had put away his sin he should not dye yet still he prayed for mercy Psal 51.1 and for establishment with Gods free Spirit ver 12. and Make me to hear the voice of joy and gladness ver 8. why had he not heard it already it was a most gracious word that Nathan spake true but he is not yet clear in it it is that Holy Ghost that must make him to hear the voice of joy and gladness otherwise though a man hath much experience of Gods goodness to him and sits and talks of the wonderful things that God hath done for him to the warming of the hearts of all that hear him yet the soul cannot reach that abundant satisfaction which he doth desire till at length the Lord comes in some Ordinance of his and beareth witness freely of love bestowed upon us and such a testimony will marvelously settle and establish any soul in the world so that it is the Spirit that beareth witness unto faith and nothing can do it but the Spirit only and yet if the Spirit should breath out of the word it were but a delusion Isai 8.20 To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to that it is because they have no light in them And therefore the Lord couples his word and his Spirit together Isai 57.19 I create the fruit of the lips peace peace though it be creating work yet it is by the fruit of the lips so likewise Isai 59.21 My Spirit that is upon thee and my words that I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth and for ever Thus the Spirit of God in the word is mighty to begin and mighty to carry an end spiritual work in the soul Now the ordinary manner of the revelation of the Spirit is if he reveal Gods free justification of us it is by revealing his free grace in a promise not made to works no not to faith it self but rather as a thing to be created by the word of a free promise unto sanctification indeed he doth bear witness in any promise as if the question be about Abraham's sanctification how did the Lord reveal it we may see Gen. 22.12 By this I know that thou fearest me seeing thou hast not withheld thy son thine only son from me but for his justification the Lord had revealed that in another promise Gen. 15.5 6. wherein God brought him forth and bids him Look now towards heaven and tell the stars if thou be able to number them and he said unto him So shall thy seed be and among them he shews him that seed that shall be a blessing unto all nations this is a thing beyond his capacity but this he believed and it was counted unto him for righteousness now in this the Lord reveals nothing but his free grace without any respect unto any goodness in Abraham faith was in him before and had put forth it self by faith when he was called he went out not knowing whither he went Heb. 11.8 but a man is justified not by the habit of faith only but by every act of faith and as often as this is revealed so often is the grace of God revealed unto the soul for it is nothing that God seeth in Abraham for which he doth reveal his justification to him but this he doth freely of his grace and so Abraham receives it Rom. 4.4 5 6. c. To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted to him for righteousness which shews us that Abraham looks at himself as an ungodly man when he considereth his justification not but that Abraham was now godly in Scripture account before but he looketh at him that justifieth the ungodly as David describeth the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousnesse without works for thus the Lord setteth it home unto the heart without works saying Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered so it is free blessedness that the Lord reveals unto the soul and lest you should think that these things were peculiar to Abraham and David c. he tels us ver 23 24. that it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also c. As it was with the Father of the faithful so it is also with all believers which are his children that as he considered not his own body that was dead nor the deadness of Sarah's womb so neither should we consider this or that in our bodies or souls for if we were thus and thus fitted for justification then the reward would be of works and so a debt unto us now though works be there when justification is again and again revealed yet it comes not into sight for a double reason First Reas 1 Because when the Lord appears as justifying the soul he sits upon a throne of justice and a throne of grace together not accepting any righteousness but that which is compleat and adequate Rom. 3.26 To declare I say at this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus it is not justice for God to pronounce a man just upon any other righteousness besides the righteousness of his Son for if God should mark what we have done no flesh living should be justified in his sight Psa 143.2 but through the righteousness of Christ which is perfect the Lord justifies every one that believeth in him and that act of faith whereby a man taketh hold on Christ and receiveth Christ that is it which quieteth the soul for it is not meet that the Lord should justifie any simple work of mine for if the Lord should justifie me so mine own cloathes would defile me and if I should come before him with any work which he hath wrought in me to be accepted for it this would be preposterous and out of place for he will have a full righteousness to accept me before he will pronounce me righteous and therefore I am first called to his Son for as there is no more required to make me a sinful man but that I be found in Adam so there is no more required to my justification but that I should have union with the second Adam Secondly Reas 2 As the Lord doth sit upon a Throne of justice when he justifies a soul so he doth also upon a Throne of grace Rom. 3.24 We are justified freely by his grace therefore he will not justifie any man upon works lest they should boast before him and therefore you shall finde it to be true that if the Lord be to declare his acceptance of the sanctification of his people he will not do it in respect of the worth of their works but according to the grace of his promise But is not my sanctification a work of free
Lord giveth unto his Elect Pag. 39 Answ Christ is first given and with him faith to receive him ibid Quest Doth not the Lord give saving preparations before Jesus Christ ib. Resp negatively and the Reason thereof ib. 2. Quest In what order doth the Lord give the covenant and the Blessings of it whether faith before them or those blessings before faith to apply them Pag. 40 Answ He doth give himself to work faith before faith can be there and then faith doth receive the blessings of the Covenant as adoption and justification Pag. 41 3. Quest Whether do we receive Christ in an absolute or conditional Promise ib. Answ 'T is alwaies in an absolute Promise Pag. 42 4. Quest Whether a man may evidence his union with Christ from his sanctification Pag. 43 Answ In four Propositions 1. Prop. That sanctification which may be found in a Covenant of works is no evidence of union with Christ ib. The difference between the Sanctification which floweth from the Law Pag. 44 Gospel Pag. 44 1. In the Root in which it springs which is hard to discern Pag. 47 2. In the Rule whereby they are guided viz. the word of God Pag. 49 Yet the difference here is not easily to be discerned Pag. 50 No not by professing universal obedience to all Gods Commandments Pag. 51 3. In the end and scope which they aim at that also is difficult Pag. 52 Yea though they may suffer Persecution Pag. 53 2. Prop. True sanctification is many times dark to a Christian Pag. 55 3. Prop. True-sanctification is not discerned neither is it discernable until justisying faith be first discerned ib. 4. Prop. Though the resemblance be neer between the Legal and Evangelical holiness yet there is a real difference which is discernable by the Spirit of God Pag. 57 Viz. both in the Root which is faith Pag. 58 Rule by which they walk Pag. 60 Scope and end which they aim at Pag. 61 5. Quest Of what use are Promises if not to bring us unto Christ which it seems they do not if Christ must first be given Pag. 63 Answ There is a threefold use of Promises ibid 1. Before union with Christ Viz. for Doctrine to teach what things are laid up in Christ ib. Instruction shewing whither to look for life and salvation Pag. 64 Exhortation inviting and perswading to come to Jesus Christ Pag. 65 They have also a threefold effect in some of all sorts good and bad Viz. of Illumination Pag. 66 Taste of Christ so as to be affect-with him ib. Conviction so as to leave inexcusable if despised ibid 2. In union with Christ for the Lord giveth himself to the soul in a Promise Pag. 67 3. After union with Christ more efficacious still Pag. 68 Viz. for Doctrine to teach us what gifts of grace are in Christ ib. Instruction to direct us whither to look for qualifications Pag. 69 Prayer ibid To know our spiritual state and means to discern it ibid To work all the qualifications in us to which the blessings are promised Pag. 70 To stir up to such duties to which the blessings are promised Pag. 71 To strengthen faith ibid 6. Quest To what use serveth the Law if God giveth himself to his people without respect to any work Pag. 75 Resp 'T is of use both unto them that are Carnal Pag. 75 Spiritual Pag. 75 1. To carnal both to Elect to aggravate their sins Pag. 77 Not elect in regard of Disobedience Pag. 78 Obedience Pag. 79 2. To them that are spiritual and under a Covenant of grace Pag. 81 Viz. as they are under the Law to Christ which is explained Pag. 82 There are two effects of Gods people being under the Law Pag. 85 Viz. 1. The sense of Gods Fatherly displeasure when they transgress ibid 2. The sense of Gods gracious acceptance of their obedience Pag. 86 Yet a Christian is not under the Law i.e. the Covenant of it Pag. 89 So as neither to Look for justification and salvation from obedience Pag. 90 Fear condemnation by his disobedience Pag. 92 Look for conjugal comfort from his obedience Pag. 94 Nor fear conjugal divorce from his disobedience Pag. 94 Claim his right unto any conditional promise by his performance of the condition Pag. 96 Application by way of use it serveth to shew Viz. 1. The Doctrine of the Covenant is free from Antinomianism Pag. 97 2. How far Gods servants are freed from the Law Pag. 99 3. Men some discontentment of their spirits and state ibid 4. How to build our faith and hope Pag. 100 7. Quest If the Lord giveth himself and his holy Spirit what need is there of any gifts of holiness to work and act by He can do all in us without us Pag. 102 Answ There is a necessity of holiness and of following after it Pag. 103 Quest What need is there to follow after holiness if the holy Spirit dwell in us Pag. 105 Answ To be fitter instruments for every good word and work ib. Quest But if there be need of gifts of holiness what need the Holy Ghost dwell in us ibid Answ 1. To keep these gifts in us Pag. 106 2. To act them in us ibid 3. To witness to them in our souls Pag. 107 4. To comfort us in the changes that may come upon us Pag. 108 Quest How and to what end are we to imploy and improve our sanctification Pag. 109 Answ 1. We are to look to Christ for Our supply of it ib. The perfection of it ib. 2. Not to trust in the gifts of holiness and sanctification Pag. 111 Neither for The performance of any duties without Christ ibid Justification from them Pag. 117 3. In point of witness ibid 4. In point of rejoycing Pag. 118 5. To grow up in grace and holiness Pag. 120 8. Quest A further main Question for the clearing of the Point is How doth God the Father give himself Pag. 124 Answ God the Father doth give himself by a threefold work or act Viz. 1. By giving his Son for the redemption of Abraham and his seed and giving him also unto them in their calling ib. Quest How doth the Father call and draw us to his Son Pag. 128 Resp 1. by his Word and Spirit ibid 2. By giving the Spirit of Adopon Pag. 135 3. By a work of Reconciliation Pag. 130 Hence follow two Acts of God upon the soul 1. Adoption Pag. 140 2. Justification ib. 1. 'T is useful to teach us how we came to fellowship with Christ ib. Four sorts of persons fall short of union with Christ 1. Such as bless themselves in their natural estate Pag. 141 2. Such as rest in their Reformations ib. 3. Such as rest in a Faith in Christ which is of their own making ibid 4. Such as Wait on the Lord in their own strength Pag. 143 Use 2. To shew upon what grounds a soul cometh to close with Christ viz. upon an Absolute Promise Pag. 146 Use 3. Hence see
greatest falls have been in their most exemplary gifts If you shall mark the sins of all the servants of God they have been chiefly found in the very exercise of their best gifts Let us take a little taste of them that we may learn to use our gifts in the strength of Jesus Christ Abraham a man full of faith none went beyond him in Old nor New Testament yet if you read of any failing in him it is in want of the acting of faith What made him afraid not once but the second time that his wife would be taken away from him by Pharaoh Gen. 12. by Abimelech chap. 20. had not the Lord promised that he would bless him wheresoever he came Gen. 12.2 He had so much of the knowledge and grace of God shining in him that Sarah needed not have dissembled and Abimelech a poor Heathen could say as much chap. 20.16 Behold thy husband it a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee and with all other thus she was reproved as if he should say Thou needest no shifts and lies for thy protections and to be a vail unto thee this a poor Heathen can discern that such a man as hath God with him needeth no other shifts nor covering to defend and shelter him Thus we see that these great failings of Abraham were proper acts of unbelief Moses a meek man none like him for meekness on the face of the earth there is but one sin storied of him after he was called to the Government of that State and this was his failing Hear now you rebels Must we fetch you water out of this rock so he lift up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice Numb 20.10 11. they provoked Moses as meek as he was sometimes when Aaron and Miriam dealt as peremptorily with him he was not moved from the meekness of his spirit but now he falleth into Passion and this was the very sin for which the Lord excluded him out of Canaan Numb 27.12 13 14. It was the breach of this royal grace chap. 20.12 Because ye believed me not to sanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Israel therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the Land which I have given them which words shew us the reason of his failing in the grace wherein he so much abounded because ye believed me not The Lord will have him know that he must live by his fiath in his meekness If any man think himself to be a meek man and nothing shall over-wrastle him there if you believe not in God but in your meekness your confidence will soon fail you Peter a man full of courage and you read of two of his principal failings and both in point of courage he failed in the high Priests hall at the voice of a Damsel and in the porch at the speech of another Maid and the third time at the voice of one that stood by Mat. 26.69 c. whereas afterward when he lived by faith he became undaunted Another failing of his in point of courage we read of Gal. 2.12 He feared those of the circumcision and whereas before he did eat with the Gentiles when certain of the Circumcision came from James he withdrew and separated himself and so dissembled and others likewise with him insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulution Thus the Apostle Peter's most eminent gifts did not bring forth their fruits Know therefore that the best of all your gifts faith meekness courage wisdom love to your brethren will fail if you trust in them and you will be most apt to fail there wherein you do most excel If a man be wise he shall fail in that point and it may be in nothing so much as in that even in those things wherein he thinketh he walketh most wisely and such an one will find most trials in point of his wisdom and the like will be found in all other graces and all to this end to teach the Israel of God to know that no man liveth by his wisdom nor by any thing in himself but by faith in Jesus Christ whom God hath given unto his people and who is only able to give new supplies of his Spirit unto his servants to act every gift which he hath given them I might have mentioned the example of Sarab a meek and a quiet godly spirited woman subject and obedient to her husband and called him Lord whose daughters you are while you do well 1 Pet. 3.6 and yet you know one of her greatest failings was in point of Reverence to her husband Gen. 16.5 When she saw that she was despised in the eyes of her maid whom she had given unto her husband she said to Abraham My wrong be upon thee and the Lord judge between me and thee Where is the reverence of Sarah now Will you have the daughters of Sarah to imitate her herein What had her husband done There was no fault in him in this matter she had no reason to tax him upon this point it was her own counsel ver 2. that he should go in to her maid that I may obtain children by her therefore there was no colour of any just complaint on her part yet see this meek-spirited woman failed in the point of her meeknesse herein and did express no greater failing all her life long that we read of she was weak in faith once but there was great reason for that her womb was dead and her Lord as she called him was old also nor doth the Angel so much blame her about it but that action wherein she most failed was against that grace wherein she most abounded And though every grace of the Spirit be of great force when the Lord doth act and move it yet let a man go forth in the strength of his greatest gifts and if ever his heart fail him it will be in them Think not when you have done all you can that you are worthy of any thing but say that you are unprofitable servants for though Sanctification be the way wherein the Lord will pour out all his blessings upon his servants yet he doth require them to boast in none of their excellencies but look at them all as freely given them of God and consider that the right unto all springeth from fellowship with Jesus Christ that so not only the gift it self is grace but the blessing that followeth upon it is grace also And suppose that we have attained all that we pray for shall we then exalt our own gifts No but let us say with Jacob Gen. 32.10 I am less then the least of all the mercies and truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant Do not trust upon gifts nor upon duties performed by those gifts to reach the blessing so look not for your justification from thence at all for the Apostle is plain that he looked not for any thing for his righteousness before his conversion and after his