense 'T is Ten Thousand Times more honourable to be a Child of God then Lord of the whole Earth 3. Walking after the Commandments of Men is a very ungrateful requital of God Certainly we owe most Duty where we receive the greatest Priviledge and what can Men do for us to be compar'd with what God hath done that we should pay any Homage to them in Opposition to him 'T is basely disingenuous for Children to regard what others say more than the Injunctions of their own Parents The Sense of this unspeakable Benefit of God's adopting us to himself is enough to restrain us from yielding Obedience to Men that is inconsistent with our Obedience to God This is the meaning and scope of that Caution given by Christ Mat. 23.9 Call no Man your Father upon Earth for one is your Father which is in Heaven That one God whose Children we are hath the only Supream Title to our Allegiance 4. The possibility of Assurance one would think should be without all Controversie To call it in Question is to give the lye to this very Text and to cast a blasphemous Reproach upon the Witness of the Spirit 'T is matter of rejoicing to have the single Testimony of our own Conscience for us 2 Cor. 1.12 For Conscience as one says is like a kind of Eccho which makes our spiritual Actions resound after they are past and gone from us but when we have the concurrent Testimony of the Spirit of God this makes our Joy a great deal more full Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth Witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God The Spirit is more present and conversant with the Soul than the Soul with it self and is better acquainted with its State He knows every Child of God by Name and therefore is best able to make us know if we are such if an Angel from Heaven were sent to tell us it would not be so sure The Spirit that beareth Witness of those things is Truth in the abstract 1 John 5.6 Some may be deluded by a lying Spirit instead of him but does it follow that there must be no Persuasion which comes of him that call us Because there are Counterfeits in
the World are there no Realities So the Assurance of the strongest Believer's may not be compleat perhaps but is it therefore not true Our Graces the Fruits of the Spirit are all imperfect but that does not make them false and feigned and Perfection in Comfort is above the standard of this Life as well as in Holiness II. Exhortation 1. Enquire into your own Adoption 'T is not a Priviledge common to all see whether you have just Cause to apprehend that 't is yours The World hath a mixt Multitude in it there are Sons of Belial and Children of the Devil as well as of God 1 John 3.10 There are Strangers and Dogs as well as Children And there be many who are called the Children of God and are not so indeed being such only by visible external Profession as they were Gen. 6.2 We deceive our selves if we are satisfied with this for this will be of no more Advantage to us than the National Adoption which once belong'd to the Jews is useful to them with Respect to which the Apostle positively says They which are the Children of the Flesh are not the Children of God Rom. 9.8 Think not that 't is enough to be Christians outwardly any more than to be Jews outwardly but look after a real Change of State 2. Apply your selves to God for this Benefit if yet destitute of it Consider what miserable helpless Creatures you are in your present Case like a wretched Infant that is cast out into the open Field in the Day that it is born Ezek. 16.5 Go and bemoan your Case at the Foot of God And as Abraham said to him Lord God what wilt thou give me seeing I go Childless Gen. 15.2 You may much better say what wilt thou give me seeing I go Fatherless What canst thou give that I can receive any Comfort in Tell him that you can never call your selves Happy till you can call him Father and that you desire nothing besides this in Comparison of it The Chief of Sinners may take Encouragement from that blessed Text Jer. 3.19 Justice seems to argue against it in the former Part of the verse and Mercy concludes for it in the latter 3. Take heed of grieving the Spirit you who have this Benefit that you may not lose the comfortable Sense of it This depends upon his sealing Work and therefore provoke and offend him not if you would keep the Impression clear Eph. 4.30 Two Things are especially grievous to the Spirit which we should beware of neglecting his Motions and opposing his Testimony 1. Neglecting his Motions When he stirs us up to seeking of God and any Act of Communion with him we should stir up our selves It is a part of the Character of God's Children to regard the Spirit 's Conduct Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit of God c. 2. Opposing his Testimony The indulging of unbelief in our own Hearts is a Contradiction to the Spirit 's Witness He is sent forth to cry Abba Father unbelief says nay God is not so unto me It will be helpful to Souls in such Temptations to look to God as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for this will bring them to Eye him as theirs also See John 20.17 Eph. 1.2 3. That Promise seems to concern both Christ and the Believer too Psalm 89.26 He shall cry unto me thou art my Father c. You may venture to say that after Christ which otherwise you could not 4. Evidence the Truth of your Sonship unto others Make it appear that there is indeed a substantial Difference between you and the Children of this World in every Thing that hath a respect to Sin and Duty If you do as others do they will have Reason to suspect that you are not what you pretend to be The Jews were not to disfigure themselves like other People because they were the Children of the Lord their God Deut. 14.1 Let your spot therefore be the spot of his Children let his Image be seen upon you as well as his Name that you may like them Judg. 8.18 Resemble the Children of such a King You must be Followers and Imitators of God Eph. 5.1 Or else you will give occasion to Men to think you a spurious Brood You must be blameless and harmless and without rebuke exemplary and inoffensive in the midst of a perverse Nation for so are the Sons of God Phil. 2.15 Disorderly Children are a shame and scandal to their Parents therefore Credit the Relation wherein you stand by a strict and regular Deportment Particularly 1. By a sober and thankful use of every Mercy Wanton Prodigals that wast their Substance and mispend their Portion are a dishonour to God's Family and deserve to be renounc't Your Father expects that all which is given by him should be improved for him Men reckon it barbarous and unnatural if their Children turn Rebels against them with the Estates which they bestow upon them 2. By a patient and humble bearing of every Affliction Not that a Fathers Anger is a Light thing and to be despis'd they must be very profligate that think so but all his Rebukes should be receiv'd with great Submission Nor must they drive us from him but make us come the nearer and cling the faster to him considering that God's Corrections endur'd in a right Manner are Proofs of our Legitimacy Heb. 12.6 7 8. 3. By a reconcileable and forgiving temper towards the worst of Men. Mat. 5.9 Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God So ver 44 45. Love your Enemies bless them that Curse you do good to them that Hate you c. That you may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven c. For this is to transcribe his Pattern and do as he does 4. By living in Love with all our Holy Brethren They do not walk worthy of such a Relation as this is that shew any Unchristian bitterness or unreasonable strangeness towards those that are of the same stock with themselves Let us check our selves in this Case with those Words of the Prophet Mal. 2.10 Have we not all one Father Why do we then deal treacherously every Man against his Brother To Conclude Brotherly Kindness is the necessary Duty of all God's Children and a necessary Token to convince all others that we are so SERMON XIX May 18. 1697. EPHES IV. vii But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ AS it is the Apostle's manner in his other Epistles to mingle Exhortations to Holiness with Explications of Faith so here having in the three former Chapters of this Epistle given some account of the Gospel Doctrine he does in the three latter stir up to suitable Practice In the beginning of this Chapter he presses worthy Walking with respect to those Instances of Humility Meekness and Christian Forbearance as things which have a special Influence in the furthering
of the Comforts of it assign'd by God and when that Portion is exhausted we are truly full of Days whether we have lived long in the World or a little while No Man can die till then and after that 't is impossible to live It is certain that to this point we shall come and as certain that we shall not go beyond it 4. The place of our Death is limited by the purpose and pleasure of God as well as the of our Habitation while we live He prescribes not only when but where our Spirits shall reutrn to him He calls as it were to every Man out of Heaven though not so audibly as to Moses saying Die thou there upon that spot of Ground thy Carkass shall fall as God said concerning Ahab with reference to Naboth's Field which he had gotten by Murder I wil requite thee in this plat 2 Kings 9.26 One perhaps is struck in a Religious Assembly another in his Closet one in the City another in the Field one at Home another Abroad but all exactly in that place which was allotted by God's eternal Decree Our Lord could not be hurt in Herod's Jurisdiction because his last Stage was to be Jerusalem Luke 13.33 5. The means of our Death are disposed and managed by God whether natural or violent or casual means Whatsoever it be which brings us to the Grave 't is a Messenger of his sending When the Manslayer kills another undesignedly God is said to deliver the other into his hand Exod. 21.13 so when bloody Men seek after our Lives 't is as true that God delivers us into their hands also if we fall into them Him being deliver'd by the council and foreknowledge of God you have taken c. Acts 2.23 There is no Distemper which proves mortal to us amongst the many that we are incident to but what therein executes the Orders of God He who hath appointed such an Event does likewise appoint those things whereby it is brought about Diseases in the Body as well as Storms in the Air fulfil his Word 6. The manner of dying as to Slowness or Suddennes Ease or Pain is directed by the Will of God Some are snatch'd out of the World as Israel went out of Egypt in haste and cut off by a quick surprizing stroke like Sodom's overthrow in a moment Others have a lingring Departure and the Pins of their Tabernacle are loosned and pulled out by degrees God is the Supream Orderer of both for he takes away as he sees good Ezek. 16.50 Some slide out of the World like Rivers of Oil which run smooth and soft without any Bands in their Death and others die with Agony and Torture as if the Soul were rent and torn out of the Body like the casting of the dumb Spirit out of the Child Mark 9.26 And who knoweth not in all these that the Hand of the Lord hath wrought this II. What sort of Obedience we are to yield to the Will of God in this Case Here shew what is consistent with it and what are the proper and due Qualifications of it First What is Consistent with this Obedience which may seem opposite and repugnant to it Answ 1. The use of natural Remedies for the preservation of Life consists very well with our Obedience to God in dying it is the manifest Will of God that we should use them when his secret will is not to prosper them When we know not how he will do with us we know not what he hath requir'd us to do for our selves A diligent Application of Recovering means may be accompanied with our dutiful submitting of the issue to him 'T is no Rebellion against the Laws of God to follow the Rules of the Physician even in our last Sickness before we know whether it will be our last or not The Distemper'd Body ought not to be neglected though the departing Spirit is to be resign'd The Body is such an Hand-maid to the Soul that it must not like that Egyptian Servant be carelesly left when it falls sick 1 Sam. 30.31 2. Conditional Requests to God for sparing Mercy are not inconsistent with this Obedience Absolute Requests indeed are not allowable to ask Life in a peremptory Manner whether it be the Will of God to grant it to no is as sinful as 't is vain but to ask it with a becomeing Subjection to his unknown good Pleasure is what he approves though he denies to answer Our Lord himsself intreated the passing of the Cup from him if it were possible or if his Father were willing Luke 22.42 So long as there is hope there is Room for Prayer yea many Times against Hope Prayer hath prevailed While we are under God's Hand we cannot tell but that he may hear when we find that the unalterable Decree is gone forth we are to cease like those Disciples when Paul would not be persuaded saying The Will of the Lord be done Acts 21.14 3. A zealous pursuit of Holy Designs for the Service and Interest of Christ to the very last is consistent with our Obedience to the Will of God in dying It behoves us to be carrying on Religious Projects as long as we live though we should yield to dye before we have accomplisht them Though David was told that he should not have the Honour of building an House for God yet he continued his vast Preparations for it till the Time that he fell asleep While we have any being we should be aiming at further usefulnes continuing and drawing the Schemes of more good Works whether God will give us Opportunity for the performance or not It will be our Glory to dye with such Work upon our Hands for no Man ever yet but Jesus Christ was able to do all that was in his Heart to do for God Mr. N. Mather 4. The strugglings of Humane Flesh against the bitterness of Death though never altogether Innocent in us as in Christ will consist with our Obedience in dying Nature cannot receive such a Sentence in it self without some Aversion though Grace overcomes and subdues it Nature will look upon Death as an Enemy still though Grace looks upon it as Conquer'd The Mind so far as it is renewed is entirely given up to God but the Sanctification of the Spirit Soul and Body being still imperfect there will be some remaining Reluctancies These tho' not excusable from Sin are nevertheless reconcileable with Sincerity The dying Acts of Believers are not free from guilty weakness and yet are unquestionably done in greatest Uprightness There is something which pulls back but a stronger Principle which draws them forward 2. What are the due and proper Qualifications of this Obedience Ans 1. It includes a quiet expecting and waiting for God's Call Obedience to God in dying must not spring from an impatient Discontent of Living for then it is no Obedience but real unruliness of the Spirit seeking Deliverance before the Time from some burdensome Evils wherewith we are opprest
he should be held by the Bands of Death of which there is possibility enough as to any Creature Acts 2.24 VI. Vse This Doctrine will hint many things which are proper both for our Learning and Practise 1. There are several Things which we have to Learn from hence As 1. The Contemners of Divine Revelation are miserable forsakers of their own Mercies He that refuseth Instruction despiseth his own Soul Prov. 15.32 This is most true of such as turn their backs with scorn upon the Gospel of Christ and such a sort of Men there are at this Day in the World that bid insolent defiance to all reveal'd Religion The Disciples at Antioch chose to be called Christians in Honour of their Lord on whom they believed but England and London hath bred a race of Monsters that affect the differencing Name of Deists What will the end of such be What can it be but Destruction when Faith founded on the Scripture is the only saving Wisdom 2 Tim. 3.15 From a Child thou hast known the Holy Scripture which are able to c. 2. It ought to cause no Prejudice against real Christianity that the celebrated Men of Learning and Reason embrace it not The Case is clear our heavenly Father reveals these Things to all that know them and he thinks sit to hide them from such Mat. 11.25 26. I thank thee Oh Father c. Because thou hast hid these Things from the Wise and Prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Even so Father for so it seemed good c. 'T is no wonder therefore that not many wise Men after the Flesh are called 1 Cor 1.26 No wonder that there are so few who will in any wise believe what the Gospel declares the Doctrine of Regeneration was mysterious nousense as one says to Nicodemus an eminent Pharisee a Ruler of the Jews a Master in Israel so are other Things of the like kind to other Men. 3. It is no recommending Character of any Doctrine that it is pleasing and suitable to Flesh and Blood We have Reason to be Jealous that it is no spiritual Truth which the natural Man very readily receives The Doctrines which are promoted and countenanc'd by Flesh and Blood have the suspicious Mark upon them of accursed Doctrines 'T is no Argument why I should give Credit to this or that Opinion because 't is grateful to Nature but rather an Argument against it The swift progress of Error is owing very much to its smooth Concurrence with the Stream of Nature Nature leads all Men to build upon self but Christ will profit that Man nothing who expects to profit by any thing besides him 'T is ill judging after the Flesh John 8.15 They judge best and most wisely that judge contrary to it 4. Visible and nominal Christians may sit in darkness and the shadow of Death as well as perfect Pagans 'T is a Light within us in a sober not Enthusiastick Sense which is the true Light of Life Men may live as much upon the Borders of Hell where the Light outwardly shines as where it shines not The generality of the People in Judea receiv'd no more good by the Ministry of Christ than they in the remotest Parts of the World that never had it John 1.5 The Light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not The real Mystery of the Gospel may be as little understood by Multitudes of Persons here as it is in the wildest Places of America 5. Christians are oblig'd to know as well as do more than others As we must do all the good that other Men do and more so we must know all the considerable Truths that they know and more 'T is said of Heathens Rom. 1.19 That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them But there is a great deal more than this to be known by those that Name the Name of Christ or else wo unto them Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well but this is not enough Dost thou believe on the Son of God This is requir'd and this was first ask of that Excommunicate Person by Christ John 9.35 Unless thou knowest and believest more than all the Men in the World can teach thee or learn of themselves thou art condemned already 6. It is both a fruitless and a needless Thing to intrude into what we have not seen as Persons that are vainly pufft up by their fleshly Minds Col. 2.18 It becomes us to be fully satisfied in what God is pleas'd to reveal or hide and to pry no further than Scripture-light Points out our way This should stop the curiosity of our enquiring Minds that we may not demand any account of Things but what God sees good to give us There is blessedness tied to his discoveries but we make our selves oftentimes more unhappy by our own He that increaseth Prophetical Knowledge particularly increaseth Sorrow 2 Kings 8.11 12. The Man of God wept and Hazael said why c. 2. There are some Things which this does very fitly put us upon the Practice As 1. It speaks to Sinners and shews what they should do 1. See your Wretchedness You cannot be blessed till the Father gives you a Revelation of his Son by his Spirit Without this Knowledge the Soul cannot be good all that perish are destroyed for lack of it The external Form of Knowledge which you have will be insignificant to you The Devils knew that he was Christ and proclaim'd him to be the Son of God but Christ rebuk'd them and would not receive any Testimony from them it was unacceptable to him and unserviceable to themselves Luke 4.41 And an heartless Confession out of the Mouth of an Hypocrite is as bad as from the Mouth of a Devil 2. Be earnest with God for the Cure of your Blindness None can do it but he he can and will if you unfeignedly beg it of him The Promise lies ready for you to Plead and he is ready to perform it Prov. 2.3 4 5. If thou cryest after Knowledge and liftest up thy Voice for Vnderstanding c. Then shalt thou understand the Fear of the Lord and find the Knowledge of thy God You may ask saving Wisdom so as not to be denied if you ask it as Persons sensible that your Life is bound up in this Request and if you ask it for Christ's sake for it was his Errand and End in coming into the World That they which see not might see John 9.39 2. This speaks to Believers and shews what they have to do 2. Lift up your Heads and Hearts this Day with thankfulness to Heaven This good News to those that have heard Christ and been taught by him loudly calls them to give Glory to God in the highest Psalm 118.27 God is the Lord who hath shewed us Light even lesus Christ who isspoken of ver 22. The great Light of the World bind the Sacrifice with Cords c. in
end but this is most effectual As 1. A Sence of God's absolute as well as relative Goodness I mean to consider how good a Master he is in himself should be an inducement to serve him as 't is possible that some may be willing to do service to an extraordinary Person from a respect to his inherent Worth The Matchless Excellencies of God whom none in Heaven or Earth can be likened to should invite us to take a pleasure in his work it should be our meat and drink to do the Will of such an one for the sake of what he is for the glorifying of him who is so glorious must needs be our own Glory 2. A sence of God's Sovereignty and Dominion over us Who can refuse to yield himself to God that is seriously convinc't of his infinite Right to command and govern him He may challenge from us all that we can do for both our Being and active Power is from him He hath made us for himself and we may as well disown his being our Creator as deny him to be our Ruler but what kind of Ruler do we make him if we are not his servants to obey Subjection follows upon Dominion or is implied in it He is the Lord and worship thou him Psal 45.11 3. The consideration of the purity of the precepts which God calls us to observe This made the Word of God so amiable to David Psal 119.140 It requires nothing of us but what highly becomes us and behoves us nothing but what 't is our Honour and Interest to comply with The work of God is of the noblest kind such as none but a filthy depraved Creature would desire to be exempted from Paul therefore magnisies the Holiness Justice and Goodness of the Law Rom. 7.12 And upon that score expresses his Consent to it ver 16. And delight in it ver 22. 4. The Consideration of the Reward which we enjoy in Obedience at present and which is rescrv'd for us hereafter These are proper encouraging Thoughts and should recommend our Duty to us The Reward which attends our doing it is great the Reward which is laid up till we have done it is greater and this would not be so far revealed as it is but that it might be a spur to us Col. 3.23 24. Whatsoever ye do do it heartily c. knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the Peward of the Inheritance c. He that hath the Hope of such a promis'd blessedness should be excited by it to universal Holiness And yet the main Argument of all is the Love of God II. To offer some Proofs for the Demonstration of this Truth As. 1. No Man hath such a Sense of the Love of God but the Elect Sinner upon his return to God he is the only Subject of it And therefore it must needs very powerfully engage to Obedience 1. None but the Elect Sinner hath a true Sense of the Love of God This Treasure is put only into chosen Vessels this hidden Manna is only for God's hidden ones and consequently there is no danger of its corrupting but it will certainly nourish Grace and strengthen to Duty As none but they that are written in the Lamb's Book enter into Heaven Rev. 21. ult So this Heaven upon Earth does not enter into any others There are a peculiar number whom God hath set his Love upon and this peculiar number are the only Persons whom he manifests it to The aninting which teacheth us all things is Truth and no Lye 1 John 2.27 How then can they be taught the Knowledge of God's Love whom his Soul hates And on the other Hand how can they turn this against the Interest of Holiness who are chosen that they might be Holy 2. Elect Sinners have not such a Sense but when they are upon their return to God When Christ is about to be formed in the Soul those discoveries of the Love of God do greatly promote and help it forward if they have been Enemies in their Minds they shall not continue such If they have done Iniquity they shall do no more they shall not go on in their Trespasses after the Grace of God is so display'd in their Remission The white Stone is too great a Jewel to be cast before those filthy Swine that will turn again and rend or trample it under their Feet The chosen of God themselves have it not till God is calling them home to himself The Time of Conversion is the Time of Love Ezek. 16.8 The Time not only of God's Exercising but manifesting Love to the Sinner 2. None can impress such a Sense of God's Love upon us but the Spirit of God he is the only Author of it and therefore it must needs quicken to Obedience False hopes and groundless Comforts which do tend indeed to the Patronizing and Encouraging of Sin arise from our selves and from the Devil but the Consolations of God which always produce Holiness to the Lord are from the Spirit as he Works Love to God in us so he witnesses Gods Love to us As we cannot see the Sun but by its own Light So we cannot see the Face of God with Joy but by a beam from himself We can no more know that God is at Peace with us meerly by our own Understandings than we can reconcile our selves to him by the Power of our own Wills our Hearts are naturally like an Hell as there is a burning Fire of insatiable Lust so biting Worms of endless Fears The stupid Sinner is hard to be Convinced and the Convinced Sinner refuses to be Comforted We are as far from the applying of Promises as from hearkening to Precepts and as we cannot be subject to the Law so we can get no relief by the Gospel But the blessed Spirit he does both let us know the Things which are freely given us of God 1 Cor. 2.12 And also the Things which are indispensibly requir'd of us by God we should never know that God is our Father without this Spirit of Adoption The Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 And as he diffuses it there so he improves it to Holy Purposes his sanctifying Operations are always befriended and assisted by his Comforting Testimonies SERMON IV. July 30. 1695. PSALM XXVI iii. For thy Loving Kindness is before mine Eyes And I have walked in thy Truth 3. THE Promises which Declare and Confirm the Love of God to us are special means of working Holiness in us As they assure our Deliverance from Wrath so they promote our Salvation from Sin Divine Promises do not only tend to beget us to a lively Hope but they help to produce and maintain the Life of every Grace they are the spiritual Food of Souls which does both nourish our Faith and strengthen us to Obedience We do not obtain any Gospel Priviledge by the Performance of Duty but Duty is effectually enforc't by the Enjoyment of Gospel Priviledges God brings us
Endearments in one Breath and also in the right Order Song 2.16 My Beloved is mine and I am his God is the Ocean from which Love first flows out and to which it always streams back Love when it hath descended from Heaven to Earth hath finished but half its Course but when it ascends from Earth to Heaven the Circle is compleated 2. This Love which is the Product of God's is virtually all Obedience both as it inclines and disposes unto all and as it comprehends all in it 1. It disposes and inclines to all Obedience When the Heart is melted by his Fire within 't is easily cast into the mould of any Precept whatsoever As it puts us upon keeping the Commandments of God so it keeps them from being grievous 1 John 5.3 Obedience can neither be partial nor burdensome where-ever this Love of God dwells but it fulsils the Charge which David gave to Solomon of serving God with a perfect Heart and a willing Mind 1 Chron. 28.9 2. It comprehends all Obedience in it self The end of the Commandment is Charity c. 1 Tim. 1.5 Both Tables are reduc'd by Christ to two Commandments and Love is the grand Inscription of them both Therefore Love is styled the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.10 All the Duty which we owe to God and to our Neighbour is included in Love to each And indeed we cannot walk in God's Truth unless we walk in Love to one another as well as to him Our Alienations from our Brethren speak our distance from Christ the Center of our Union The nearer any Lines in a Circle come to the Center the nearer they are one to another but the further they go from the Center the more they run out one from another III. To Apply this What are we to be inform'd of and exhorted to I. Vse Information 1. If our Obedience be excited by the Love of God then the Love of God prevents our Obedinence If we did first give to God he is able infinitely to recompence it again above what we can think but who is it that hath first given unto him Rom. 11.35 There is not one whose Heart God hath touched that will dare to pretend it We do not commend our selves to God but God manifests himself to us The Love of God was not purchas'd even by the Obedience of Christ much less by ours 1 John 4.10 Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins The sending of the Son was the Effect of the Father's Love and therefore the Son 's coming could not be the Cause of it How then can we procure what Christ did not His Love is not bestow'd upon us for our Service but is the incentive to it 2. 'T is blasphemy against the Love of God to reproach is with being the Parent or Nurse of carnal Security They that have the Kingdness of God in their Eye can take no Encouragement from thence to set any wicked Thing before them for Sin tends to Cloud that Light wherein we rejoyce If God be well pleased with us it lays the greater Engagement upon us to walk worthy of him How absurd is it to say that when God communicates his Thoughts of Peace the Soul is embolden'd to new Acts of Treason As if Men should lay aside the Fear of God because the Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him Psalm 25.14 Or as if the Spirit of Adoption took Men off from Obedience to God when they are call'd to be Followers of him as dear Children Eph. 5.1 3. They that by loose and disorderly Practices give any occasion to such Blasphemers have a great deal of Sin to answer for besides their own If any of us Cause this way of Truth to be evil spoken of we bring the guilt of those Calumnies upon our selves It will be an heavy load to a tender Conscience if sound Doctrine is arraign'd through our unmortified Corruption How do we wrong the Purity of the Gospel when we turn the Grace of our God into lasciviousness For the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation teacheth us the contrary Tis. 2.11 12. What is this but to change the Glory of God into an Image made like to unclean Spirits Wo to those Libertines by whom this offence cometh What Jealousie and Rage does that Adulteress deserve who impudently abuses her Husband's Love 4. The Grace of God in us is a comforting Evidence of his Love to us Though Holy Walking is no Foundation for Trust we may reflect upon it as a Token for good 'T is said of the way of Holiness that the redeemed shall walk there Isa 35.8 9. as Mary Magdalen's Pardon is concluded from her Affection so if God enables us to make straight Paths for our Feet 't is a sign that he hath set his Heart upon us As all Obedience issues from the Spirit so the Gift of that Spirit is a Testimony of peculiar Favour Ezek. 39.29 Neither will I hide my Face any more from them for I have poured out my Spirit c. 5. A denial of the possibility of Assurance is injurious to Holiness The first and best Christians were such as could say we have known and believed the Love which God hath to us 1 John 4.16 And they that have had the same Spirit of Faith have always approved themselves the greatest Saints in all succeeding Times but to say that this their belief was a Delusion is in effect to say that all their Religion was a Cheat too which in this more degenerate Age is hardly to be matcht To stake Men down to uncertain suspended waverings about their Interest in the Love of God is to destroy the most quickening Motive to Obedience 6. The Christian Life is as far from being uncomfortable as from being irregular What greater Pleasure can there be than to be constantly influenc'd by the Love of God to the Service of God A dull and sowre Complexion does not belong to real Christianity Psalm 97.11 Light is sown for the Righteous and Gladness for the upright in Heart Though Cain's Countenance fall Abel's Race may lift up their Heads If there be any Consolation in Christ they that are his have reason to rejoyce and what more sure than that there is all in him and none out of him He hath a Chariet of Gold paved with Love for the Daughters of Jerusalem Song 3.10 What so delightful as to go up and fit with him in that Chariot II. Exhortation 1. Think not only on the Love of God in general but on the most affecting Properties of it in Particular Such as 1. It s Antiquity God loved us from Eternity before we were and before the World was and there have been Early discoveries of it there is the Love of God to us in our Childhood Hos 11.1 And his Kindness in our Youth Jer. 2.2 Which are both Seasons of Vanity The Loving Kindnesses of God
positive Discovery of Corruption in the actual Commission of Sin is not Apostacy A Man may halt and slip yea he may stumble and fall and yet not go back He that resolvedly holds on his way may notwithstanding oftentimes through Ignorance or Infirmity turn aside out of it before he finishes his Course A Believer may be led into Captivity to the Law of Sin and yet never properly is brought under the Reigning Power of Sin Rom. 6.14 compar'd with 7.23 To be violently seized by another as an Enemy is a very distinct thing from submitting to another's Dominion as a Lord. A Subject may continue Loyal to his Rightful Prince though the Arms of a wrongful Usurper may for a Time prevail against him A voluntary Transferring of my Allegiance is much more than to be taken Prisoner by force Rebellion is an aggravating Addition to Sin Job 34.37 Now Apostatizing in Scripture is very frequently exprest by Rebelling Josh 22.29 God forbid that we should Rebel against the Lord and turn this Day from following the Lord c. Dan. 9.5 We have done wickedly and rebelled by departing from thy Precepts c. Every Offence against a Law is not an Act of Treason or Renunciation of the Soveraign Authority All Sin is a Transgression but this Sin of backsliding is the great Transgression 3. Apostacy from God includes not only a Deviation in the Life but an Alienation of the Heart Not only a sinful wandering but a loving to wander Jer. 14.10 Thus have they loved to wander they have not refrained their Feet So long as the Heart is right with God it cannot be said that the Man goes back from him An unwilling Departure is not so much the Act of the regenerate Person as of the Sin that dwelleth in him Rom. 7.17 No outward Performance good or bad does denominate so much as the inward frame and working of the Spirit A great many miscarriages will be graciously overlookt in the visible Walk and Conversation when there is a cleaving to God with full Purpose of Soul The Errors of a Man's way are far more pardonable than erring in Heart The Generation whom God was so much griev'd with were a People that did err in their Hearts Psalm 95.10 Though there be no manifest or gross backsliding in the Life yet if there be a revolting and a rebellious Heart there is the poysonous Root of all Abomination Here is Apostacy in the sight of God though not in the sight of Men as the Israelites in their Hearts turned back again into Egypt when they were marching in the Wilderness Acts 3.39 According as the Mind is estrang'd from God or keeps close to him a Man is clear or guilty in this Case Our Heart is not turned back was the Church's Vindication Psalm 44.18 4. Apostacy from God is really an undoing of all the good which we have done 'T is a wicked Repentance quite contrary to the Grace of Repentance as that is a Repentance from dead Works so is this a Repentance from Works of a better sort Psalm 36.3 He hath left off to be wise and to do good 'T is a Perversion to Evil after a seeming Conversion from it The first Apostacy wherein all are involved supposes the Creation of Man in a State of Uprightness Every one is gone back Psalm 53.3 Therefore Adams Original Course was a walk with God So here the Apostacy whereof we speak is a miserable change for the worse after a plausible change at least for the better There can be no going back but where a Man hath once run well No looking back but where a Man hath first set his Hand to the Plaugh Luke 9. ult 'T is ending in the Flesh after we have begun in the Spirit when our Faces have been towards Sion and our doings framed to turn to God this is a revoking and disanulling of all and driving towards Hell 'T is a Declaration of War where we have pretended Friendship 't is a saying in Effect the Time past sufficeth us to have wrought the Will of God and therefore now we will Work our own In short 't is no less than our pulling down all that we have built up and a listing of our selves in the Service of Sin and Satan whom we have fought against II. Of what Concernment and Importance it is to Believers to be secur'd against such Apostacy This will appear from two Things their Danger of Apostacy and their Danger by it 1. How much they are in Danger of it viz. If left alone and abandon'd to themselves There are Three Considerations which will sufficiently shew the greatness of this hazard 1. Grace in us is very weak The Apostle does not say be strong in the Grace which is in thy self but in the Grace which is in Christ 2 Tim. 2.1 That fulness of Grace of which Christ is the subject can never be lessen'd but those measures of Grace which are communicated unto us and lodg'd in us might and would be lost if we were separated from him Borrowed Abilities will fail if not continually recruited and supplied All created inhaerent Holiness of it self is a perishable Thing 't is indeed made of God an abiding incorruptible Seed in Believers now but 't is not so in its own Nature If it were how could the Angels in Heaven or Adam in Paradice have ever fallen Grace is a good Treasure in the Heart but it wants Almightiness to guard it as there is no Worldling who thinks that his Bags or Coffers can defend themselves Gracious Habits are the true Riches but they lye open for Thieves to rob us of them except God keep our House after he hath furnisht it Poverty will come upon us like an armed Man 2. Corruption in us is very Active We are very apt and ready to be drawn away by our own Lust James 1.14 There is Folly enough remaining in the wisest and best of Men to pervert and mislead them He was no ordinary Saint who complain'd of his being so foolish and ignorant that he was as a Beast before God Psalm 73.22 There is still too much Brute in him that hath attain'd to be more than a Man None of us are so washed from our silthiness while we are in this World but that the Reliques of a swinish Principle in our Natures would make us return to wallow in the Mire if God did not keep us back If we consider how just Lot linger'd in going out of sinful Sodom we cannot but think that he would have lookt behind him as well as his Wife except those Inclinations had been restrain'd Though our Hearts be Circumcis'd to Love God predominantly there are vile Affections stirring in us still not very easie to be supprest The Law in our Members is not like a dead Letter but a lively Principle which Wars against the Laws of our Minds 3. The Temptations which come against us are very numerous Every Place every Condition every Employment every Relation is full
an important Secret that he had been bereaved of common Prudence when there were such plain Reasons to suspect a persidious Design but so God rightly order'd that the Folly should be a Punishment of the Sin and that both should make way for his further Suffering For assoon as this was done his Strength went from him ver 19. His Strength seems to be a peculiar Gift to him which was to be continued upon the Condition of keeping his Hair uncut and so that Condition being broken this Gift was recall'd Yet the strange Presumption and Stupidity of Smpson after all this may be Matter of Astonishment to us of which we have an Account in this 20th ver When Dalilah comes to rouse him with the usual Cry The Philisines are upon Thee See 1. His Presumption He awoke out of his Sleep and said I will go out as at other Times before and shake my Self How could he imagine this when he himself had said that if he were shaven he should become Weak and like another Man How could he expect to do as he had done when he had so positively foretold his own Fate Therefore 2. See his Stupidity And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him He said what he did upon a sudden at his first awaking before he found how he was betray'd besore he perceiv'd that his Locks were cut off and before he consider'd what the Consequents of that would be He was not instantly apprehensive of the Misery of his Case through God's just abandoning of him but depended on the same Assistance which he had formerly receiv'd till he felt the contrry by woful Desertion It is a lamentble Truth which these Whords do teach us but yet a Truth which is prositable to be known Obs There may be sad Departures of God from Believers themselves of which for a while they may remain insensible Sampson was not only an eminent Type of Christ in whom the Power of God was gloriously displayed 1 Cor. 1.24 But is also reckon'd among those Old Testament worthies Heb. 11.32 Of whom 't is said notwithstanding their various sinful Infirmities That these all obtained a good Report through Faith ver 39. And therefore this general Doctrine may be built on this Particular Example In handling of it I. What are those Departures of God which even Belivers are incident to II. What are the Causes and Occasions of them III. What are the Essects which sollow thereupon IV. How far may Believers be insensible hereof V. HOw comes it to pass that they are so Vi. Use I. What are those Departures of God from Believers which they are lyable to and sometimes exercis'd with There are Three Things which must be distinctly enquir'd into with Respect to this Point 1. What are they as to the Kind 1. Not a Loss of the Favour of God Psalm 89.33 My Loving Kindness will I not utterly take from him c. 'T is brought in with a nevertheless after he had spoken of the visiting of Transgression with the Rod ver 32. God's sharpest Corrections for Sin are no Arguments of his Alienation from the Person when his Hand goes forth with most Severity against us his Heart may be still towards us as much as ever So Isa 54.10 The Mountains shall depart c. but my Kindaess shall not depart from thee The Mountains are the most solid and lasting Parts of this lower Creation yet they may and shall be remov'd they may by violent Eruptions be carried into the midst of the Sea they shall be overturn'd at the End of the World but the Love of God is Everlasting and Vnmoveable Where 't is once fixt 't is never to be taken away neither Things present not to come shall be able to separate us from it If the foresight of our Sins did not prevent it Sins actually committed shall not displace it If God bear such a good-will to unbelieving Sinners for the first fulsilling of the Work of Faith in us is a Fruit and Evidence of his Love to us we cannot reasonably suppose that it should afterwards cease to sinning Believers 2. 'T is a withdrawing of the Spirit of God not in Regard of real Fresence but manifest Influence 1. The real Presence of the Spirit is not withdrawn for this is constant and perpetual Both its Constancy and Perpetuity I conceive to be intimated John 14.17 He dwelleth with you and shall be in you Where he once makes his abode he always settles it he is not an uncertain Guest but a resolv'd In habitant Believers have the Spirit when they cannot discern that they have him for they would be no longer Believers if they were without the Spirit We must be cut off from Christ if the Spirit should be taken from us for our Union with Christ is maintain'd and secur'd by the indwelling of the Spirit 1 John 3.24 Hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us This is a continued Priviledge upon which others depend for we are no louger the Members of the Lord Jesus than we are the Temples of the Holy Ghost 2. The manifest Inftuence of the Spirit may be withdrawn though his Residence be not alter'd his Operations may be interrupted in Three Respects as to Gifts Graces and Comforts 1. In Respect of Gifts These receive the Name of spiritual Gists not only from their Nature but from the Spirit as the Author for how various soeverthey be they all flow from him as their common Fountain There are diversities of Gifts but the same Spirit 1 Cor. 12.4 Now they that are possest of these Gifts will fsind them withering and decaying and be as though they had none when the Spirit of God withholds that actual Influence which gives Life and Vigour to them With what stammering Lips do we speak when he is not with our Mouths What poor ignorant Babblers are we when he does not enrich us in Utterance and Knowledge 2. In respect of Graces As the Habits of Grace are infused so the Actings of Grace are assisted by the Spirit and the most strong and lively Christians are very feeble and languid when he keeps back his quickening Helps The being of Grace is the Effect of the Spirits planting the springing of Grace is the Effect of his Watering The choicest Vine will yield but sorry Grapes like the shrivell'd Fruits of a dry Tree when God Commands the Clouds that they do not Rain upon it In such a Case though the Seed of God remain in a Believer 1 John 3.9 Yet what he bring forth is always ready to Dye 3. In respect of Comforts All Consolation is the Work of the Spirit which is certainly more or less according as he affords or abates his Testimony When he sheds abroad the Love of God in the Heart there is abounding Hope and a full Tide of spiritual Joy Rom. 5.5 When he refuses or forbears to do this there 's a black Cloud upon all our Evidences
seek Psalm 27.8 God does not only expect such an Answer but expects it immediately upon his Call When ever he blows with his Wind he looks that we should spread our Sails If we refuse his offer'd help we may deservedly want it when desir'd As Christ withdrew himself from the Spouse because she let him stand knocking so long at the Door of her Heart and she still deferr'd to open and tir'd out his loving Forbearance with vain and frivolous Excuses Song 5.2 c. But as we must not omit the present Performance of any Duty which he excites unto we must not check his Influences by being weary of the Duties which he assists us in If we do not improve extraordinary Aids by holding out the longer we provoke him to depart 11. Dallying with Satan's Temptations This was Sampson's Case he went on Mocking Dalilah three Times one after another till at last he told her all his Heart So Eve's parleying with the Serpent instead of giving a resolute Repulse was the introduction to all that Sin and Misery which hath since fill'd the World There can be no Conversation had with the Vnclean Spirit but that the Holy Spirit will be offended by it An intimate Friend would take it ill and would have Reason to keep at a more than usual distance from us if he saw us maintaining any familiar Correspondence with his avowed Enemy If we grow bold and presumptuous in playing with the Devils baits the Spirit of God will be more shy of having Fellowship with us If we do not vigorously oppose the first Suggestions and Assaults we can have little Hope of being assisted in the progress of Temptation and much less of comeing off with Victory at the End of it He that will tread upon the Edge of a known Snare which he should fly from is generally left to be caught and taken in it 12. Carelessness and Negligence in our daily Walk This may be and is too often the fault of those whose Hearts nevertheless in the main are upright with God The Fear of God is in them but 't is not constantly before them as it ought to be Though they be not habitual Customary Sinners yet for want of taking that heed to their Ways which they should do they may fall into scandalous and hainous Sins and what less can we suppose that this should issue in than a Departure of the Spirit of God from them And therefore when David came to himself after his foul Miscarriage and reflected upon what he had done he might well put up such a Prayer Psalm 51.11 Cast me not away from thy Presence take not thy Holy Spirit from me This was what he dreaded and deprecated as the just and natural Consequent of his Sin He that would not expose himself to such a Judgment as this is needs to be very watchful and Circumspect for if we do not ponder the Path of our Feet and look well to our goings we shall slip into the Mire before we are aware III. What are the Effects which follow upon these Departures 1. A manifest deadness both in Private Duties and Publick Ordinances 'T is said of the slain Witnesses that when the Spirit of Life from God enter'd into them They stood upon their Feet Rev. 11.11 When the Spirit withdraws we can by no means lift up our selves but only creep as it were and grovel on the ground 'T is so 1. In Private Duties the Ebbings and Flowings which we often find in the Exercise of Grace the various and unequal Motions of our Souls towards God when we are alone in our Retirements plainly prove that the Spirit of God is not always alike present and that according as he is more or less so we are either lively or drooping When the Spirit is in the Wheels we are able to run but if not we tire When we have him with us we go on swiftly when we are without him we draw very heavily When God pours out his Spirit upon us how fervently can we pour out our Souls to him When he is departed how strangely are we bound up The Influence of the Spirit sets us on Fire and in his Absence we can get no warmth 2. 'T is the same in Publick Ordinances When God fills them with his own Presence there is a mighty Power a glorious Majesty a charming Beauty a satisfying Sweetness in them but when God withholds himself they are empty of all this When the Spirit of God moves upon the Waters of the Sanctuary they are a Stream that make glad the City of God but else even the Children of Sion have no Refreshment by them Hence it is that the very same Persons are so differently affected with and wrought upon by the same Administrations at several Seasons sometimes it may be we meet with that ravishing Pleasure and Joy in Worshipping Assemblies that we are ready to cry it is good to be here at other Times we feel no such Thing When we are in the Spirit on the Lord's-Day the Sabbath is our Delight the Word is savoury Meat the Supper is a Feast of Fat Things but without the Spirit these Days of Heaven are lost to us and the Wells of Salvation like dry Pits 2. A wretched indifferency towards the Service of God As this is an Effect of God's departing so it naturally follows upon the former for where Men are not quicken'd in God's way they will certainly need to be quicken'd to it When the vigorous Relish of the Soul is gone the Appetite will be gone proportionably Our desiring of the Word depends very much upon our Tasting of it 1 Pet. 2.2 3. The better Meals we make in God's House the more we hunger and the more we drink of the River of his Pleasure the greater is our Thirst Here lies our Misery therefore when through the Absence of the Spirit God's Service is become undelightful to us 't is also too much undesir'd by us Some desire to his Name is still remaining in every gracious Soul but 't is marvelously cooled and abated and the edge of it taken off there is not that vehement Desire which the Scripture speaks of 2 Cor. 7.11 There is not a desiring with Desire as Luke 22.15 There is not that Panting after God nor that earnest longing to come and appear before him which David professes Psalm 42.1 2. They can pass over Seasons of conversing with God or be hinder'd of them more easily than when the Spirit is present 3. The Revival of secret Corruptions whereby Satan gets great Advantages The Evil present with us is never so prevalent as when the Lord is departed from us Then those Lusts which seem'd to be pretty well mortified and subdued before start up again and recover their Strength and the Devil falling in with them does abundance of mischief Believers are hereupon sometimes overcome by Temptations which they Thought themselves most secure against and furthest off from a Compliance with they are led
to commit the very Sins which they had the greatest Aversion to and Abhorrence of Satan and indwelling Sin together do not make up so great a Force but that we may withstand and repel them when we have the Presence of the Spirit of God but when we are bereaved of that Presence we are too weak to grapple with them asunder Therefore the first Rule in the spiritual Warfare is be strong in the Lord Eph. 6.10 'T is not to be believed what an Head Corruption will get and what inrodes the Devil will make when a Saint is left but a little to himself One Temptation is admitted after another with very faint and fruitless Reluctancy like Jerusalem That open'd her Feet to every one c. Ezek. 16.25 4. Impenitency for a Time under the guilt of Sin committed There are several Causes of sinful hardness and among the rest we find it sometimes in Scripture attributed to God which cannot be understood as if he were in any Sense the Author of it or the Agent in it so as to produce it by positive Influence but chiefly by Way of Privation viz. by removing of the Spirit from us whose proper work it is to soften to make our Hearts tender and bring us to Repentance Hence it is that the very Children of God such as can boldly say doubtless thou art our Father do not only err from God's ways but which is more are hasten'd from his Fear Isa 63.16 17. They may not only commit Sin but continue in it a great while when the Case is so with them 'T is astonishing that David should remain without Repentance so many Months as he did we cannot imagine but that he often heard and read the sixth and seventh Commandments in that Time both in his own House and in the Temple and yet Conscience lay asleep still till the Spirit of God by Nathan awaken'd him again His Reproofs of Sin are the only Effectual Ones for while he is silent all other smitings will signifie little to sound Conviction 5. Impatience or Despondency even under light Afflictions Fretting or Fainting in a Day of Adversity are the natural Issues of our own Spirit when they are not calm or comforted by God's 1. We cannot possess our Souls in Patience under Suffering when the Spirit leaves us There is need of strengthening with all might according to his glorious Power unto all Patience c. Col. 1.11 There is a natural Frowardness of Heart which all afflictive Evils tend to Kindle and Provoke which we are no more able of our selves to Conquer than we are to rule the Raging of the Sea The same God that lays his Hand at any Time upon us must also by his own Grace humble us under it and reconcile us to it or else our rebellious Passion will struggle and contend against it Jonahs extravagant Anger for a Gourd and justifying of himself shews how ungovernable we are when forsaken of God Jonah 4.9 2. We cannot rejoyce in Hope under any Suffering when the Spirit is with-drawn We are ready to sink immediately when our Support is taken away our feeble Knees like Belshazzar's are apt to smite one against another and we cannot bare any Burden alone Carnal Fear swallows up the Soul our Hearts fail us and weare as they that have no more Spirit in them when we have lost God's encouraging Presence God's help is as necessary against Despair in Trouble as for Deliverance out of it He that believes to see the goodness of the Lord when he is feeling his Severity must be under the Influence of the Spirit of Faith 6. Shameful Denials of God's Name in perillous Times when we are called to hold it fast and to make an open Profession of it Courage and Resolution Constancy and Stedfastness in appearing for the Cause and Interest of Christ at all Times is an eminent Fruit of the Spirit and therefore Believers were not so frequently nor in such large numbers call'd to suffer for God under the Old Testament as now under the New When there is a more plentiful Effusion of the Spirit than there was before And therefore the Apostles were commanded to tarry at Jerusalem and not to Launch into a Sea of Persecution by going about to Preach the Gospel till the Spirit was given which Christ expresses by their being endued with Power from on high Luke 24.49 What a miserable Coward was Peter before this that had not the Confidence to own his Master when only challeng'd by two of the Maids of the High-Priest Mark 14.66 c. And yet how undaunted after this in his Acknowledgment of him to the Rulers of the People and Elders of Israel Acts 4.10 11. When the Disciples were fill'd with the Holy Ghost they spake the Word of God with boldness ver 31. But how easily will Men's furious Threatenings scare us when our God abandons us 7. Woful Confusion and Disorder in the Exercise of our Thoughts and workings of our Affections 1. In the Exercise of our Thoughts A Man's Thoughts are naturally quick and nimble and therefore the more apt of themselves to be hurried and confounded as we know that the swiftest Motions are perplext the soonest When Cain went out from the Presence of the Lord he became a Fugitive and a Vagabond so the Mind is full of will and loose incohaerent distracted vain Imaginations that serve to no use that will be kept in no Order when 't is not under the actual Conduct of the Spirit of God it roves and wanders from one thing to another and can fix or settle no where as it should There are swarms of bad Thoughts which thrust out the good ones and we can no more meditate to any Purpose upon spiritual Objects without the Spirit than a Man can take the Prospect of a Star through a Glass held with a shaking Hand 2. In the working of our Affections these are as hard to be regulated as our Thought are to be compos'd They will boyl over when they should be kept in and when they ought to flow out then there will be none stirring The best of our Hearts if they be not under better Management than our own will be hot and cold by fits at the contrary Seasons Upon slight occasions we know not how to restrain them and upon great occasions we know not how to excite them This is and will be the Case whenever God suspends his own gracious Acts and stands at a distance from us 8. Vnwilling and sad Expectation of Death and Judgment 'T is impossible for a Child of God chearfully to lay down his Temporal life and lay hold of Eternal unless God be with him Psal 23.4 Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no Evil for thou art with me c. How dismal must it be to think of going to a departed God Of standing at his Bar when we apprehend our selves cast out of his sight How can we be
is that which inseparably results from it but can never be presupposed to it By Faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out of his own Countrey into a strange Land Heb. 11.8 And whoever obey from any other Principle they are nothing in God's Account and all that they do will avail nothing to them Receiving of Christ is the first Act and yielding our selves to him is consequent upon it 3. We are expresly said to receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith Gal. 3.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Faith is oppos'd to Works twice in this very Case of receiving the Spirit ver 2 5. And therefore the Gospel which is the Doctrine of Faith as distinguisht from the Law which is the Rule of Works is stiled the Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 A Road of doing separate from believing is not the Way of the Spirit of God 3. How are we to understand the giving of the Spirit to them that obey Christ 1. It must not be understood as if this were the Reason of the Gift or the actual Qualification of the Persons before the receiving of this Gift Our foreseen Faith and Obedience is not the Reason why God gives the Holy Ghost to us for he is given freely as hath been said from no other Motive but the meer Kindness and Good-will of God to lost and undone Sinners Nor are any Persons so qualified and prepar'd for the receiving of the Spirit before he is given to them for we are unbelieving and disohedient till the Spirit hath been mightily at Work in us The whole Race of Manking are by Nature a wretched Company of Insidels and Rebels against Christ without the Spirit And there is not the least Disposition in us to any Duty whatsoever but what is of his producing 2. Believing and Obeying are the present Effects of the Spirit 's Influence upon our Souls assoon as he is given us He is given in Order to this End and this End is immediately and infallibly brought about by his powerful Agency When the Holy Ghost was given to the Gentiles their Hearts were instantly purified by Faith Acts 15.8 9. To have the Spirit and remain one Moment an Unbeliever is a Contradiction So we read of Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience 1 Pet. 1.2 Where the Spirit is he Acts as a Sanctifier and where he Acts so it instantly appears by the Fruit of Obedience which flow naturally from it So the Promise runs Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within-you and cause you to walk in my Statutes c. 3. In the Exercises of Faith and actings of Obedience we have more and more of the Spirit given to us So we may understand the giving of the Spirit to them that obey Christ and believe in him not of the first Donation but of the increased Degrees and Measures of the same Spirit to those that have him already In this Sense we read of the Spirit 's being given and receiv'd John 7.39 He was given before Christ's Ascension but more sparingly when he was ascended the Spirit came down in greater Flouds there was a more signal and liberal Effusion So though the Spirit is poured out that we may believe yet after we believe there are still larger Portions continually given forth This the Apostle calls the supply of the Spirit Phil. 1.19 'T is the same Word which is used 2 Pet. 1.5 Add to your Faith c. God does not stop at the first Gift but vouchsafes daily further additional Supplies III. How is the Work and Office of a Witness perform'd by the Spirit to our Lord Jesus Ans This may be shewn under four Heads distinctly How he did it before Christ's coming and during Christ's stay on Earth and after his Departure to Heaven And how he does it even now at this present Time 1. How did the Spirit perform the Work and Office of a Witness to Christ before his Coming Chiefly by Prophesie Now here two Things are to be prov'd that Prophesie was indeed a Witness to Christ and that the Spirit did witness by it 1. That Prophesie was a Witness to Christ This the Scripture most positively Asserts Acts 10.43 To him give all the Prophets Witness c. There are very numerous and plentiful Instances which might be given of the Truth of this if we look into the Prophetical Writings of the Old Testament which unanimously Point to Chtist as their main Subject Our Lord calls the Jews to search the Scriptures in General upon this account because they testified of him John 5.39 Various Predictions concerning Christ even in the Books of Moses in the Psalms of David in the Greater and Lesser Prophets in those that Prophesied before the Captivity and in them that Prophesied after the return out of Captivity There were few or none among them all but what foretold the coming of the Messiah and gave some Character of him 2. It was the Holy Spirit who witness'd hereby to Jesus Christ The Spirit of God is said to testifie in the Prophets Neb. 9.30 1 Pet. 1.11 Whatever is written in the Word he is stiled a Witness of Heb. 10.15 Because he dictated to the Pen-men of the Word not only the Matter and Substance but the very Expressions themselves For Prophesie as the Apostle says came not in Old Time by the Will of Man but Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 When the Word was brought to them it was not lest to them to invent or chuse out such Terms as they thought best for the declaring and reporting of it but they were acted herein by the Divine Spirit as Passive Instruments to deliver all that which he suggested and nothing else The Gift of Prophesie was entirely his without and antecedent Preparations of their own and the Exercise of this Gift was from him and under his Conduct and Management also Therefore the Angel might justly say Rev. 19.10 The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesie This Testimony was born to Christ before his Coming and the Spirit was the Author of it SERMON XII June 30. 1696. ACTS V. xxxii latter Part. And so is also the Holy Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him 2. HOW did the Spirit perform this Work of a Witness when Christ was upon the Earth I will mention only Three Ways 1. His Visible Descent upon Christ at his Baptism Luke 3.22 The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a Dove upon him c. It is not to my present Purpose to enquire of what Nature or Substance this Appearance was the Form or Resemblance here assum'd is said to be that of a Dove which was obvious to Sense and seen by his forerunner the Person that Baptiz'd him which was the Token that God had given him to know the Messiah by and this he bare Record of John 1.32 33. That this was designed as a solemn Testimony to Jesus Christ
is manifest because immediately after this he enter'd upon his publick Ministry here was a Pledge first given of the Authority which he was invested with that he might be accordingly acknowledg'd and regarded in the Exercise of his Office which till now he had not begun 2. The extraordinary Works that were done by Christ these were the Seals of his Commission and prov'd him to come from Heaven for the Doctrine of an Impostor would never have been so signally asserted But now all these Works were done in the Power of the Holy Ghost whom he is said to be anointed with and partly for that End Acts 10.38 Particularly he cast out Devils by the Spirit of God Mat. 12.28 And for that Reason he charges the Jews with Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost the unpardonable Sin who ascrib'd this mighty Act of his to Beelzebub the Prince of Devils ver 31 32. If Christ himself only had been concern'd in this Work this could have been Blasphemy against him only but seeing the Spirit of God concurr'd with him in it they were guilty of Blaspheming that Spirit also 3. The Resurrection of Christ which was a considerable Testimony to his Eternal Deity is ascrib'd to the Spirit likewise This Work is indeed in Scripture ascrib'd to all the Three Persons to the Father Rom. 6.4 To Christ himself John 10.17 18. And the Holy Ghost is interested in it too Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he that rais'd up Christ from the Dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit c. The Connexion of the Words and the Relation which one Thing in them bears to another shews this to be the meaning that God will revive and raise the Dead Bodies of Believers by the same Spirit by whom he rais'd his Son that Spirit who reunited the Humane Soul and Body of Jesus Christ will reunite ours also So 1 Pet. 3.16 Quicken'd in the Spirit the same Spirit by which he Preach'd to the Disobedient in the Days of Noah ver 19 20. with Gen. 6.3 3. How did the Spirit witness to Christ after his Departure into Heaven I mean in the Times of the Apostles and in those first Ages of the Gospel Answ I. By the Revelation of the Mysteries of the Gospel to the Apostles which they were to Preach to others This we have an Account of from Christ himself John 16.12 13 14 15. I have yet many Things to say unto you but you cannot bear-them now howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth c. He shall Glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you which is repeated in the next Words The Disciples then were weak in the Faith prepossest with carnal Notions about the Kingdom of Christ and at that Time also overwhelm'd with Sorrow upon the Notice of his intended Departure and by this means they were uncapable at the present of Learning all that they needed to be taught now Jesus Christ who consider'd their weakness and dealt with them according to it refers them to be more fully instructed by the promised Spirit who though he did not discover any new Truths which they never heard yet he brought old Truths to their Remembrance with new Illumination he help'd their remaining Ignorance and Infrimity in giving them a clearer Understanding of all the Things of Chirist of all those Doctrines concerning Christ which were hid and veil'd from them before 2. By endowing them with a miraculous Power of doing those Things which were above the utmost activity of Nature for the Confirmation of the Christian Doctrine Thus he is said to give Testimony to the Word of his Grace in granting Signs and Wonders to be done by their Hands Acts 14.3 God bearing them Witness with Signs and Wonders and divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost Heb. 2.4 A great many of those supernatural Effects were produced by his means in the Course of their Ministry and some of them such as even exceeded what were wrought by our Lord himself So he had told them that it should be John 14.12 He that believeth on me the Works which I do shall he do also and greater Works than these shall he do because I go to my Faither I would not go about to restrain this Text to the Apostles because Christ puts it in larger Terms He that believeth c. but undoubtedly it was verified in them They were enabled to Work the same Miracles which he did and in some Respects such as out-did them Chap. 9. The Healing of those that were laid upon Beds and Couches in the Streets with the Shadow of Peter passing by ver 15. of this Chapter and Chap. 19.11 12. We read of special Miracles wrought by the Hands of Paul so that from his Body were brought unto the Sick Handkerchiefs or Aprons and the Diseases departed from them c. The Reason of these greater Works done by the Apostles was Christ's going to the Father which made Way for an eminent pouring forth of the Spirit and this tended not so much to the Reputation of their particular Persons for they could not Work them when they would as to the Glory of Christ whose Interest was hereby advanced in the World 3. By the remarkable and numerous Conversions of great Multitudes to Christ among whom they preach'd As soon as ever the Holy Ghost was come upon them there were Three Thousand Souls added to them That gladly receiv'd their Word and were Baptized Chap. 2.41 Soon after these were made up Five Thousand Chap. 4.4 All this was done in the compass of very few Days and the first Harvest was the Fruit of one Sermon At Samaria when Philip went and Preach'd Christ to them 't is said that the People with one accord gave heed to the Things which he spake Chap. 8.5 6. Which is the more extraordinary because they had all given heed to Simon the Sorcerer before from the least to the greatest ver 10. What a strang and marvellous turn was here in an whole City upon the Preaching of the Gospel In many other Places the Word of God grew mightily and prevail'd Chap. 19.20 It got ground against all the Opposition both of Jews and Gentiles The Preachers of it were made to Triumph in Christ and baffies all contrary attempts from open Enemies and false Brethren and overcame the Devil by the Word of their Testimony And the way of doing all this is explain'd to us 1 Cor. 2.4 My Speech and my Preaching was in Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power The Spirit of God accompanied their Word and made it thus successful 4. By the supernatural Gifts which were bestowed upon other Believers also as well as the Apostles The Truth of this might be made out by several Instances if it were needful Acts 10.44 While Peter spake the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word viz. Cornelius
Communicatious of Light and Grace as long as we are in the World that our Faith may grow and that what is lacking in it may be perfected According as the Spirit enriches us in the Progress of our Sanctification the Testimony of Christ is confirmed in us 1 Cor. 1.6 He grounds and settles us and makes us unmoveable from the Hope of the Gospel he fortifies and establishes us against various contrary Temptations whereby the Devil is frequently endeavouring to loosen our hold of Christ and beat us off from him We are poor wavering unsteady Creatures when we are left to our selves rejoycing one Moment and drooping the next confidently assured of that at one Time which we are ready to call in Question at another The best Believers in the World will most humbly own this the strongest Faith would certainly fail if the Cause of Christ in the Soul were not often pleaded over again by the Spirit as an Antidote for the Motions to Infidelity IV. Vse There are several Things which from hence we may be informed of and exhorted to 1. There are several Things which we may be informed of As 1. Jesus Christ never will nor can be left without a Witness because the Eternal Spirit is his Witness who will never with-dram his Testimony This Spirit of Christ is given to all that obey him and he testifies of Christ to them and by them to others but if we could suppose this whole Generation of the righteous to be extinct which yet shall never be as long as the Earth remains if all these Humane Witnesses were slain and not one left to stand up on the behalf of Christ in the World yet while the Holy Ghost survives as a faithful Witness in Heaven 't is impossible that Christ should be destitute Let the Rage and Malice of the World against Christ go as far as it can in stopping the Mouths or shedding the Blood of all that receive or bear the Record which God hath given of his Son the Spirit cannot be prevented from doing constant Honour to Jesus Christ 2. The Word of Christ hath a better Foundation than any Tesitimony from Man or from any Church or Party of Men whatever As Christ said He had a greater Witnrss than that of John John 5-36 Concerning thy Testimonies I have knowu of Old says David that thou hast founded them for ever Psalm 119.152 But if mortal Witnesses were their only Supporters they would be as liable to fade and perish to be subverted and destroyed as other Inferiour Things To build the Credit of the Gospel upon Humane Tradition is like putting the Ark of the Testimony into a wooden Cart which will be apt to shake and reel if not to tumble The Church of God is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 To hold it forth indeed not to hold it up not such a Pillar as Houses stand upon but as Writings hang upon for Publick Notice 3. The unrighteous Judgment of Satan and the World against Christ is and will be perfectly reversed Now is the Judgment of this World says Christ John 12.31 So Chap. 16.11 When the Sprit is come he will Reprove or Convince the World of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged I take these Two Texts to refer to one and the same Thing for the Prince of this World and the World it self pass the same Judgment on Jesus Christ and the Judgment of both is very unjust the World and its Prince make up as it were but one Person the Head and the Body and they exactly Agree and Joyn in the same Sentence to condemn our Lord Jesus But here is a Witness that nuls this Sentence and plainly proves the Iniquity and Falshood of it and indeed none of the Devil's Devices can stand when God himself comes forth to withstand and oppose them 4. It must needs be a lying Spirit that speaks a Word against Christ or that derogates any Thing from him 1 Cor. 12.3 I give you to nderstand that no Man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed Whatever is spoken by any to the dishonour of our Lord Jesus cannot proceed from the Spirit of God This is most certain because the Spirit of God cannot contradict himself he cannot testifie for him and against him too The Holy Ghost is Christ's Witness the unclean Spirit is his Adversary and too many Tongues are duided by this unclean and wicked Spirit that pretend to Prophesie in Christ's Name and whereas a true Witness delivereth Souls Prov. 14.25 These do lay snares for their Ruine and Destruction 5. They that have the Spirit of God cannot err in what is essential to the Faith of Christ and necessary to Salvation They are undoubtedly taught to hold the Substance of Divine Testimony though they may be mistaken in lesser Particulars This is hinted by what our Lord says Mat. 24.24 There shall arise false Christ's and false Prophets and shall shew great Signs and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. That Parenthesis is the most material Part of the Proposition there is no possibility of any of God's chosen and called ones miscarrying by a fundamental Delusion they have a Resident Witness for Christ in their own Bosoms who secures them from it 6. Vnbelief is a special Sin against the Holy Ghost all unbelief is so though all unbelief and perhaps no meer unbelief is not the Sin against the Holy Ghost It is the Spirit that beareth Witness because the Spirit is Truth 1 John 5.6 But he that believeth not makes him a Lyar ver 10. Hypocrisie is a lying to the Lord as Ananias and Sapphira lyed to the Holy Ghost but infidelity is a belying of him Jer. 5.12 'T is a painting of the Spirit of God like the Sons of Men who are Lyars upon Record Rom. 3.4 Yea like the Devil who is the Father of Lyes John 8.44 This black aggravated Evil is included in the not receiving of the Spirit 's witness 2. There are some Things which we may hence be exhorted to 1. Set your Seal to the Truth of the Spirits Testimony unto Christ by Believing in him and reject it not against your selves Embrace him with all your Hearts upon the high and honourable Commendation which the Holy Ghost gives of him How readily do we repose a Confidence in Creatures when we have receiv'd a worthy Character of them from Persons of known Integrity And shall we be influenc'd more by the Witness of Man than by the Witness of God God forbid How much greater Encouragements have we to Divine than humane Faith There are infallible Grounds for Divine Faith to rest upon which for humane cannot be 2. Grieve not the Spirit of God by Sin that he may not deliver you up nor leave you alone to be led away by Error The Holy Ghost is often provok'd by Men's loose Conversations to give them over to some unsound Opinions Practical
to have the greatest Advantages and Helps for Heaven beyond those that are of an Inferiour Rank and therefore if their Salvation be so difficult they concluded that Others might Despair of it 3. The Poor have their Temptations also and fall into divers Sins as well as the Rich and there are other Things which must be acknowledg'd to be Impediments and Obstructions in the way to Heaven as well as Riches so that they thought if one stumbling-block was so fatal and pernicious the rest might be as bad and then all Mankind must be in a miserable Cafe 2. Christ's own Explicatiln of this Doctrine ver 27. Jesus looking upon them faith with Men it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible Here are Three Things to be considered 1. The general Ground which Christ speaks upon That all Things are possible with God This is a Notion which shines clear by natural Light the Being of God is not more demonstrable than this that Infinite and Unlimited Power belongs to him This is plentifully confirm'd in Scripture Job 42.2 I know that thou canst do every Thing Jer. 32.17 There is nothing too hard for Thee And Luke 1.37 With God nothing shall be impossible If there were any Thing which God could not do which is fit to be done and becoming or consistent with his other Perfections he could not be God 2. The Particular Truth which he laies down and builds upon this Foundation With Men it is impossible that either the Rich or any other Person should be sav'd but not with God We must mot measure God's Power by our own because this is marvellous in our Eyes we are not to think that 't is so in his Zech. 8.6 Though Man cannot withdraw his own Heart from an inordinate Desire and Pursuit of such Temporal Enjoyments yet God can enable as to do it Though we cannot recover our selves out of this Snare of the Devil the strong God can perform it for us He can give us other Hearts than what we have by Nature and produce such a change in us as we know not how to suppose where Corruption makes the greatest Opposition he can Conquer it so that a Poor Man shall be Rich in Faith and a Rich Man Poor in Spirit 3. The Posture and Aspect of Christ in delivering this Truth He looked upon them i. e. the Disciples and said c. There seems to be a double Reason for this 1. Christ hereby discovers his Knowledge of their Thoughts and the most secret Passages of their Conversation For what they said in the foregoing Verse they did not speak so as that he might hear it but among themselves or as the words import one to another 2. Christ hereby points out them as singular Instances and Examples of the Truth which he had proposed For as there were Holy Men under the Old Testament who were nevertheless rich in this World such as Abraham Lot Job c. And Zaccheus under the New Testament a rich Publican was converted to Christ Luke 19.2 So these Disciples upon Christ's call had left all and follow'd him ver 28. following the Text and their All was as much to them as the rich Man's larger Estate can be to him So that in them was this saying of our Lord fulfilled Observ The Overcoming of the Difficulties of Salvation must be resolved into the Almighty Power of Divine Grace Here I. Shew What are the chief Difficulties of Salvation to be overcome II. How this must be resolved into the Power of God's Grace III. Why it must be so IV. Use 1. What are the chief Difficulties of Salvation to be overcome Ans There is the Difficulty of Believing This is primarily necessary to Salvation and yet one of the hardest Things in the World to be done aright The Counterfeits of Faith are frequent and feisable enough but they that imagine unfeigned Faith to be an easie matter know not what it is 'T is commonly said That we readily believe what we wish to be true but this is a very great mistake we have several Instances in Scripture to the contrary When Jacob's Sons at their second return out of Egypt told their Father that Joseph was yet alive and Governor of the Land his Heart fainted for he believed them not Gen. 45.26 When Christ shew'd his Disciples his Hands and his Feet they believed not for joy Luke 24.41 We are often slow in believing what we are most eager in desiring So we may sometimes believe that which appears to be more incredible or is indeed more difficultly credible and yet still doubt of easier and lesser things as Lazarus's Sisters believed that their Brother would rise again at the last Day and yet question'd his being raised after four Days John 11.24 with 39. Now if Men stick and hesitate at the least things it shews the Work to be much more difficult than if they stumbled at the greatest But more particularly the Work of Faith is difficult at first and then living by Faith and at last dying by Faith 1. The work of Faith at the beginning of the Christian Life our first believing is difficult when we come out of a state of Sin into a state of Grace A Soul that is deeply convinced of its own Guilt struggles with great Discouragements in laying hold of Divine Forgiveness He that effectually declares this unto Man needs to be an Interpreter one of a thousand that is says Dr. Owen Christ himself Job 33.23 Whatever vain Men may talk of being perswaded by reason that God is reconcilable the Sinners own Conscience when truly awaken'd by the Commandment coming home argues with a great deal of strength against it He that is pursued by a sense of Sin and fear of Wrath is far more apt to run into downright Despair than to fly for Refuge to the Hope which is set before him The threatnings of deserved Vengeance are much rather regarded than the free Promises of Remission As God said to the Jews with respect to their backslidings into Idolary Jer. 5.7 How shall I pardon thee for this So the poor convinced Sinner that hath his high and hainous Provocations set in order before him is ready to cry How shall God pardon me for these T is a Mystery which he knows not how to apprehend a comfortable Doctrine but he cannot embrace it 2. Living by Faith for this the just must do after the Sinner is made Righteous by the Obedience of Christ he must still go on from Faith to Faith as the Righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel Rom. 1.17 Now this is no light matter whatever the Speculation be in their esteem who never arrived to any real Exerprience the Practice is not To live by Faith in the midst of various Temptations and Tryals of Darkness and Desertion of cross Providences and cutting Rebukes is an hard saying to Flesh and Blood Is it indeed an easie thing to believe that we shall be
signifie a reputed uncleanness though there was none really inherent One of the Ancients Augustine applies the Words following the Text ver 5. to Christ in this very Sense they were his Sins as he bore them though he did not commit them 3. This serves to clear and vindicate the Righteousness of God in his severe dealing with Christ His engaging to restore made the Case the same with respect to the Equity of the Divine Dispensation as if he had taken away He undertook as our Surety and so the Debt was lookt upon as his own though if you abstract from the Consideration of his Suretiship he owed nothing As Judah said to Jacob when he intreated that his Brother Benjamin might be sent with them to Egypt I will be Surety for him of my Hand shalt thou require him if I bring him not to thee let me bear the blame for ever Gen. 43.9 So Christ undertook for the Sinner to God at my Hand shalt thou require all that is due from him let my Life go for his Life let my Blood be taken in the Room of his and accepted as a Ransom for him Now the Case being so though God spared not his own Son he was not unjustly rigorous His Son acquits and justifies him in all that he inflicted on him Psalm 22.1 2 3. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me c. But thou art Holy So John 17.25 He gives him the Title of righteous Father 4. This shews the Reason of Christ's Silence when he was upon his Trial at the Bar of Men. Mark 15.3 4 5. The Chief Priests accused him of many Things but he answered nothing And Pilate asked him again saying Answerest thou nothing Behold how many Things they witness against thee But Jesus yet answered nothing so that Pilate marvelled It was strange and astonishing to him who knew not the Cause and might well be so There are various Reasons assign'd for it it was foretold that he should be oppressed and afflicted and yet be Dumb and not open his Mouth like a Lamb brought to the slaughter Isa 53.7 He would do nothing to hinder his own Death when his Hour was come but I conceive the main Reason to be that he stood in our Place who were truly guilty tho' he was Innocent our Months were stopped Rom. 3.19 And therefore he would not open his as he could have done our Cause was such as could not be pleaded it was capable of no Defence we had nothing to say why Sentence should not pass upon us and therefore he as representing us silently submitted to Condemnation 5. This also intimates the Reason of the unshaken Confidence of Christ in the worst part of all his Sufferings and Desertions He knew that he had not personally deserv'd them and could not be always put to undergo them If he had taken away what he came to restore it would have struck a fearful damp upon his Spirit when he enter'd into those Clouds and was drinking of the bitter Cup. Guilt breeds a great deal of Terror and Diffidence in the Mind so that a Man knows not how to bear up under his Troubles nor yet to expect an aescape out of them But our Lord Jesus having only the Chastisement of our Peace upon him and being to make Expiation for no faults but ours had no Fears or Doubts to make him stagger his Faith never faulter'd but held on in the most vigorous Exercise to the very Last He could boldly make those challenges which the Prophet does in writing of him Who will contend with me Let us stand together who is my Adversary Let him come near to me Isa 50.8 He knows what Grounds he suffer'd upon and what would be the Issue of his Sufferings that the Prince of the World had nothing in him and Death could not have long Dominion over him 6. If Christ hath made Restitution then Remission is unquestionably sure Sin hath been Condemned in the Flesh of Christ therefore the Believer must be certainly absolved God is as righteous now in forgiving as he would have been otherwise in punishing He can do it now without any Impeachment of his Justice Violation of his Truth or Reflection on his Holiness yea all these Attributes sway him to forgive because there is full Satisfaction made all his Demands are answer'd and he can exact no more Payment is accepted the Surety is discharg'd and taken from Prison and so your Indempnity infallibly obtain'd on the most honourable Terms The Believer's Sins are therefore as surely blotted out as the Unbelievers are written down 'T is observ'd by some That the Trumpet of the Jubilee was order'd to begin to sound on the Day of Atonement and then every Man had his Liberty and return'd to his Possession Lev. 25.9 10. So hath Christ by his atoning Sacrifice proclaim'd our Release The Scape-goat sent into the Wilderness never came back but as some say thrown off from a steep Rock and notice given by blowing of Horns throughout the Land The Gospel gives the like comfortable Notice to us that Christ hath absolutely procur'd our Pardon and Sin once pardon'd shall never be remember'd against us II. Exhortation 1. Let none rest contented without Christ They that can be satisfied in the want of him never consider what he came about and of what Concernment that is When God calls for his Dues and proceeds in a legal Manner against you as he will do for you are under the I aw if not under Grace How will you render them to him Or where will you borrow Who can lend you so vast a summ as is requifite to be laid down Whither can you fly for help above or below in Heaven or Earth To which of the Saints will you turn Who among them all can by any means redeem his Brother They will tell you that they have not enough for themselves they must have perisht without relief from Christ as well as you what a dreadful reckoning will it be when the Books are open'd the whole score cast up and all your Arrears strictly enquir'd into When instead of appeasing God by sufficient Restitution you must look to be repaid by him with implacable Fury Bethink your selves of your Condition all you that are far from Righteousness Think what it is For your Iniquities to be before the Lord continually Psalm 109.15 Whereas by coming to Christ They would be all removed in one Day Zech. 3.9 2. Take heed of detracting from Christ who does so much for you He that repairs all our Losses for us will not give the Glory of it to us and woe be to us if we assume the least Part of that Glory to our selves 'T is Honour enough to us to be free Receivers but 't is a disparagement to Christ if we presume in any Respect to be rightful Purchasers This is to commit a piece of unpardonable Theft to add to all our other Violences When
laid as a Foundation and some things proposed as the Effects and Consequences of it 1. Something premised and laid as a Foundation Because you are Sons Here the Adoption of Believers is positively asserted as a thing in present possession There are indeed some further Fruits of our Adoption yet future and expected so the Redemption of our Bodies from the Grave at the end of the World is stiled the Adoption which we wait for Rom 8.23 because the Resurrection to Glory will be an eminent declaration of our Adoption as Christ was declared to be the son of God with power by his rising from the dead chap. 1.4 but still our Adoption it self is not deferr'd till then the Scripture affirms the contrary 1 John 3.2 Beloved now we are the sons of God So in this Epistle chap. 3.26 You are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus As soon as we come home to God by believing we are taken into this Relation for the Houshold of Faith is his select peculiar Family 2. Some things proposed as the Effects and Consequences of this partly with reference to the Act of God the Father and partly with reference to the Act of the Spirit 1. As to what concerns the Act of the Father who is plainly meant in that Clause God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts Here we may consider the Person spoken of the act respecting this Person and the Objects that have the benefit of this Act. 1. The Person spoken of The Spirit of his Son i. e. the Spirit of Christ So he is call'd Rom. 8.9 1 Pet. 1.11 This Character is given him on this occasion for various reasons 1st Because 't is the same Spirit which was in Christ and which is in all Believers That one Spirit which abode upon him resteth upon them also Though he had a greater Fullness of the Spirit yet they in their measure are filled with him too 2dly By the effectual Operation of this Spirit Christ is formed in us and we conformed to him He fashions the whole Church of the First-born into the lively Similitude of God's only begotten 3dly To intimate Christ's procurement of this Blessing for us We were predestinated to the Adoption of Children by Christ Ephes 1.5 Election is attributed to the Father but the Son is the Purchaser of what we are elected to Hence he is said to give power or right to become the Sons of God to them that receive him John 1.12 and 't is by virtue of our union to him that we recover our lost relation to God all the Children of God are given to Christ written in his Book and ransom'd by his Blood for he redeem'd us that we might receive the Adoption of Sons ver 5. of this Chapter 4thly To teach us that the Spirit it self is procured for us by Christ. They that have not the Spirit are such as have not the Son for an Interest in the one does infallibly carry along with it a participation of the other Those Rivers of living Water by which the effusion of the Spirit is express'd flow out of his pierc'd side The Holy Ghost had never been sent down from Heaven if the Son of God had not desecended first to prepare his way 2. The Act respecting this Person God hath sent forth The same word is used with respect to the Son ver 4. this act is ascribed to God several times in Scripture Psal 104.30 John 14.26 and it imports not any change of place as if he were more distant from the Father when he is thus sent than he was before for he is Omnipresent Psalm 139.7 and of the same undivided Essence with the Father but it notes only his Commission for some special Work in and upon the Creature 3. The Objects that have the Benefit of this Act Into your Hearts i. e. into the Hearts of them that believe Two things are signified by this 1. That the Work here intended is an inward Work Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within them And therefore 't is secret and does not minister to Vain-glory or carnal Boasting The Testimony of the Spirit is privately given between him and us and the new Name is that which no Man knows but the receiver himself 2. 'T is a saving Work The Residence of the Spirit is appointed not in the Brain by common unsanctified Gifts such as Hypocrites may be endowed with but in the Heart where all the Habits of Grace are planted and from whence all the Issues of Life proceed 2dly As to what concerns the Act of the Spirit Crying Abba Father Here we may examine how the Spirit is said to cry in our Hearts and what it is which he does cry 1. How is the Spirit said to cry in our Hearts when he is sent forth into them Ans Even as God is said to know when he makes others know Deut. 13.3 So the Spirit maketh intercession for us Rom. 8.26 in helping us to Pray for our selves and therefore 't is a vain and feeble Argument which some Socinians would bring from this and the like Texts against the Deity of the Holy Ghost Matth. 10.20 It is not you that speak but the spirit of the Father that speaketh in you i. e. Though your Tongues utter words yet they could not do it without his assistance and direction as the principal necessary Cause As in this Epistle chap. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me The Apostle corrects himself not as if he were not the true and proper Subject of spiritual Life but to shew that Jesus Christ was the Spring and Fountain of it So here the Spirit sent forth into our Hearts is said to Cry because they cry through his gracious Influence The Holy Ghost teaches us to pray but strictly it is we that pray in the Holy Ghost Jude 20. 2. What is it which the Spirit does cry Abba Father i. e. Father Father This Repetition may be upon two accounts 1. To intimate that both Jews and Gentiles are equal sharers in this Blessing of Adoption Therefore the Apostle makes use of two Words in two different Tongues to express the same thing Abba being a Syriack word which was a Language then commonly known among the Jews and that which we render Father beinga Greek word which was a Language then commonly used among the Gentiles Though a Learned Critick Capellus Spicileg hath taken much pains to prove that Abba is a Greek word also and so applied by the Apostle in this place alluding to the manner of little Children when they first begin to speak and call after their Parents which in all Languages as well as the English isn earest to the same sound with this word Abba 2. To note the strength and vehemency of desire The doubling of words does frequently signify this in Scripture Our Lord in the Garden when he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crys and tears as the Apostle
while are not perceiv'd to be do not therefore cease to be we may be taken into the number of the Sons of God and yet want the Manifestation of our being such Rom. 8.19 I speak not this to discourage any in the least from looking after the clearing up of these Matters as much as can be to their own Souls but to prevent those from being too much discouraged who are yet kept in the dark by God that they may not conclude positively against themselves but rather take Courage with the Church under the hidings of God's Face But thou art our Father Isa 64.7 8. IV. How is this Priviledge of a Believer's Sonship improve'd by the Spirit 's help The Text seems to have a special Reference to Prayer and to our Challenging and Pleading of this filial Relation in that Duty I shall endeavour the opening of this Point in these eight Things 1. That the Spirit of Christ is particularly promis'd and given as a Spirit of Supplication Zech. 12.10 His Influence is eminently needful in this Service We should never sind in our Hearts to Pray one acceptable Prayer to God throughout our Lives if the Spirit did not put it into our Hearts first We cannot speak to God in any Language which he will hear upon any occasion whatsoever without the Spirits Direction They are all vain Words which are not of his Teaching the froth and scum of Man's Invention which however esteemed among Creatures here below bears no Price at all in Heaven Every Petition which the Father receives is dictated and drawn up by the Holy Ghost God never inclines his own Ear but when he thus prepares our Hearts Except this Advocate be at Work in us there is no finding of Audience with him And therefore they that prophanely renounce all Supplication in and by the Spirit as some have done may as well go a little further and lay aside all Supplication in general for whatever Prayer they pour out is as Water spilt on the Ground 2. Effectual Prayer such as the Spirit teaches and helps us in is put up to God as a Father Jesus Christ is a Pattern to us and if we examine the style of his Prayers we shall find that they are all grounded upon this Relation Mat. 11.25 I thank thee oh Father c. which Title is repeated ver 26. Even so Father c. John 12.27 Father save me from this Hour Father glorifie thy Name And no less than six Times over Chap 17. Again in the Garden Mat. 26.39 O my Father if it be possible c. Yea some of his last Words upon the Cross were in the same strain when he came to give up the Ghost Luke 23.46 Father into thy Hands c. And that we might not think this was proper and suitable to him only the Directory which he gave to his Disciples is so likewise After this manner Pray ye Our Father c. Mat. 6.9 When the Scripture speaks of making Supplication to our Judge Job 9.15 We must understand it of Praying that he would not deal with us as a Judge Psalm 143.2 Enter not into Judgment c. 3. The Praying Dispositions of Children are first infus'd into them by the Spirit Every Babe in Christ is furnish'd with them and as he increases in spiritual Strength and Stature they grow up with him Children naturally apply themselves to their Parents for what they want rather than to other Persons and this also is natural to all the Children of God 'T is a part of their new Nature which is the Work and Product of the Spirit He that hath not a Divine Principle in him which leads him to call on the Father deserves not to be call'd a Christian Assoon as the Soul is born again it crys and its cry is immediately to him whom it is born of This cry is renewed every Day several times in a Day for there is an Habit of this kind emplanted in the Soul which puts forth it self in frequent Acts. The Spirit 's quickening is always accompanied with inward groaning so that where no such groans are we may be sure that Death hath Dominion still and the Man hath not begun to Live 4. The Spirit fills the Mouth with Arguments in the very Act of Prayer such as are fit to be us'd and urg'd to a Father Holy and humble Argumentations with God are truly the very sinews of Prayer wherein its great Strength lies It does not so much consist in the bare proposing of our Requests to God as in the alledging of proper Pleas for God's answering and fulfilling of them Such as that of the Church Isa 63.15 Where is the sounding of thy Bowels and of thy Mercies towards me are they restrained This is Connected with their Claim of God as a Father in the next Words twice ver 16. A fatherly Relation speaks Tenderness and Compassion Psalm 103.13 Like as a Fasther pitieth his Children c. Whoever are void of Pity Fathers are wont to put on Bowels or if the Fathers of our Flesh should be unnatural the Father of our Spirits cannot be so and therefore this was a very apt and agreeable Plea which the Spirit of God hath Register'd for us Whatever you need to have done intreat of God to do as becomes a Father 5. The Spirit enables us to go to God as a Father with Confidence for whom can Children repair so freely to as to their own Parent Whom can they with so much certainty expect Relief from as from him that begat them Therefore as we have Access by one Spirit unto the Father Eph. 2.18 So we are said to have boldness and access or access with boldness Chap. 3.12 The Command of God is to ask in Faith to trust him and depend upon him for the seasonable Accomplishment of all our regular Desires and this dependance is as much our Duty as Subjection is and it is every whit as difficult yea as impossible to be perform'd without the help of the Spirit 'T is far easier to utter many thousands of Petitions before God than to lift up one to him believingly But when the Soul is strengthen'd with all might by the Spirit in this Duty all the workings of unbelief are instantly subdued Doubts and Fears of our Acceptance and Success are made to vanish like Shadows that fly away upon the Appearance of the Sun 6. The Spirit instructs us how to Address our selves to God as a Father with becoming Reverence There must be a mixture of this with our Considence or else we abuse our Priviledge instead of improving it The same Spirit is a Spirit of the fear of the Lord as well as of Faith Isa 11.2 We are not to make so bold with God as not to stand in awe of him The Freedom which God allows us in his Presence is not a rude Familiarity this is not Child-like for a Father ought to be respected by those that descend from him He must be consider'd as a
dead rise not for if the dead rise not then is not Christ raised Either he that quickned our Lord's natural Body will quicken our mortal Bodies also or we must renounce the Faith of both together Secondly The Intercession of Christ in Heaven In handling this we should enquire what is meant by this Intercession How he lives to this end how he ever lives in order to it and wherein his infinite Ability to save is evidenc'd hereby 1. What is meant by the Intercession which Christ makesin Heaven That it differs from the Prayers and Supplications which he offer'd up in the days of his Flesh upon the account of the differing Circumstances of his now Glorious State which we must understand it suitably to is I think without all Controversie That all Intercession carries in it in general something of the true nature of Prayer seems also clear whether it be managed with or without the use of words is a disputed Point And therefore I shall sum up all that needs to be spoken to it in these three things 1. He appears in the Presence of God for us Hebr. 9.24 He represents our Persons there presents himelf in our stead and on our behalf As Aaron bore the Names of the Children of Israel in the breast-plate of Judgment upon his Heart when he went into the Holy Place Exod 28.29 And perhaps in Allusion to this Christ's speaks of confessing the names of those that overcome before his Father Rev. 3.5 When no one could undertake such a desperate Cause as ours was he interposes and stands forth to be our Advocate when we did not dare to shew our selves before the Throne God he acts in the place of poor and miserable Clients and makes it his Business to sue and sollicite for them in that awful Court of Heaven 2. He expresses his Will and Desire that we should partake of all that he hath procured for us So far his Intercession above agrees with that Prayer which he made while he was here below John 17.24 Father I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory c. And he who knows what is the mind of the Spirit interceding in us does very well know the mind of Christ in his making Intercession for us The Father knows not only what we want but what his Son would have for us In what way or manner Jesus Christ signifies his Desires to any such purpose we cannot be easily satisifed but that the Desires of Jesus Christ are all really before God and regarded by him we may be very sure 3. He insists upon his own Blood as a moving Plea As the High-Priest under the Law was to carry the Blood of the Sacrifice within the Vail and sprinkle it upon and before the Mercy Seat Lev. 16.14 15. So the Blood of Christ does not like the Blood of Abel cry from the Ground but speaks in Heaven Hebr. 12.24 And 't is stiled the Blood of sprinkling there as being effectually pleaded by him that shed it and the Fruits of it demanded to be bestow'd upon those whom it was shed for Whatsoever needs to be requested for us our Lord Jesus does justly require as due to himself Our Necessities cannot go so far but that his Merits extend still further and upon all occasions it may be perfectly and fitly urg'd by him though by none else Father I am worthy for whom thou shouldst do this 2dly How Christ lives to this End 1. Vltimately Christ lives to God Rom. 6.10 His Exaltation issues and centers in the Glory of God the Father Phil. 2.9 10 11. This was the chief hope and aim of the Life of Christ while he dwelt among us here below and so it is of the Life which he now lives in the World above And therefore it must still be supposed that whatever other Designs he is engaged in the pursuit of they are all subordinate to this The honouring of the Father is more to Christ than the Happiness of any Creature whatsoever tho' they may very consistently be carried on both at once 2. 'T is undeniable that Jesus Christ does not live for this end only in Subordination to the Glory of God but for other purposes besides which have all a reference and tendency to that last end He lives to execute his Prophetical Office still for by his Spirit whom he sheds forth he leads both his Ministers and all Believers into all Truth and so declares and manifests the Counsel of God most effectually to this very day He lives to execute his Kingly Office still in the Holy Government of his Church and further subduing of his Enemies for he must reign till he hath put all under his Feet 1 Cor. 15.25 And he is to sit upon his Throne of his Glory as Universal Judge at the Great Day when all Nations shall be gathered before him and Sentenc'd by him Matth. 25.31 32. 3. The making of Intercession is a very eminent and considerable Act which Christ lives in order to though it be not his ultimate or only end of living I say a very eminent and considerable Act for Intercession is a special part of Christ's Priestly Office the Priesthood of Jesus Christ did not expire at his Death but after Death when he lived again he was to transact and negotiate our Affairs with God This is the true meaning of that Text which is abused and perverted by the Socinians to countenance their false Principles that Jesus Christ was not a Priest till he came to Heaven Hebr. 8.4 If he were on Earth he should be a Priest The plain sense and import of which Passage is this That if Jesus Christ had remain'd on Earth he could not have been a perfect and compleat High-Priest if all his Work as a Priest had ended in what he did on Earth his Office had not been consummated for it was necessary that he should go into Heaven as the High-Priest under the Law did into the Holy of Holies When he had obtained eternal Redemption for us here it was requisite that he should enter there in order to the applying of what he had obtained 3. How is it that Christ ever lives to make Intercession So he is affirmed to be a Priest for ever to be made after the power of an endless Life Verse 16. of this Chapter As Melchisedech as Type of him in a much inferior Sense is said to abide a Priest continually ver 3. 1. Christ Interecedes constantly without intermission He does not as the High Priest did it once a Year but always He spent whole Nights sometimes in Prayer while he was in this World but yet it was not his perpetual Work as now it is He intercedes Year after Year and is never silent on our behalf so much as for a moment As he does not cease to live at any time so he does not cease to Mediate with God for us There never is any demurr
he had been instructed Luke 1.4 This Effect the Spirit of God hath by his enlightning Operation beyond all humane Instructions whatsoever we are made to know the certainty of things and more fully persuaded of the great reality of what is spiritual They are no longer doubtful disputable Opinions with us but we come to such a firm Conclusion about them that we can venture our Eternity upon them The Scripture hints this in many Places John 17.8 They have known surely that I came out from thee So the Apostle speaks of the Rich and full Assurance of Vnderstanding in the acknowledgment of the Mystery of God c. Col. 2.2 And again Our Gospel came not unto you in Word only but also in Power and in the Holy Ghost and in much Assurance so that there is no haesitation or wavering concerning it 1 Thess 1.5 2. That Knowledge which proceeds from such a Cause is more affecting than any other The Heart is influenced to greater Love and Joy and Admiration by what it believes and knows As the mind receives more solid Satisfaction with respect to those Truths so those Truths are more sweet and delightful more ravishing and transporting to the Soul Paul speaks like a Man in an Extasie with more than ordinary Zeal and Fervour Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless I count all things but loss for the excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. His magnifying of the Excellency of this Knowledge sprung from his deep Sense of the Excellency of the Object He saw so much worth in Christ that he would part with ten Thousand Worlds if he had them for his sake The Doctrine of Christ's God-head Incarnation Satisfaction c. when they are only taken into the Head as common Notions are but dry Meat but when they are imprest by the Holy Ghost we can feed upon them with Pleasure The Things of God being so reveal'd that we taste the savour of them 3. That Knowledge which is communicated by the Spirit is always joyn'd with Experience The Apprehensions which other Men have by common reasoning of spiritual Things are like those of a blind Man when he hears a Discourse concerning Light which are very dark and imperfect in Comparison of his that hath Eyes to see the Sun There is a vast difference between a Knowledge of Christ by Report and Hearsay as one calls it and a Knowledge of Acquaintance which is gotten and improv'd by Communion with him As the Queen of Sheba was not told one half in her own Land of the greatness of Solomons Wisdom which she afterwards saw and yet what she was told seem'd incredible to her 2 Chron. 9.6 So Believers find so much in Christ when they come to him as does not only justifie the Report which Ministers gave to be very true but abundantly exceed it We cannot tell you what they feel whom Christ is formed in and who live every Day by the Faith of him Where there is no spiritual Sense the Mind is yet carnal 4. That Knowledge which the Spirit produces does always issue in Obedience The Knowledge which Men attain unto by any other Ways is barren and unprofitable as it does not reach the Heart so it is of no use in the ordering of the Conversation But saving Knowledge governs the Life and regulates the Practice so as clearly to exemplifie that Connection which God hath made between the Truths to be believed and to be performed When Paul prays for his Colossians That they might be filled with the Knowledge of God's Will in all Wisdom and spiritual Vnderstanding he does not stop there but shews whither this tends That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing c. Col. 1.9 10. He that is truly nourisht up in the words of Faith and good Doctrine will evidence it by fruitfulness in good Works 1 John 2.3 Hereby we do know that we know him Jesus Christ if we keep his Commandments They have not learned Christ as they ought that do not live to him for if we be acquainted with his Person we shall submit to his Rule SERMON II. May 7. 1695. MATTHEW XVI xvii And Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona For Flesh and Blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven IV. WHerein lies the Blessedness which is annexed to this kind of Knowledge Some bless themselves without Reason too many against Scripture bless themselves when they hear the Words of God's Curse though yet without Christ who can only redeem them from that Curse thousands of presuming Sinners call themselves happy when they are almost in the very depths of Misery having but a short step the thin Partition of an earthly House betwixt them and Hell they think their Condition to be safe and good and applaud and please themselves in it as such when it is as dangerous and as bad as it can be on this side of Everlasting Destruction But however mistaken and deceived such Men are we know that Christ is true and what says he here Blessed art thou Simon c. for my Father hath revealed this unto thee which Flesh and Blood hath not q. d. Thou art infallibly blessed upon this account this is an undoubted Evidence and means of thy being so Where then is the blessedness which the Text speaks of What does it consist in and how does it appear 1. 'T is a blessed discovery which God makes and a blessed Knowledge which it produces because it is always accompanied with pardoning Grace If there be a blessed Man in the World without Controversie it is the pardoned Sinner Afflictions may remain without injuring our blessedness so long as Sin does not remain which is the only Thing that can separate from the Love of Christ and how can this separate when God hath put it away and removed it from us Who will not say Amen therefore to what David says Psalm 32.1 Blessed is the Man whose Transgression is forgiven c. Sin laies the Foundation of the Creatures Misery consequently in the forgiveness of Sin the Foundation of our Misery is destroyed Now this is always done where Jesus Christ is savingly made known This is plain Heb. 10.16 17. This is the Covenant which I will make with them c. I will put my Laws into their Hearts and in their Minds will I write them and immediately it follows Their Sins and Iniquities will I remember no more When there is this promised writing within us we may be sure there is a blotting out of the hand-writing against us Where Sin is uncover'd the Heart is hid from Understanding but where the sealed Book of Gospel-Mystery is open d 't is past all question that the Debt-book is cross'd 2. 'T is always attended with a perfect justifying Righteousness This is absolutely necessary in order to blessedness for there must be a Restitution of our lost Title before there can be a restoring to our forfeited