out hope and exspectation in God alone and to look above the ordinances for our help 4. Albeit it be true that the power and grace of God alone doth beginne and carry on this work of sanctification in the soul yet though he might did He but see it for his glory carry on and finish this work in the soâ—…l without the intervention of second causes or meanes he hath notwithstanding thought it fit forth â—… glory of his name to worke this work by meanes and particulary by beleevers setting about the work He worketh not in man as if he were a block or a stone but useth him as a rationall creature endued with a rationall soul having useful and necessary facultyes and having a body fitted by organs to be â—…ubservient to the soul in its actions Therefore the beleever must not think to lye by and do nothing for he is commanded to worke out his owne salvation and that because it is God that worketh in him both to will and to do Because God worketh all therefore he should worke so reasoneth the Apostle so that God's working is an argument and motive to man to worke and not an argument to him to lye by idle and do nothing And here is the holy art divine skill requisite in this businesse to wit for the believer to be as diligent and active as if he could bring forth fruit in his own strength and by his owne working and yet to be as abstracted from himself his owne grace ability knowledge and experience in his working as if he were lying by like a meeâ—… block only moving as moved by externall force 5. The soul that would make progresse in Christianity and grow in grace would remember that Christ is proposed to us as a copy which we are to imitate and that therefore we should set Christ continually before us as our patterne that we may follow his steps 1. Pet. 1 15. and 2 â—…1 But with all it would be remembered that He is not like other ensamples or copies that can helpe the man that imitateth them no other way than by their objective prospect for looking by faith on this copy will bring vertue to the man that studyeth to imitate whereby he shall be inabled to follow his copie the better O 〈◊〉 we knew in experience what this were to take a look of Chrâ—…'s Love Patience Long suffering Meeknesse Hatred of sin Zeal c. and by 〈◊〉 to pore-in till by vertue proceeding from that copie we found our hearts in some measure framed into the same disposition or at least more inclined to be cast into the same mould 6. The beleever would act faith on Christ aâ—… the Head of the body and as the stock in which the branches are engrafted and thereby suck sap and life and strength from Him that he may work walk and grow as becometh a Christian. The beleever must grow up in Him being a branch in Him and must bring forth fruit in Him as the forementioned places clear Now Christ himselfe tells us that the branches cannot bring forth fruit except they abide in the vine and that no more can his disciples bring forth fruit except they abide in Him Iohn 15. Therefore as it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith that the soul as a branch is united to Christ as the vine and as it is by faith that they abide in Him so is it by faith that they must bring forth fruit and this faith must grippe Christ as the Vine and the Stock or Root from which cometh sap life and strength faith then must look to Christ as the fountain of 〈◊〉 as the head â—…om whence cometh all the in â—…ces of strength and motion Christ 〈◊〉 strength and life enough to give out for the fulnesse of the God head dwelleth in Him bodyly and he is also willing enough to communicate of his fulnesse as the relations He hath taken on do witnesse Thâ—… head will not grudge to give to the members of the body spirits for action and motion 〈◊〉 will a vine grudge to give sap unto the branches â—…ay life strength and furniture will as it were natively flow out of Christ unto beleevers except they through unbeleef and other distempers cause obstructions as life and sap doth natively and kindely flow from the root to the branches of from the head to the members unlesse obstructions stoppe the passage It is necessary therefore that beleevers eye Christ under these and the like relations and look upon Him as standing to speak so obliged by his place and relation to grant strength and influences of life whereby they may become fruitful in every good work and so with holy humble and allowed boldnesse presse in faith for new communications of grace vertue strength courage activity and what else they need for from the head all the body by joints bands having nourishment ministred increaseth with the increase of God Col. 2 19. Ephes. 4 16. 7. For this cause beleevers would lye open unto the influences of Christ and guaird against the puting of obstructions in the way through grieving of the Spirit by which He conveyeth communicateth those influences unto the soul and through questioning misbeleeving Christ's faithfulnesse and unchangable willingnesse which as a violent humore stoppeth the passage So then beleevers would lye open by looking and waiting drawing seeking from Him what they need and by guarding against every thing that may provoke the Lord to angerâ—… whether in omission or commission Here is requisite â—…n holy humble sober and watchfull walk an earnest serious and hungry looking out to Him and a patient waiting for supply and furniture from Him This is to open the mouth wide that He may fill it to lie before the sun of righteousnesse that the beames thereof may beat upon them warme revive them and to waite as a beggar at this kings gate till he give the almes 8. For the strengthening of their hope faith in this they would lay hold upon Christ dying and by his death purchaseing all those influences of life and strength which are requisite for carrying on of the work of grace and sanctification in the soul for we must be blessed in Christ with all spiritual blessings Eph. 1â—… 3. The beleever then would look on these influences as purchased at a deare rate by the blood of Jesus Christ so that the divine power giveth unto us all things that pertaine unto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory virtue 2 Pet. 1 3. And this will encourage the soul to wait on and expect the flowing down of influences and spiritual blessings and showres of grace to cause the soul to flourish and become fruitfull and to urge and presse more earnestly by faith the bestowing of the purchased benefites 9. Moreover the beleever would look on Jesus as standing engaged and obliged to carry on this work both as receiving them for this end from the Father
master usher to the poor soul to lead him in to the Father so that by him we have accesse Ephes. 2 18. yea boldnesse and accesse through faith in Him Ephes. 3 12. and He is our advocate 1. Iohn 2 1. and as our atturnay is gone to heaven before us and there liveth for ever to make intercession Heb. 6 20 7 25. And what is there more to be done to procure us accesse or to move encourage us to come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtaine mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of need Heb. 4 14 16. 6. As to that want of freedome and liberty in prayer He helpeth that also for He maketh the dumb to sing Esa. 35 6. and maketh the tongue of the stammerers to be ready to speak elegantly Esai 32 4. He can enlairge the heart and help the soul to pour-out its heart before God 7. As to outward persecution He can easily take that discouragement away by giving the hundereth fold with it by supporting under it and bringing saife thorow it when his presence is with them through fire and water Esa. 43 2. what can trouble them and when he maketh their consolations abound 2 Cor. 1 5. what can discourage them Have not his sung in the very fires and rejoyced in all their afflictions The resting of the Spirit of God and of glory which Peter speaketh of 1 Pet. 4 14. is comfortable enough 8. As for all those sharpe dispensations mentioned in the last place He having taken the sting of all even of death away by taking away sin and purchased the blessing and love of the Father having made reconciliation through his blood all those dispensations flow from love even such as seem sharpest being inflicted for sin as we see Heb. 12 6. So that there is no cause here of fainting or of being so discouraged as to give over the matter But for helpe in this case there should be an use making of Jesus as the Life and that is The third thing which we shall speak a little to viz How the soul should make use of Christ as the Life to the end it may be delivered from this fainting occasioned through manifold discouragements 1. The beleever in this case would minde the covenant of Redemption wherein Christ hath promised and so standeth obliged and engaged to carry on his own through all discouragements to the end so that if any one beleever miscarry Christ loseth more than they can lose for the beleever can but lose his soul but Christ shall lose his glory and this is more worth than all the souls that ever were created And further not only shall Christ lose his glory as Redeemer But the Father shall also lose his glory in not making good his promise to Christ his Son for by the same covenant He standeth engaged to carry thorow all the seed that Christ hath died for And his appointing Christ to be his servant for this end and chooseing Him from among all the folk and his upholding of Him concurring with him delighting in Him and promiseing that He shall bring forth judgment to the gentiles and that to victory or to truth speak out His engadgment to see all true beleevers brought home See Esai 42 1 2 3 4. Mat. 12 17 18 19 20 21. Psal. 89 19 20 21 28 29 35 36 37. Sâ—…re the faith of this would support the poor beleever under all those discouragements 2. They would minde likewise the covenant of Grace wherein all things are contrived and laid downe so as that the beleever may have abundant consolation and comfort in all cases and wherein there is enough to take away all cause of fainting discouragement as might fully be made to appeare if any did questione it 3. They would remember how richly Christ is furnished with all qualifications suiteing even that case wherein they are like to be overwhelmed with discouragements and could the beleever but think upon and beleeve those three things he might be keeped-up under all discouragements first That Christ is a compassionate tender-hearted mediator having bowels more tender than the bowels of any mother so that He will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax Esai 42 3. He had compassion on the very bodies of the multitude that followed him and would not let them go away fasting lest they should fainte in the way Mat. 15 32. Mark 8 3. and will He not have compassion on the soules of his followers when like to faint through spiritual discouragements Secondly That He hath power and authority to command all things that can serve to carray-on a poor beleever for all power in Heaven and Earth is given to Him all things are made subject to Him Thirdly That He hath a great readinesse and willingnesse upon many accounts to helpe his followers in their necessities Sure were these three firmly believed the beleever could not â—…aint having Christ who is tender and loving willing to helpe and withall able to do what he will to look to and to run to for supply 4. They would take up Christ under all his heart-strengthening and soul comforting relations as a tender Brother a careful Shepherd a fellow-feeling Highpriest a loving Husband a sympathizing Head a life-communicating Root an alsufficient King c. any one of which is enough to beare up the head and comfort the heart of a drouping discouraged and fainting soul much more may all of them yeeld strong consolation to support revive a soul staggering and fainting through discouragement Oh! if wee could but rightly improve and dwell upon the thoughts of these comforting and heart-quickening relations our hearts would not fail us so much as they do 5. They would eye Him as now in glory who as Head and Captaine of salvation hath wreastled through and overcome all difficulties and discouragments that were in his way and in name and behalf of all beleevers that are his followers and members of his body is now possessed of glory and thence draw an heart-comforting and soul-strengthening conclusion thus Is He entered into glory as Head than such a poor faint hearted heart-brocken discouraged worme as I am may at length come there as a little bit of his body especially since He said that seing He liveth all his shall live also Ioh. 14 19. 6. They would remember how Christ who was alwayes heard of his Father Iohn 11 41 42. did supplicat for this as Mediator and Intercessor for his people Iohn 17 24. saying Father I will thâ—… they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am c. May not the poor faint-hearted believer that is looking to Iesus draw an heart-reviveing soul encouraging conclusion out of this say Though my prayers be shote out and when I cry for reliefe under my discouragements I get no hearing but on the contrary my discouragements grow and my heart fainteth the more yet Christ alwayes was heard and
the Father will not say Him nay why then may I not lift up my head in hope and sing in the hope of the glory of God 〈◊〉 the midst of all my discouragements 7. By faith they would cast all their discouragements entanglements and difficulties as burdens too heavy for their back on Christ and â—…eave them there with Him who only can remove them and withal resolve never to give over but â—…o go forward in his strength and thus become dayly â—…ronger and stronger in resolutions purposes desires and endeavours when they can do no â—…ore 8. They would look to Jesus the author and â—…isher of faith and set Him before them as a copie â—…f courage who for the joy that was set before Him â—…dured the crosse despiseing the shame and enâ—…red contradiction of sinners against himself Heb. 12 2 3. and this may prove a meane to keep us â—…om wearrying and fainting in our mindes as the â—…postle hinteth there 9. They would remember that Christ going â—…fore as the Captaine of salvation hath brocken â—…e yee to them and the force and strength of all â—…ose discouragements as we did lately show so â—…at now they should be looked upon as brocken â—…owerlesse discouragements 10. They would fix their eye by faith on Iesus as â—…ly able to do their businesse to beare up their â—…ad to carry them thorow discouragements to â—…ply cordials to their fainting hearts and remaine â—…red in that posture and resolution looking for â—…rengthening and encourageing-life from Him â—…om Him alone and thus declare that 1. They â—…e unable in themselves to stand-out such storms of discouragements and to wreastle thorow such difficulties 2. They beleeve He is only able to beare them up and carry them thorow make them to despise all those discouragements which the Devil and their own evil hearts muster up against them 3. That come what will come they will not quite the bargane they will never recal or take back their subscription and consent to the covenant of grace and to Christ as theirs offered therein though they should die and die againe by the way 4. That they would faine be keeped-on in the way and helped forward without failing and fainting by the way 5. That they cannot run thorow hard wals they cannot do impossibilities they cannot break thorow such mighty discouragements 6. That yet through Him they can dâ—… all things 7. That He must helpe or they 〈◊〉 gone and shall never win thorow all these difficulties and discouragements but shall one day or other die by the hand of Saul 8. That they wilâ—… waite earnestly seeking helpe from Him crying for it and looking for it and resolve never â—… give over and if they be disappointed 〈◊〉 aâ—… disappointed Now for the last particular The word of caâ—…tion Take these 1. They would not think to be altogether 〈◊〉 of fainting for there is no perfection here anâ—… there is much flesh and corruption remaining 〈◊〉 that will occasion fainting 2. Nor would they think to be free of all 〈◊〉 causes and occasions of this fainting viz the discouragements formerly mentioned or the like for if the devil can do any thing he will work discouragements both within and without So that they would lay their resolution to meet with discouragaments for few or none ever went to heaven but they had many a storme in their face and they must not think to have a way paved for themselves alone 3. They would not pore too much nor dwell too long and too much upon the thoughts of those discouragements for that is Satans advantage tendeth to weaken themselves But it were better to be looking beyond them as Christ did Heb. 12 2. when he had the crosse and the shame to wreastle with He looked to the joy that was set before Him and that made Him endure the crosse and despise the shame and as Moses did Heb. 11 25 26 27. when he had afflictions and the wrath of the King to wreastle against He had respect unto the recompence of the reward and so he endured as seeing Him who is invisible 4. They would remember that as Christ hath tender bowells and is full of compassion and is both ready able to helpe them so is He wise knoweth how to let-out his mercies best He is not like a foolish affectionat mother that would hazarde the life of the childe before she put the childe to any paine He seeth what is best for his owne glory and for their good here and hereafter that He will do with much tendernesse readinesse 5. They would look upon it as no mean mercy if notwithstanding of all the discouragements and stormes that blow in their face they are helped to keep their face up the hill are fixed in this resolution never willingly to turne their back upon the way of God but to continue creeping forward as they may whatever stormes they meet with yea upon this account ought they heartily to blesse his name and to rejoyce for their hearts shall live that seek Him Psal. 22 26. 6. They would remember for their encouragement that as many have been helped thorow all discouragements have been brought home at length so may they be brought thorow all those stormes which now they wreastle with It is the glory of the Mediator to bring his brocken torne sincking vessels saife to shore Now I come to a third case that is CHAP. XXIII How to make use of Christ as the Life when the soul is dead as to duty SOmetime the beleever will be under such â—… distemper as that he will be as unfit unable for dischargeing of any commanded duty as a dead man or one in a swoon is to work or go a journay it were good to know how Christ should be made use of as the Life to the end the diseased soul may be delivered from this for this cause we shall consider those foure things 1. See what are the several steps degrees of this distemper 2. Consider whence it cometh or what are the causes or occasions thereof 3. Consider how Christ is life to the soul in such a dead case 4. Point out the way of the souls usemaking of Christ that would be delivered herefrom As to the first This distemper cometh-on by several steps degrees it will be sufficient to mention some of the maine most remarkable steps such as 1. There is a falling from our watchfulnesse tendernesse when we leave our watchtour we invite encourage Satan to set upon us as was said before 2. There is going about duty but in a lazie way when we love seek after carnal ease and seek out wayes of doing the duty so as may be least troublesome to the flesh as the Spouse did Cant. 3 1. when she sought her beloved upon her bed 3. There is a lying by not stirring up ourselves to an active way of going about duty
Him till He should be pleased to come to them with salvation And who can tell how soon He may come But enough of this there is a Fourth case of deadnesse to be spoken to and that is this CHAP. XXIV How shall the soul make use of Christ as the life which is under the prevailing power of unbeleef infidelity THat we may helpe to give some clearing to a poor soul in this case we shall 1. See what are the several steps and degrees of this distemper 2. Consider what the causes hereof are 3. Shew how Christ is life to a soul in such a case and 4. Give some directions how a soul in that case should make use of Christ as the Life to the end it may be delivered therefrom And first There are many several steps to and degrees of this distemper we shall mention a few as 1. When they cannot come with confidence and draw ouâ—… of Him by faith what their souls case calleth for they cannot with joy draw waters out of the wels of salvation Esai 12 3. But keep at a distance and intertaine jealous thoughts of Him this is a degree of unbeleefe making way for more 2. When they cannot confidently assert and avow their interest in Him as the Church did Esai â—…2 2. saying Behold God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraâ—…ed for the Lord Ie hovah is my strength my song He also is become my salvation 3. when they much question if ever they have indeed laid hold on Christ and so cannot go to Him for the supply of their wants and necessities 4. When moreover they question if they be allowed of God and warranted to come to Him and lay hold upon Him yea and they think they have many arguments whereby to maintaine this their unbeleefe and justify their keeping aback from Christ. 5. Or when if they look to Him at all it is with much mixture of faithlesse fears that they shall not be the better or at least doubting whether it shall be to their advantage or not 6. This unbeleef will advance further and they may come to that not only to conclude that they have no part or portion in Him but also to conclude that their case is desperat and irremediable and so say there is no more hope they are cut off for their part as Ezech. 37 11. and so lye by as dead and forelorne 7. Yea they may come higher and vent some desperat thoughts and expressions of God to the great scandal of the godly and to the dishonour of God 8. And yet more they may come that length to question all the promises and cry out with David in his haste Psal. 116 11. that all men are liars 9. Yea they may come to this to account the whole gospel to be nothing but a heap of delusions and a cunningly devised fable or but mere notions and fancies 10. And at length come to question if there be a God that ruleth in the Earth These are dreadful degrees and steps of this horrid distemper and enough to make all flesh tremble Let us see next whence this cometh The causes hereof we may reduce to three heads First The holy Lord hath a holy hand in this and hath noble ends and designes before Him in this matter as 1. The Lord may think good to order matters thus that He may magnifie his power and grace in reseueing such as were returned to the very brinke of hell and seemed to many to be lost and irrecoverably gone 2. Thaâ—… in punishing them thus for giving way to the first motions of unbeleefe he might warne all to guaird against such an evil and not to foster and give way to groundlesse complaints nor intertaine objections moved against their condition by the devil 3. To warne all to walk circumspectly and to worke-out their salvation with fear and trembling not knowing what may befal them ere they die 4. To teach all to walk humbly not knowing what advantage Satan may get of them ere all be done and to see their dayly need of Christ to strenthen their faith and to keep their grips of Him fast 5. So the Lord may think good to dispense so with some that he may give a full proof of his wonderfully great patience and longanimity in bearing with such and that so long 6. As also to demonstrate his Soveraignity in measureing out his dispensations to his own as he seeth will most glorifie himself Next Satan hath an active hand in this for 1. He raiseth clouds and mists in the believer so that he cannot see the work of God within himself and so is made to cry out that he hath no grace and that all was but delusions and imaginations which he looked upon as grace before 2. He raiseth up in them jealousies of God and of all his wayes and puts a false glosse and construction on all which God doth to the end he may confirme them in their jealousies which they have drunk in of God 3. Having gained this ground he worketh then upon their corruption with very great advantage and thus driveth them from evil to worse and not only to question their present interest in Christ but also to quite all hope for the time to come 4. This being done he driveth the soul yet further and filleth it with prejudices against God his glorious truthes and from this he can easily bring them to call all in question 5. Yea he will represent God as an enemy to them and when this is done how easie is it with him to put them on desperat courses and cause them speak wickedly and desperatly of God 6. And when this is done he can easily darken the understanding that the poor soul shall not see the glory of the gospel and of the covenant of grace nor the lustre and beauty of holinesse yea and raise prejudices against the same because there is no hope of partaking of the benefite thereof and so bring them on to a plaine questioning of all as â—…eer delusions 7. And when he hath gotten them brought this length he hath faire advantage to make them question if there be a God and so drive them forward to Atheisme And thus deceitfully he can carry the soul from one step to another But thirdly There are many sinful causes of this within the man self as 1. Pride and haughtinesse of minde as thinking their mountain standeth so strong that it cannot be moved and this provoketh God to hide his face as Psal. 30. 2. Self confidence a concomitant of pride supposing themselves to be so well rooted that they cannot be shaken whileas it were better for them to walk in feare 3. Want of watchfulnesse over a deceitful heart and an evil heart of unbeleef that is still departing from the living God Heb. 3 12. It is good to be jealous here 4. Giving way to doubtings and questionings too readyly at first It is not good to tempt the Lord by
mystery in our souls Christ the grand mystery formed within us living and working within us by his Spirit and working us up unto a conformity unto and an heart-closeing with God manifested in the flesh that we may finde in experience or at least in truth and reality have a true transumpte of that Gospel mystery in our souls Oh when shall we take pleasure in pursueing after this happiness that will not flee from us but is rather pursueing us when shall we receive with joy and triumph this King of glory that is courting us dayly and is seeking accesse and entry into our souls Oh why cry we not out in the hieght of the passion of spiritual longing desire O come Lord Iesus King of glory with thine owne key and open the door and enlarge dilate the chambers of the soul that thou may enter and be entertained as the King of glory with all thy glorious retinue to the ennobling of my soul satisfying of all the desires of that immortal spark Why do we not covet after this knowledge which hath a true and firme connexion with all the best and truely divine gifts O happy soul that is wasted and worne to a shadow if that could be in this study and exercise which at length will enliven and as it were bring in a new heavenly spiritual soul into the soul so that it shall look no more like a dead disspirited thing out of its native soile and element but as a free elevated and spiritualized Spirit expatiating it self fleeing abroad in the open aire of its owne element and country O happy day O happy houre that is really and effectually spent in this imployment what would souls sweeming in this ocean of all pleasures and delights care for yea with what abhorrency would they look upon the bewitehing allurements of the purest kinde of carnal delights which flow from the mindes satisfaction in feeding on the poor apprehensions groundlesly expected comprehensions of objects suited to its natural genius and capacity O! what a more hyperbolically exceeding and glorious satisfaction hath a soul in its very pursueings after when it misseth cannot reach that which is truely desireabâ—…e How doth the least glimpse through the smallest cranie of this glorious and glorifying knowledge of God in Christ apprehended by faith raise up the soul to that pitch of joy and satisfaction which the knowledge of natural things in its purest perfection shall never be able to cause and to what a surmounting measure of this joy and contentation will the experienceing feeling by spiritual sense the sweet and spiritual relish of this capivating and transcendently excellent knowledge raise the soul unto O! must not this be the very suburbs of heaven to the soul When the soul thus seeth apprehendeth God in Christ and that as its owne God through Christ for as all saving knowledge draweth out the soul unto an imbraceing closeing with the object so it bringeth in the object to the making up of the recâ—…procal union and in-being it cannot but admire with exultation and exult with admiration at that condescendence of free grace that hath made it in any measure capable of this begun glory and will furâ—…her mak it meet by this begun glory to be a 〈◊〉 of the inheritance of the Saints in light and what will a soul that hath tasted of the pure delights of this river of gospel manifestations hath seen with soul-ravâ—…shing delight in some measure the manifold wisdome of God wrapped up therein and the compleâ—…t and perfect â—…ymmetrie of all the parts of that noble contexture and also the pure designe of that contrâ—…vance to abase Man and to extoll the riches of the free grace of God that the sinner when possessed of all designed for him and effectuated in him thereby may know who alone should weare the crown and have all the glory what I say will such a soul see in another gospelâ—… calculated to the meridian of the natural crooked and corrupted temper of proud man who is soon made vaâ—…ne of nothing which in stead of bringing a sinner fallâ—…n from God through pride back againe to the enjoyment of Him through a Mediator doth but foster that innate plague and rebellion which caused and procured his first excommunication from the favour and banishment out of the paradice of God that shall attract its heart to it and move it to â—… compliance with it When the poor sinner that hath bin made to pant after a Saviour and hath bin pursued to the very ports of the city of refuge by the aveâ—…ger of blood the justice of God hath tasted and seen how good God is and felt the sweetness of free love in a crucified Christ and seen the beauty and glory of the mystery of free grace sutably answeringâ—… and overcoming the mystery of its sin and misery O what a complacency hath he therein and in the way of gospel salvation wherein free grace is seen to overflow all banks to the eternal praise of the God of all grace How saltless and unsavoury will the most cunningly devised and patch together mode of salvation be that men studying the perversion of the gospel and seeking the ruine of souls with all their skill indusery and learning are setting off with forced rhetorick and the artifice of words of mans wisdom and with the plausible advantages of a pretended sanctity and of strong grounds and motives unto diligence and painfulness to a very denying and renunceing of Christian liberty when once itis observed how it entrencheth upon and darkneth the lustre or diminisheth the glory of free grace and hath the least tendency to the setting of the crown on the creatures head in whole or in part The least perception that hereby the sinners song ascribeing blessing honour glory and power unto him that was sâ—…ain hath redeemed them to God by his blood out of every kinâ—…ed and tongue and people and nation and hath made them unto their God kings and prieâ—…ts shall be marred will be enough to render that device detestable and convince the soul that itis not the gospel of the grace of God nor that mystery of God and of Christ but rather the mystery of â—…niquity What a peculiar savouriness doth the humbled beleever finde in the doctrine of the true gospel grace and the more that he be thereby made Nothing and Christ made All that he in his highest atainments be debaised and Christ exalted that his most lovely peacoke feathers be laid the crown flourish on Christ's head that he be laid flat without one foot to stand upon and Christ the only supporter and carryer of him to glory that he be as dead without life and Christ live in him the more lovely the more beautiful the more desireable and acceptable is it unto him O what a complacency hath the graced soul in that contrivance of infinite wisdom wherein the mystery of the grace of God
their opposition to his work prospering in all their wicked attempts This is a very trying dispensation as we see it was to the holy penman of Psalme 73. for it made him to stagger so that his feet were almost gone and his steps had well nigh slipt yea he was almost repenting of his being a godly person saying vers 13. verâ—…ly I have clansed my heart in vaine washed my hands in innocencie It was something like this which made Ieremie say Cap 8 18. when I would comfort my self against sorrow my heart is faint in me The harvest was past and the summer was ended and yet they were not saved vers 20. and they looked for peace but no good came and for a time of health but behold trouble vers 15. and this was fainting and vexatious And what made Baruch Ieremiah's faith full companion in tribulation say woe is me now for the Lord hath added grief to my sorow I fainted in my sighing and I finde no rest Ier. 45 3. but this that all things were turning upside down God was breaking down that which he had buiâ—… and plucking up that which he had planted Tribulation and suffering for a good cause is even fainting to some as the Apostle hinteth Ephes. 3 13. when he sayes wherefore I desire that yee fainte not at my tribulation for you And that which evinceth the danger of this dispensation is the fainting and backsliding of many in such a time of tryal as sad experience too often cleareth Now the beleevers stay in this case must be the rock of ages Jesus the Truth It is He alone who can keep streight and honest in such a reeling time So that a sight of Christ as the Truth in reference to the carrying on of Truth in the earth and throughing his cause and work will be the only support of a soul shaken by such a piece of tryal But the question is How should Beleevers make use of Christ in such a time to the end they may be keeped from fainting and succumbing in such a storme To which I answere That the faith and consideration of those particulars would helpe to establishment 1. That Christ in all this great work of redemption and in every piece of it is the Fathers servant So is He frequently called his servant Esai 42 1. 49 3 5 6. 52 13. 53 11. Zech. 3 8. therefore this work is a work intrusted to Him He standeth engadged as a servant to be faithful to his trust Moreover adde to this that He hath a commission to perfect that work and we need not doubt but He who is the Truth will be true to his trust Him hath God the Father sealed Iohn 6 27. He oft tells us himself that He is sent of the Father Iohn 4 34. 5 23 24 30 36 37. 6 38 39. 40 44 57. 8 16 18. 12 44 45 49. 7 9 4. 10 36. 11 42. 2. That while He was upon the earth He finished that work that was committed to Him to finish here having purchased all that was to be bought by his blood paying all the price that justice did ask Iohn 17 4. 19 30. By which price he hath purchased a people to himself Revel 5 9. Luk. 1 68. So that His work cause and interest is a purchased work bought with his blood 3. That his resurrection and glorification is an undoubted proof of this that justice is satisfied and that the price is fully payed and also that his exaltation at the Fathers right hand is a sure evidence ground of hope that He shall at last triumphe over all his enemies and that his work of truth shall prosper The Father said to Him Psal. 110 1. Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy foot stool Being now highly exalted he hath got a name above every name that in his name every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 9 10 11. 4. That the Father standeth engadged to make good to Him all that was promised and to give Him all that He purchased Esa. 53 10 11 12. Christ having now fulfilled his undertaking by making his soul an offering for sin and so satisfying justice which is openly declared by his resurrection admission to glory as the Head of his elect is to expect the accomplishment of what was conditioned unto Him His work therefore on the earth must prosper and the Father hath undertaken to see it prosper Sure the faith of this would much support a poor soul staggering at the thoughts of the prosperity of the wicked and of their evil cause 5. That Christ himself is now throughly furnished and inabled for the carrying on of his work over the belly of all adversaries for all power in heaven and earth is given to Him Matth. 28 18. and every knee must bow to Him Phil. 2 10. all judgment is committed unto Him Ioh. â—… 22 27. Angels powers and authoritie are made subject unto Him 1 Pet. 3 22. Yea all things are under Him Ephes. 1 22. How then can his work miscarry or who can hinder that truth should not flourish in the earth 6. That Christ is actually at work imploying this power for the carrying forward of his designe for the glory of the Father and for his own glory and for the good of his poor people The Father worketh by Him and He by the Spirit which is his great vicegerent sent from the Father and from Him and his work is to glorify the Son and shall receive of his and show it unto us Iohn 16 14. 7 That Christ upon many accounts standeth engadged to perfect this work which He hath begun and is about His honour is engadged to go thorow seing now He is fully furnished for it and hath all the creation at his command He must then perfect his work as to the application as well as He did perfect it as to the purchase His love to his Fathers his own glory to his own peoples good and salvation may assure us that He will not leave the work unperfected and his power and furniture may give us full security that no stope which his work meeteth with shall be able to hinder it 8. That hence it is clear and manifest that his wheel is in the midst of the wheels of men and that therefore He is ordering all their motions and reelings to the best His wheel keepeth an even pace and moveth equally equably in the midst of mens contrary motions 9. And that therefore all the eccentrick and irregular motions of devils and wicked men being in His hand and ordered by Him cannot hinder but further His end So that even enemies while opposeing and seeking to destroy the cause and interest of Christ that his name and
the word and make it speak what we would have it speak for the confirmation of out opinions and sentiments for that is but to mock God and his law and to say Let his law speak what it will I will maintaine this opinion and so make the word speak as we would have it or else lay it by This is to walk by some other rule than the word and to make the word serve our lusts and confirme our errours than which a greater indignitie can not be done to the Spirit of truth speaking in the word 7. In reading and studying of the word there would be much single dependance on the Spirit for light waiting for clearnesse from Him whom Christ hath promised to lead us into all truth An earnest wreastling with Him for his assistance enlightening the minde with divine light to understand the truth and inclineing the soul to a ready imbraceing and receiveing of the truth declared in the word 8. Though one place of scripture be enough to confirme any point of truth and ground sufficient for us to beleeve what is there said there being nothing in scripture but what is truth yet in such a time of abounding errours and when many are going abroad speaking perverse things to lead the simple away it were spiritual wisdome to be compareing scripture with scripture and not to be lightly imbracing whatever may seem probable and fairely deduceable from some one passage or other of scripture but to be comparing that with other passages and see what concord there is for this is certane what ever point contradicteth other clear and manifest testimonies of scripture cannot be true how ever a cunning sophister may make it seem very probably to flow out of such or such a passage of scripture The testimony of the Spirit is uniforme and free from all contradictions and therefore we must see if such an assertion that some would draw from such a passage agree with other plaine passage and if not be sure that that is not the meaning of the place When the devil did wreste and abuse that passage of truth Psal. 91 11. He shall give his angels charge concearning thee c. and from thence would inferre that Christ might cast himself down Mat. 4 6. Christ shew that this inference was bad because it did not agree with other divine testimonies particularly not with that Deut. 6 16. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God And thereby he teacheth us to take this course in times of temptation and so compare spirituall things with spirituall as Paul speaketh 1. Cor. 2 13. Especially they would beware of expounding clear Scriptures by such as are more dark and mysterious See 2. Pet. 3 16. it is alwayes saifer to explaine darker passages by such as are more clear 9. Let them guaird against an humore of newfanglednesse nauseating old and solide truthes and seeking after something new having eares itching after new doctrines yea or new modes and dresses of old truthes for this is provocking to God and proveth dangerous for such turne away their eares from the truth and are turned into fables as Paul telleth us 2. Tim. 4 3. 4. for the time will come sayeth he when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their owne lusts shall they heape to themselves teachers having itching ears and they shall turne away their eares from the truth and shall be turned unto fables This favoureth of a spirit of levity and inconstancy which is dangerous 10. They would labour to have no prejudice at the truth but receive it in love and the love of it lest for that cause God give them up to strong delusions to beleeve lies and to be led away with the deceiveablnesse of unrighteousnesse as we see 2. Thes. 2 10 11 12. and with all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should beleev a lie that they all might be damned who beleeved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse 11. So would they beware of stifling the truth of making it a prisoner detaineing it in unrighteousnesse like those spoken of Rom. 1 18. for which cause God gave them up to uncleannesse and to vile affections and they became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened yea professing themselves to be wise they became fools vers 21 22 24 26. They should let truth have free liberty and power in the soul and should yeeld up themselves to be ruled and guided by it and not thorture with it lay chaines upon it or fetter it and keep it as a prisoner that can do nothing 2. For this cause they would hold fast the truth which they have learned and have been taught by the Spirit out of the word When Paul would guaâ—…rd and fortifie Timothy against seducers that creept into houses leading captive silly women c. among other directions he giveth him this 2. Tim. 3 14 15 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast bin assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise to Salvation c. So he would have the Colossians walking in Christ rooted and build up in Him stablished in the faith as they had been taught Col. 2. 6 7. 13. Especially they would be holding the ground-work fast saith in Christ It were good in such a time of erring from the way of truth to be griping Christ faster and cleaving to Him by faith and living by faith in Him This is to hold the foundation fast and then let the tempest of errour blow as it will they will ride at a sure anchor and be sâ—…ife because fixed upon the rock of ages and further living neare Christ in such a dangerous day would be a noble preservative from the infections of error The soul that is dwelling in Christ and griping to Him dayly by faith and acting love on Him dwelleth in light and will discover errour sooner than another because living under the rayes of the sun of righteousnesse which discovereth errour 14. They would labour to learne the truth as it is in Iesus and the truthes which they have heard of Him and have been taught by Him as the truth is in Him will abide when other truthes that have been learnt but of men and heard of men and as it was in the preaching of men and in books shall soon evanish in a day of trial This is to learne Christ as the Apostle speaketh Ephes. 4 20 21. But yee have not so learned Christ if so be that ye have heard Him and have been taught by Him as the truth is in Iesus When we learne the truth as it is in Iesus it bringeth us alwayes in to Him and hath a tendency to fixe our hearts on Him and