in heaven Rejoyce in this that God hath chosen you and loved you that he hath loved you with an everlasting love and that he hath given you to his Son and will bring you to life and happiness to the praise of his grace in this rejoyce And therefore it is that the Spirit of the Lord is given out to believers that they might know their election it is one end of Christ's sending the Comforter the Spirit of the Lord who searcheth the deep things of God and so reveals them unto believers Now this is among the deep things of God God's eternal love this is one of the depths that made the Apostle cry out when he considered God's way from eternity to poor creatures The Spirit searcheth the deep things of God and reveals them to his people the Spirit of the Lord stood by when he did write the names of his children in the book of life the Son was present and the Spirit was present even from eternity before the world was made when God writ the names of his people in the book of life and therefore the Spirit it is one of God's Witnesses and is given to testifie this to his people he is sent by Christ to testifie what he saw from eternity that the names of such and such were written in the book of life God hath given us of his Spirit that we might know the things that are given us freely of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. Now this is one of the things that are freely given us of God this absolute choice this love of God that was from everlasting if ever any thing were free this is free now the Spirit of the Lord is sent to cause us to know the things that are freely given us of God Now when the Spirit of the Lord doth make known to a soul that it is elected somtimes it makes use of the testimony of the blood of Christ and of the testimony of Water and somtimes he declares this to the soul by his own immediate witness the Spirit of the Lord doth sometimes make it known mediately and somtimes immediately Mediately There are three that bear record in earth the Spirit the Water and the blood and these three agree in one 1 John 5. 8. Now the Spirit that â—â—â—keth the blood of Christ anâ— sprinkles it upâ— the soul and causeth faith to be wrought in the soul to lay hold upon the blood of Christ and then there is the witness of the Blood And so all the Spirit of the Lord doth change the heart and renew the heart there is the witness of the Water now when the Spirit of the Lord doth shine upon these the soul can thorow these draw comfortable conclusions concerning its own election And somtimes there is a more immediate witness The Spirit it self bearing witness that we are the children of God Rom. 8. 16. Add his own Testimony beside all others that a soul is loved of God so that you see the second general head which is this that this great mysterie of election may be known it may be known unto others and to our selves And therefore O that we might wait upon God for the discovery of it Men are found negligent in this great business because they think it is too high for them who can ascend into heaven say they they think it is presumption for them to ascend into heaven and who can know say they that they are loved from everlasting But O! know souls that there is an absolute Election of grace and this Election may be known it may be known to others and it may be known to our selves O therefore that we might give the Lord no rest and our souls no rest till this great mysterie be made out to us though it be a secret a wonderful secret Yet there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets saith Daniel to King Nebuâ—â—â—dnezzar Dan. 2. 28. Thongh it was a secret 〈◊〉 past my reach saith he yet there is a God in â—aeven that revealeth secrets and so I say though 〈◊〉 be a secret yet there is a God in heaven that â—ealeth secrets and therefore wait upon the â—rd that we may know that we are elected Matth. 15. 24. I am not sent but unto the lost shâ— of the house of Israel SERMON XIII BUt to come to the third part of 〈◊〉 Doctrine which is this That the Doctrine of Election is a comfortable Doctrine It holds forth solid ground of comfort and greâ— refreshment to the people of God Although â—â—ny spurn at it and carnal reason ready to rise 〈◊〉 against it yet it is a doctrine of sweet and solâ— comfort to God's people And I shall shew yoâ— how it is such a comfortable doctrine First This is a ground of comfort to poor soulâ— that God's love doth not depend upon any thing 〈◊〉 the creature a ground of unspeakable comfort that God he fetcheth all his arguments of lovâ— out of his own bowels not from any desert in thâ— creature Alas if God's love had gone by desert in us there had been but little hope And I do not know what solid ground of comfort they can lay that contend so for a conditional Decree grounded upon the creatures acting for if the Lord had not loved and chosen till he had seen some worthiness in the creature till he had seen some better improvement in us then in others if the Lord had suspended to love and to chuse till then O! what little hope might any creature have had that know the contrary workings of his own heart What little hope of being saved But now when all is of Free grace and the Lord overlooks all unworthiness and chuseth freely and loves freely O this is a ground of hope and great consolation Secondly There is another ground of comfort and refreshment from this Doctrine It doth assure us that the Lord is very ready to be entreated that the Lord is not hardly brought off to shew mercy to poor sinners that there is not an unwillingness in God to this work as unbelief and the Tempter would suggest why It was that which was the purpose of God from everlasting I say God from all eternity hath purposed it It was the counsel of God the great work of God that which God spent his thoughts upon from all eternity they were as I may say the first thoughts of the heart of God to love and pity and to save and to bring about that great work of saving sinners by the blood of Christ this was the great contrivance of God and it is a great ground of comfort and refreshment A poor soul may doubt whether God be willing to save and willing to be reconciled to him that hath sinned so and so O! This Doctrine doth comfort exceedingly for certainly if it were the great work of God from eternity the Lord is not unwilling now to do it Christ tells his Disciples That the Father himself loveth you That is
meet withall concerning their own Election First A poor soul may be thus tempted that it is an impossible thing for it to attaine to the knowledge of Gods love this is a secret this is that which was transacted in Heaven and therefore sure it is not possible for me to attain to the knowledge of this that the Lord hath loved me and hath written my name in the book of life Men may have some good hopes of it but surely saith the temptation it is presumption for any man to think or say he may come to assurance that the Lord hath written his name in the Book of life for there are these two things against it First Secret things belongeth to God Secondly No eye hath seen what is done in Heaven and if eye hath not seen it how shall I attaine to the knowledge of it In Answer to this temptation know and consider that many of the Saints of God hath attained to the knowledge of Gods eternall love and hath risen to this assurance that the Lord hath loved and will love with an everlasting love The Apostle Paul did attaine to it and he gloryes in it yea then when he speaketh in the person of all the Elect of God Rom. 8. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth Vers 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Vers 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ He stands up to challenge all the world and the powers of darknesse who dare lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect And in the 38. verse see what he further saith For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principallities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come Vers 39. Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So then you see it is a thing not impossible to attaine to the knowledge of Gods eternall electing love Nay it is laid upon all the Saints as a duty to seek after the knowledge of it 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if you doe these things ye shall never fall So then election may be made sure and it is a duty which lyeth upon all believers to strive after that they may make their calling and election sure Now if it be so that this is a thing that may be attained unto and that the Saints hath attained unto and a duty which all the children of God are put upon then certainly this is a temptation and know it is a temptation that it is an impossible thing for any to attaine to the knowledge of Gods electing love But Secondly The second temptation concerning our election may be this a poor soul may be thus tempted it is true there may be the knowledge of Gods love and many of the Saints have attained to this knowledge but as for me I have no certainty I have striven and I have waited upon God and sought for assurance but I have not attained it and therefore I am ready to conclude surely the Lord hath not loved me others sought and they have attained and have assurance I have sought and I cannot meet with assurance of the love of God and therefore certainly the Lord hath not loved me I Answer to this temptation know that thou canst not conclude that God hath not called thee effectually because thou hast not assurance and if thou canst not conclude that God hath not called thee effectually because thou hast not assurance much less canst thou conclude that God hath not chosen thee from eternity because thou hast not assurance But Secondly In answer to this temptation hath not the Lord given thee a heart to close with Christ as held forth in the Gospel to poor lost sinners hath not God made thee willing to accept of Christ hath not the Lord in some measure inabled thee to cleave to Christ and dost now resolve to cast thy self upon Christ to venture all upon Christ even thy eternity why then know here is that which gives the essence the being of faith this accepting of Christ held forth in the Gospel with thy resting upon him it is the being of faith and this faith is no other but the faith of Gods elect the fruit of Gods electing love it springs from that eternall love which chose his people unto salvation through faith and therefore though there be not the comfort of faith assurance is the comfort of faith the flower that grows upon the fruit of faith yet if there be that which gives the being of faith thou mayst not conclude that the Lord hath not loved thee because thou hast not assurance Thirdly In answer to this temptation thou sayst thou hast no assurance of Gods electing love and therefore thou concludest that God doth not love thee As thou hast no assurance that God hath chosen thee so thou hast no knowledge of the contrary and mayest not conclude the contrary that God hath not chosen thee for if thou shouldst so conclude thou mayest lye against the truth and therefore cease to draw any conclusions of that which is not knowne to thee and give up thy self to doe the revealed will of God and what is that but that thou take hold of the offer of salvation and receive Christ that you believe in the name of his Son for this is his commandement 1. Joh. 3. 18. But Thirdly this temptation may arise in the soul namely a desire that God would give it a signe an extraordinary signe it resolves it cannot believe and will not believe unless God give itâ— signe This is a temptation that some of Gods people hath met withall To answer this temptation know that it is not Gods ordinary way to give satisfaction to the soul concerning his love by giving an extraordinary signe it is true the Lord may sometimes in some cases condescend to his people and may give an extraordinary signe yea the Lord may and hath prevented his people sometimes with an extraordinary signe to prevent their unbeleefe when they have not asked a signe You have heard of that woman that sometime lived in Cambridge that was many yeares in a tempted condition and being sorely afflicted one day she took up a glasse in her hand and cast it against the ground with this expression I am as surely damned as this glasse is broken and it pleased God so to order it that the glass was not broke which was to the conviction of her unbeliefe I say the Lord may give a signe yea when it is not asked but it is not Gods ordinary way but now for a soul to stand it out with God that it cannot beleeve unless God
Christ when God hath discovered the mysterie of Christ to thee and in some measure hath drawn thy heart and made thee to lye at the feet of Christ for life and salvation and for faith to believe in him be diligent to make the best improvement of Christ Improve Christ for holiness and sanctification if thou desirest to have Election made out to thee improve Christ for holiness The Apostle 2 Pet. 1. 5. exhorteth them to this Giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and so he goes on and then follows at vers 10. Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure for if you do these things you shall never fall In this way give diligence to make your Election sure improve Christ for holiness for grace for strength for more strength be diligent in waiting upon the Lord for the carrying on the work of holiness let Christians endeavour to be continually in the exercise of grace and in the performance of every duty that the Lord calls them to adde grace to grace and wait upon Christ that one degree of grace may be added to another knowledge to knowledge faith to faith temperance to temperance truly it is in this way that God comes in with discoveries of electing love I do not say it is for your diligence and for your improvement of Christ and adding grace to grace but this is the way when the Lord doth enable his people to be thus faithful and diligent in the improvement of Christ and in the exercise of grace and performance of duty to God and man God comes in that way and giveth a soul a more clear discovery of his electing love Fourthly Desire the Lord to set a heavenly Byass upon your spirits if you desire to have your Election cleared and made sure take heed of an earthly heart and O! Look up to God earnestly that he would set a heavenly Byass upon your spirits that you may be able to say Our conversation is in heaven our heart is there from whence we look for a Saviour we groan to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven Truly Brethren if we look too much downward if we be grubling below and be writing upon the dust we shall hardly see what is written in heaven Though your names may be written in heaven O! the looking too much upon this world keepeth many a Christian from seeing his name written in heaven What pains will Astrologers and Star-gazers as the Scripture calls them take to see into the second heaven the starry heaven How often will they look up And how long will they look up to see as they pretend what is written there what is the language of the Stars And O! What a shame is it to Christians that we should look up no oftner and no longer into the third heaven that we may see our names written there Truly Brethren it is no easie matter for a Christian to see his name written in heaven though his name may be written there we shall hardly see it if our hearts be not much there and our conversations much there we use to say if children look off their Books they will never learn their Lessons well Truly if we look so much on the world and so little into heaven we shall hardly learn to read our names written in heaven But when as the Lord sees that his people are desirous to have their thoughts in heaven and their conversations in heaven the Lord will come and say to that soul well I see that thine eye is in heaven and thy heart in heaven know for thy comfort that thy name also is in heaven thy God is in heaven thy Christ is in heaven and thy portion is in heaven O! Beg of God that he would clap a heavenly byass upon your spirits Fifthly Take heed of sinning against the Lord take heed of giving way to any sin as you desire to have your election cleared up to you take heed of turning out into any crooked way Let not Christians give way to themselves nor allow themselves in any way of evil You know what the Apostle saith in 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth them that are his And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity The Lord knoweth them that are his Ah! but would you know your selves to be in that number Take heed that you do not give way to any sin do not allow your selves in any way of sin be not found in any way of iniquity every sin that is allowed it will cast a blot upon your Evidence and you shall not be able to read it This is the first Use unto those that have not God's electing love cleared up to them there is a necessity that every soul should give all diligence to have their Election made sure it is matter of infinite concernment and you have been taught in what way to wait upon God to make your Election sure The second Use is to those that have attained to the knowledge of God's electing love And it calls upon them First To be Thankful Secondly To labour to walk worthy of so great a mercy First To be Thankful O consider that it is the free love and the free grace of God that did make the difference between you and others Is there not cause then of Thankfulness You were no better then the worst in the world no better then those that are cast out of God's sight into utter darkness there is as much evil in our hearts as in Judas his heart that betrayed Christ O! It is free grace that hath put a difference if God hath made known to you that he hath chosen you know that it is free grace that hath put the difference O! Rich grace free grace that God should take you and leave another as deserving as you O it is free grace And that we may be stirred up to Thankfulness consider that all the mercies that ever you do enjoy or hope for spring from this Electing love O! What cause have you to admire this love Electing love it was a fruitful wombe all your mercies lay in it your comforts they all spring from it if the Lord had not given you his love from eternity he had never given you Christ as he did he had not given you the knowledg of Christ All the mercies and comforts that you do enjoy do spring from this love if it had not been for this love you had never known what pardon of sin had been you had never known what peace with God had been what a mercy it is to be reconciled to God your present mercies they all lye in this womb of God's Electing love O! what an engagement is this to Thankfulness Secondly Walk worthy of this love Christians you that see your Interest in
Tryall of Faith OR THE WOMAN OF CANAAN On Math. 15. 21 22 23 24. Together with the Souls Sure Anchor-hold On Heb. 6. 19. With the Wisdome of timely remembring our Creator On Eccles 12. 1. â—n Severall SERMONS By Timothy Armitage Late Minister of the Gospel in Norwitch â—ONDON Printed by M. S. for Henry Cripps at the first Shop in Popes-head-Alley next Lumbard-street 1661. To the Christian Reader ALthough we have not fully perused these Sermons yet being well acquainted with the worth of the Author we doe not without the desire of many present these Notes to thy view He was a man of a choice humble meek and moderate spirit of good natural endowments heightned with no smal measure of Divine grace of a sound judgement yet could bear with those that erred not in the main of a large affection yet without affectation of good Learning but his Art was in Preaching to conceal his Art His Teaching was after the manner of Gods drawing a soul to Himself viz. Fortiter suaviter strongly and sweetly His stile was even plain full and as Anianus spake of Chrysostome his speech was never elevated to the pomp of speaking but alwayes accommodated to the profit of hearing In brief He was a faithful experimental powerful and succesful Labourer in the Gospel for the Spirit of God breathed much on his heart and Ministry His life also held pace with his Doctrine for as his Doctrine was lively so his life was doctrinal He was beloved both of God and man Our only grief is we had such a Preacher whom now we have not But in the midst of our sorrows for the loss of him we have refreshment by enjoying the issues of his labour and this book being his Benjamin which he did not live to finish we humbly present unto you in its native innocency as it was midwived from his mouth by the finger of a ready Pen-man Neither could we be so injurious to our departed Brother or unjust unto you as to diminish or add any thing thereunto lest instead of his endeavours we should give forth our own conceptions His intention was not to print them in paper but to imprint them in the hearts of his Auditory This Writing is like Milk in a Bottle which though it wanteth the natural warmth of the Breast yet being well digested will afford wholsome nourishment and spiritual strength Those that did hear these Sermons delivered by a lively voice cannot but rejoyce in hearing them eccho'd over by the rebound of the Press in which if there be any faults you are desired by the sense of the neighbouring words to correct them Thus committing the success of these following pages wherein the Author being dead yet speaketh to the blessing of the Almighty We rest Your Servants in the Lord Christ W. B. T. A. J. R. Several Sermons preached by Mr. Timothy Armitage upon Matth. 15. 21 22 23 24 Verses c. Verse 21. Then Jesus went thence and departed into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon 22. And behold a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts and cryed unto him saying have mercy on me O Lord thou son of David my daughter is greivously vexed with a Devil 23. But he answered her not a word And his Disciples came and besought him saying send her away for she cryeth after us 24. But he answered and said I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel c. SERMON I. YOu have a Relation of Christs departure from the parts of Judea near to Jerusalem and his coming to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon the uttermost part of the Land of Canaan And here is a Relation of two great Wonders wrought by Christ there One was a spiritual wonder a wonderful faith that Jesus Christ wrought in the heart of a poor woman the woman of Canaan it was a wonderful faith therefore it is brought in with admiration in the 22. verse and BEHOLD a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts and cried unto him saying have mercy on me O Lord thou son of David c. Yea it was such a wonder as made the Son of God to wonder at it in conclusion and to say O woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt The second Wonder which was the effect of this wonderful faith it was a miraculous cure that the Lord Jesus Christ wrought upon the daughter of this woman of Canaan who was possessed with a Devil which Devil Christ cast out by speaking one word Now concerning the faith of this woman of Canaan the wonder that was in it appears First In that it was a woman the weaker vessel and most subject to fears yet her heart was raised to believe Secondly Not only a woman but a Woman of Canaan a Canaanitish woman one that was of the seed and posterity of that cursed Nation the Canaanites that were a cursed Nation and cast out that room might be made for the Children of Israel cast out of the Land that room might be made for the Children of the Kingdome and yet Christ meets with mighty faith in the heart of a woman that was a Canaanite one that had not injoyed the means of Grace one that had not injoyed the priviledges of the Jews But we shall open the Scripture and give you a brief Anallysis of it and lay a foundation for future discourse for I shall but dwell upon the borders at this time And in the faith of this woman of Canaan First take notice of the Declaration of her faith ver 22. Her faith was declared first by the confession she made of Christ she made a full and excellent confession of Jesus Christ O Lord thou son of David there is the confession of her faith she doth acknowledge the Lordship of Christ she doth acknowledge him to be Lord of all infinite in power able to do what he pleases yea to command the Devil out of her daughter for she came to him for that end there is a confession of the Divinity of Christ and of his infinite power Secondly She doth acknowledge him as the Messias not only as the Lord of all but as the Messias Christ the Saviour him that was to come to redeem his people and to be a light to enlighten the Gentiles and therefore she calls him the son of David Oh Lord thou son of David have mercy on me c. where she doth acknowledge him to be the Messias that was promised to come out of the loins of David Thirdly There is a declaration of her faith by her prayer she poures out before the Lord her prayer was an effect of her faith she calls upon him with a great deal of earnestness and her petition was that Christ would cast out the unclean spirit that had taken possession of her daughter therefore she spread it before the Lord My daughter is grievously vexed with
been more sad if God had taken away our estates from us before he had found us but if the Lord hath found us though we lose the world there is good cause we should be content what God calls for let it go we should be willing to lose our estates our credit our name for Christ hath found us if we cannot walk with Christ and do the service Christ calls us to but we must lose estate and credit and name why let all go Christ found us and we should be willing to lose our lives for Christ and know that it shall not be lost but what a man loses for Christ it shall be restored him again And fiftly and lastly Let us take heed that we do not go out from Christ any more O! what an engagement lyeth upon us to keep close to Christ O! What pains did Christ take to seek us when wandring And what pains did Christ take to bring us home O! Take heed of wandring in the ways of sin for it is a dangerous way and therefore take heed that we be not found wandring let us labour to cleave to God and keep close to Christ let the sheep hear the voice of Christ and follow him where ever he goeth keep close to Christ in every Ordinance in every Truth take heed that we go not out from Christ for that will be sadder then all that hath gone before that lost sheep whom Christ hath found should go into the wilderness again dark wayes again and defile your elves again O! this will go to the heart of Christ and therefore Brethren what need have we to watch O! let us watch over our own hearts if Christ hath found us and brought us home to God O let us watch over our hearts and wayes that we go not out from Christ O let us watch and let us cry to the Lord that he would watch over us that we may not go out from him O! let us beg of him that he would put his holy fear into our hearts that is his promise O beg of the Lord that he would make good his Covenant that we may have that holy fear in our hearts that may keep us for ever from wandring and going out from Christ Matth. 15. 24. I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel SERMON XII HEre is a second Tryal of this womans Faith as I told you when I opened the words Christ had tryed her faith by his silence and now by his speaking a sad word I am not sent but to the lost Sheep c. Wherein he holds forth that there a certain number that he is sent unto a certain company that are given to him to be his sheep and that he can shew mercy only to such they only are in his Commission and he cannot go beyond his Commission they whose names are written in the book of life their names are written in Christ's Commission I am not sent but to the lost sheep Here is a great tryal of this womans faith and she is put upon it to make out her Election here is a tryal concerning her Election whether she did belong to God or no. So then the Doctrine is this That the Lord is pleased sometimes to exercise his people with many temptations about their Election That was the great tryal that this woman was now put upon In the opening of the point it will be needful to shew you First That there is an Election of God Secondly That this Election may be known it may be known who are elected Thirdly I shall shew you that this Doctrine it self it is full of sweetness and unspeakable comfort to God's people Fourthly I shall shew you that God's own people may meet with many Temptations both about the doctrine of Election and concerning their own election in particular First then That there is an election of God which is a glorious truth of the Gospel and it is needful that it should be known Let us enquire what election is It is an Act of God ' s good pleasure from eternity whereby he made choice of certain persons that he might make them holy and happy through Christ Jesus unto the glory of his own grace Take this as a description of Election where you have First The efficient cause that is God it is an act of God and you have the nature of this Act. 1. It was an act of his good pleasure 2. It was from eternity 1. It was an Act of his good pleasure there was no moving cause at all in the creature why God did love it and chuse it no impulsive cause was found out of God's own bowels nothing in the creature nothing out of himself it was an Act of good pleasure 2. And this was from eternity what ever was done in time it was purposed from eternity they are chosen before the foundation of the world blessed of my Father before the foundation of the world it was from eternity that God did thus chuse and set his love upon poor creatures You see the nature of it Thirdly In the description you have the Subjects of it who they were that God did chuse from eternity Why they were certain persons a certain number of persons that God set his love upon freely and amongst those sometimes in Scripture Christ is said to be the first that was chosen he was the head of them he was the foundation of the building therefore he is called chosen of God Disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious 1 Pet. 2. 4. the Apostle saith of Christ he was a chosen precious foundation stone And as Christ was chosen to be Head so there was a certain number that were chosen to be his members a certain number known unto God that should fill up the body of Christ for God's Decree is not an uncertain nnumber or conditional proposition as some conceive that whosoever believes shall be saved some make no other decree of God but this that whosoever believes should be saved but he did not purpose any particular person but whosoever believe shall be saved Truly that decree is no decree if there were no other decree but so that whosoever believe should be saved and not decreed certain persons then it were possible that no man nor woman at all should be saved if God did not determine such and such persons but onely such as believe should be saved then I say there is a possibility that none at all should be saved it is true that is the way of the declaration of God's grace that whosoever believes is saved But fourthly We have further to consider what is the end of Election wherefore did God chuse certain persons There is a two-fold end First In respect of the creature Secondly in respect of God In respect of the creature this was God's end that such creatures should be made holy and happy that they should attain to eternal life which eternal
to his people from eternity And that first love of God it is held forth as the cause of giving Christ Christ was not the cause of that first love but God loved from eternity and therefore he gave Christ God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son and love gave that Son Jesus Christ to be the Saviour Thirdly I answer we are said to be chosen in him not as being believers not that God did consider men as believing in Christ actually but they may after a sort be said to be in Christ even from eternity not actually but virtually Some do explain it thus as the corn that is sown and begins to bud why as soon as it begins to bud there is the blade and the ear and the corn virtually but not actually and so we were in him from eternity virtually as chosen together with him and given unto him but not actually in Jesus Christ till such time as men do believe in Jesus Christ There is a third Objection which I shall but touch But you will say Why then God makes choice of sinners and how can that be If God did not chuse men upon fore-seen faith and holiness and not consider them in Christ then he considered them as sinners but now how can God chuse men as sinners When the Scripture saith He is a God of purer eyes then to behold the least iniquity If a man be not in Christ he is a sinner and can God love a vile creature from eternity I answer There is a love of good will and a love of delight there was a love of good will that God had to his people from everlasting yea although that God saw they were in themselves vile sinful creatures but God doth not love them with the love of delight till they are washed and cleansed in the blood of Christ But you will say It is not possible that God should do so A good man he may not take a vile person to be his bosome friend or companion and he may not take one that is wicked into the relation of a wife or husband and how shall God do it who is a God of purer eyes I answer Though we may not make such a choice God may make such a choice why Because God is able to make them gracious and holy If we were able to make them holy then we might chuse the worst in the world But now there is power in God to do it if he chuse the unrighteous he can make them righteous and if he chuse unbelievers he can give them faith and if he chuse unholy ones he can make them holy Nay he chuseth for that very end that he might make them holy and blameless So that you have seen that God's Decree it is absolute that it is not grounded upon any consideration or worth in the creature but absolute in respect of the means And secondly As it is free and absolute so it is unchangeable God cannot he will not cast off any that he hath chosen no see what the Apostle saith 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth them that are his This Decree of God is unchangeable for it is as a sure foundation The foundation is the beginning of the building and so this Decree it is the beginning of all that good and those spiritual blessings that God doth bestow upon his children and the foundation is sure and unmoveable if it be laid by a skilful and powerful hand foundations are laid sure why this foundation is laid by God's own hand it is laid by his wise and mighty hand and who shall remove the foundation that God hath laid All the men and Angels in the world cannot overturn the purpose and decree of God for the saving of one poor soul all the devils in hell cannot overturn this foundation and there is nothing in the creature can hinder it no sinfulness no unworthiness before conversion and after conversion for it is sure And it must needs be sure because God in his Essence is unchangeable and therefore his purpose unchangeable for the Will of God is God himself and therefore the purpose of God can be no more unchangeable then God himself So that you see there is an Election and this Election is of grace That 's the first particular The second particular which I shall but touch is That this Election may be known by the sons of men though it be transacted in heaven though their names be written in heaven yet it is possible for men to know this secret of God's Decree this great mystery it is possible that it may be known to others and it is possible that it may be known to our selves Our Election may be known to others see Phil. 4. 3. And I entreat thee also true yoke-fellow help those women which laboured with me in the Gospel with Clement also and with other my fellow labourers whose names are in the Book of Life The Apostle here speaking of such and such persons he concludes that their names are in the book of life and in 1 Thess 1. 3 4. Remembring without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and our Father Knowing brethren beloved your Election of God But you will say How can this be known Why it may be known by the fruits of Election when the Gospel comes with power when the Gospel doth overpower the heart when men and women are overcome to believe in the name of Christ when they make a resignation of themselves to Christ and when the Image of Christ is stampt upon them and they in some measure made conformable to Christ who is the head of the Church then others may conclude in the judgement of charity such and such are elected of God so far as we may know the truth of others faith so far we may in the judgement of charity know the election of others But secondly This may not only be known to others but to a mans own self that he is chosen of God before the foundation of the world for we are put upon it to make it sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. Brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure strive to put it out of doubt be not content to be at uncertainties in this business it may not only be known but make it sure he doth not exhort them to make it sure in its self by doing this or that for it is sure in it self but make it sure as to your selves wait upon the Lord that your hearts may be confirmed in it that you are called and elected of God for it is possible for a man to know that he is elected Yea Christ puts his Disciples upon it to rejoyce in the consideration of this that they were elected Luke 10. 20. But rather rejoyce because your names are written
man in respect of Saul's House yet he justified the Lord the Lord sees that I am a bloody man though not in that particular and therefore saith he The Lord hath bidden him Either thou art guilty or not guilty when God suffers men to revile and speak evil and to fasten such accusations upon thee if thou art guilty it is thy duty to make use of it by whomsoever God shall discover it make use of that which comes out of the enemies mouth to finde out the evil that is in our own hearts But if thou art clear and not guilty of that which thou art accused of yet in respect of the Lord there is cause of justifying the Lord So David though he was not guilty in that respect that Shimei said he was guilty yet saith he it is just with the Lord and it is a righteous thing that I should be thus accused by Shimei And for the quieting of thy spirit use those Arguments that David did Behold the Son out of my Bowels riseth up against me and therefore shall I think it a great matter for a stranger to do it So let us say behold here is that which riseth up in mine own heart the corruptions in mine own bosome that doth me many an ill turn shall I think much that strangers do accuse me And consider also that which David said The Lord doth hear the curses of Shimei and will do me good by it And so if thou canst approve thy heart to God and art not guilty of what men do accuse thee of and that thou canst say it is false in respect of man but in respect of God thou sayest Truth Lord Know that the Lord he can do thee good by it and that he will turn those very curses of men to thy good Again One word of Use more and so I shall conclude Look up to the Lord for this grace of Humility O! What cause have we to give up our hearts into God's hand that he may make us truly humble Surely we shall never be able to justifie the Lord if the heart be not laid low and made truly humble The Lord Jesus he had humbled this woman he had laid her very low he had sanctified her affliction to humble her she had met with great afflictions her daughter was vexed with a dvvil the Lord sanctified that affliction to humble her And she also met with great temptations three sore Temptations we read of and the Lord also sanctified those temptations to humble her And she had also met with discoveries of grace and love the Lord revealed himself very gloriously to her faith or else she could never have held out the Lord also sanctified those discoveries to humble her and lay her low Truly if this woman had not had a humble heart she could never have carried it so in the time of affliction and in the time of this temptation but she would have flown in the face of Christ Christ calls her dog and tells her That it is not meet to take the childrens bread and give it to dogs if her heart had not been humble she would have discovered her self to have been a dog she would have barked against him but she carried it very graciously and in all that Christ spake justified him Truth Lord. O that we might go to the Lord and beg of God that he would give out more of this grace of humility to us A proud heart will never justifie God when he speaks himself or when he suffers men to speak a proud heart will never take a repulse from God nor reproofs from men O! There is need of the grace of humility that will enable a soul to justifie the Lord in what-ever he shall speak and in what-ever he shall do The Apostle saith God resisteth the proud but he giveth grace to the humble He gives this grace to the humble that they shall carry it graciously when the Lord speaks against them when the Lord shall make a discovery of their hearts to them of their Corruptions to them of the deserving of their Transgressions to them they shall justifie the Lord and say Truth Lord all is true And when God shall suffer men to speak against them the Lord gives grace to the humble they shall have this grace made able to justifie the Lord. And truly When the soul is brought into this posture when the soul is thus truly humbled before the Lord and can justifie the Lord when the Lord speaks it is not far from deliverance Salvation is nigh Deliverance is at hand the time of God's Controversie is at an end When God hath thus humbled the soul under his mighty hand and made it willing to lye low and to justifie the Lord in all that he speakes and doth surely the time of refreshment from the presence of the Lord is not far off The Prophet Ezekiel he lay low before the Lord there were discoveries of the glorious Majesty of the Lord made to him at the latter end of the first Chapter As the appearance of the Bowe that is in the Cloud in the day of Raine so was the appearance of the brightness round about this was the appearance of the likenesse of the Glory of the Lord and when I saw it I fell upon my face See here he lay low before the Lord and in Chap. 2. and Verse 2. What is said And the Spirit entred into me when he spake unto me and set me upon my feet And truly Brethren When the Lord giveth out such a frame of spirit that the heart is made so humble as to lie low before the Lord and to justifie the Lord in what he speakes and doth the Spirit of the Lord is not far Salvation is not far off As the Spirit did enter into Ezekiel and set him upon his feet so the Spirit of the Lord will come into that soul and fill it with joy and refreshment from the Lord's presence Eccles 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth while the evil dayes come not nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them SOlomon having spent a great part of his life in following after vanity and being brought by the Spirit of God to a serious consideration of his wayes he doth write this Book of Ecclesiastes as the Book of his Repentance and like a true penitent he takes care of the souls of others and gives warning to all men that they should take heed that they do not split against those Rocks against which he cast himself He is exceeding careful of the souls of men and in a special manner he takes care of the souls of young men he speaks once and again to them that they might be warned by him and not spend their youth in vanity that they might not lose the comfort that they might enjoy by enjoying God and that they might not lose their opportunities of doing God service in their youth Now
duty what-ever thoughts should be suggested into thy minde but know for thy comfort that those sinful thoughts and blasphemous thoughts which are cast in by Sathan they shall not be laid to thy charge if thy soul abhor them it is true if the heart did close with them and nourish them then they become the souls but when the soul abhors them and casts them out and cries to Christ against them it is not the souls sin therefore do not neglect thy duty because of these vain thoughts but set thy face to seek the Lord and remember and know that the Lord will make good his word he will meet thee and when God meets thee all these sinful and cursed thoughts shall be cast out And thus you have heard Brethren what encouragement there is to remember God But you will say It is a great Duty and much depends upon it how shall I be helped to remember God aright First Be often looking upon the Book of the Creature upon the works of Creation and look upon them for this very end that thou mayest Remember God for there is a Remembrance of God upon all creatures and if we be wise we may make a spiritual improvement and be led to the Remembrance of God by looking into the Book of the Creature Secondly Look into the Scripture and consult with that for there hath God declared his Name his glorious Name is written in his Word there are Letters that God hath written with his owne hand God hath subscribed I Jesus testifie these things There is the hand of God and of Christ in the Book of the Scripture and therefore if thou wouldest Remember God converse with the Word of God Thirdly Wait upon God in every Ordinance for all Ordinances are given for this end to Remember God the Word the Supper every Ordinance of God is given that so the soul might see God and Remember him and therefore when thou waitest upon God in any Ordinance let this be the end that thou propoundest to thy soul to Remember God Fourthly Lay up all the Love-tokens of God What-ever Experience thou hast met with from God in making supply to thy wants comforting of thee supporting of thee these are tokens that come from God and the mercy that he sheweth thee it is for this end that thou mayest Remember him and therefore lay up all the experiences that thou hast met withal for they will help thee to Remember God Fiftly Labour to get your hearts established and assured in the Knowledge of Gods love to thee that thou mayest come to the knowledge of this that God is thy Friend thy Father thy nearest and dearest relation for the â—ore the soul knows this the more it will Remember God It is not possible that a childe should forget a loving Father that a Wife should forget a loving and tender Husband O when a soul comes to know this that God is my Father my Husband this will help the soul to a sweet Remembrance of God Sixtly Look up to the Lord to increase thy love to him for the more love to God the more thou wilt Remember God but where there is little love to God there is little Remembrance of God and the reason that men Remember God no more is because there is so little love in their hearts towards God If a man loved his friend he would Remember him and not forget him O therefore be ashamed that no more love should be sparkling in thy heart to God when so much love is flaming in the heart of Christ towards thee And therefore Brethren beg it of the Lord that he would shed abroad more of his love in your hearts and blow up thy spark to a flame that thy soul may be fill'd with a constant Remembrance of him Seventhly Ure thy soul to holy meditation and thinking upon God last at night and first in the morning it will be a great help to keep up a constant Remembrance of God in the soul O let thy waking thoughts be toward the Lord Think of his Works of his Attributes of his Son there is enough for men to spend millions of thoughts upon and therefore let some be spent upon God assoon as man wakes in the morning there are a multitude of thoughts strive who shal get in first there stands God and Christ and the World and they which get in first have a great advantage to keep in the soul all the day long if the world gets in first the heart is made worldly but when God and Christ is let in first the heart is kept in a gracious frame all the day long and the more that your meditations are spent upon God the more Remembrance will you have of God And now Brethren you have seen your duty and your neglect of duty for which you have cause to be humbled and we have seen what cause we have to Remember God and what a great benefit comes in by Remembring God and we have seen what may be helpful to our souls in this duty Now let us look to the Spirit of the Lord to make them helps for we have need of all helps till we shall come where the soul shall Remember God perpetually and never forget him Heb. 6. 19. Which hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entereth into that within the Vail THe Apostle in the eighteenth verse speaking of the hope that is set before Believers and of their fleeing for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before them He takes occasion to speak of that hope that is begotten and raised in the hearts of all Believers by the hope of Christ In verse 18. He speaks of the Object of Hope Christ he is the hope set before believers but in this 19th verse he speaks of the grace of hope which hope we have as an Anchor to the soul both sure and stedfast this is spoken of the grace of Hope which is the sister of Faith And this Hope it differs from Faith thus Faith looks unto God and Christ in the Promises it looks unto the word of the Lord that is given for its security and it is the work of Faith to close with the Word and to hold fast the word of promise which the Lord Jesus doth hand out to poor souls But Hope that looks to the good things promised and it waits â—or the good things that are laid up in the promises Hope eyes them and waits for the full possession and fruition of that which is laid up in the promise and when the soul shall enjoy all those good things laid up in the promises then Hope shall cease Now that we may understand the nature of saving Hope and the use of it he sets it forth to us by a Metaphor of an Anchor which hope we have as an Anchor to the soul both sure and stedfast Hope it is of that use to the soul that an Anchor is to a Ship