whence all those rivers of living waters flow And therefore saith the Evangelist expresly This spake he of the Spirit which they that believe should receive of what Spirit even of the Holy Ghost which in full measure was not yet given because that Christ was not yet glorified it is the same spirit which believers receive whence all these rivers of living waters flow but those rivers flow not from habital grace nor from any of the graces of the Holy Ghost but from the Holy Ghost himself Again When the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth John 16 1â— and he will shew you things to come Now the habits of grace cannot guide or teach or shew a man things to come the habits of grace cannot speak and hear as it is there written He shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak This can be no other than the spirit in his own Person this is the Comforter that hears and speaks and guides into all truth and shews us things to come Again The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Besides the grace of the Spirit which is the love of God the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 or the Spirit it self is said to be given unto us And Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit Rom. 8.9 If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you Here 's a plain distinction betwixt the new man our being in the Spirit and the Spirit dwelling in us Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ i.e. the same holy Spirit which dwelleth in our head and Saviour Jesus Christ he is none of his But if the spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwell in you v. 11. he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you This Spirit cannot be meant of habitual grace for habitual grace did not raise up Jesus from the dead no no it was the same Spirit that dwelt in Christ and that dwels in us Again Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3.16 1 Cor. 6.19 and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you And know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you now gifts and graces are not properly said to dwell in Temples this belongs rather to persons than qualities and therefore it is meant of the holy Ghost himself Ye are the Temples of the living God surely graces are not the living God 2 Cor. 6.16 But ye are the Temples of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people 2. The arguments to confirm this are such as these 1. Actions are ascribed to the Holy Ghost as given unto us or dwelling in us Joh. 16.8 13. Rom. 8.15 16 When the spirit is come he will reprove the World of sin And when the spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth And yea have received the spirit of adoption whereby ye cry Abba Father And this spirit beareth witness with our spirits that we are the Children of God These actions are usually given to the Holy Ghost I mean to that Holy Ghost which we receive and dwelleth in us it reproves it guides it helps it satisfies it witnesseth now actiones sunt suppositorum actions are of persons and not of qualities habitual grace cannot reprove or guide or teach or help our infirmities these are the actions of the Spirit himself in his own person 2. The spirit it self is the bond of our mistical union with Jesus Christ and therefore it is the Spirit it self that dwelleth in us Look as it is in our body there is head and members yet all are but one natural body because they are animated and quickned by one and the self-same soul so it is in the mistical body Christ is our head and we are his members and yet both of us are but one mystical body by reason of the self-same Spirit dwelling in both And hence it is said that Christ dwelleth in us by his spirit 2 Cor. 13.5 John 6.26 Know ye not that Christ Jesus is in you except ye be reprobates he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him And I live saith Paul yet not I Gal. 2.20 but Christ liveth in me How in me not corporally for in that sense The Heavens must receive him untill the time of the restitution of all things but spiritually according to the testimony of the Apostle Acts 3.21 because ye are sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts Gal. 4.6 This is the mystery that should be known among the Gentiles the glorious mystery yea the rich and glorious mystery Col. 1.2 the Apostle gives it all these Epithetes the riches of the glory of this mystery which is Christ in you the hope of glory 3. As Satan keeps his residence in wicked men working them unto all manner of sin and holding them captive to do his will so the spirit of God coming and thrusting him out of possession dwelleth in us leading us into all truth replenishing us with all graces and enclining us to all holy Obedience There is little question but whilest men remain in the state of infidelity the strong man Satan keeps possession and dwelleth in them though not after a gross and sinsible manner as in Demoniacks yet invisibly and spiritually ruling and reigning in them and making them his slavâ— to do his will and therefore by the same reason when a stronger than he cometh even the good spirit of God he casts him out and takes possession and dwells and reigns and rules in our souls and bodies If the spirit it self dwell not in us then how would there be three that bear witness the Apostle tells us 1 John 5.8 There are three that bear witness in earth or in our hearts the Spirit the water and blood now by water is meant sanctification it is our sanctification that bears witness with us that we are the Children of God and this sanctification consists either in the habit of grace or in the actings of grace if therefore the spirit of Christ in a believer were nothing else but grace then it were all one with the testimony of water but there are three that bear witness there 's the testimony of the spirit of blood and of water not only justification and sanctification which are but two witnesses but the spirit is superadded and that also bears witness in our Consciences that we are the Children of God and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God Christians think me not tedious in these proofs these are not speculative notional poynts that tend not to edification but are
beyond the external part of it or from their own insensibleness of the working of corruption when yet it doth act only a gracious heart findeth that if it be not strengthened by a Power beyond its own it cannot act any grace or perform any duty as acceptable to God and hence the Apostle prayes That they might be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man Eph. 3.16 4. It is an enabling of the soul to act in Gospel-duties for Gospel-ends when the spirit leads the soul never aims at a self-advancement it never looks at its own name and glory as they did in Mat. 6.1 5. but it eyes in all its actings the mortification of corruption and the attainment of communion with God and Christ and the increase of all Grace Faith Love Patience Meekness self-denial c. or if it seek for outward mercies it seeks them in a subordination to these and in a way of subserviency to the interest and designs of Christ in all things whether outwarâ— or inward it seeks the glory of God as the ultimate end And in these particulars consists the leadings of the spirit of Christ Rom. 8.16 1 John 5.10 7. The spirit of Christ is a witnessing spirit The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and every one that believeth hath the witness within himself But of this two questions 1. What is this witnessing work of the spirit 2. How doth the spirit thus witness for the first I answer 1. In general witnessing is a giving in some evidence upon our knowledge how the matter in question standeth that thereby others may be ascertained of the truth of the thing Deut. 19.15 John 8.17 At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall the matter be established these words Christ cited and said It is written in your Law that the testimony of two men is true not but that it was certain in it self before but that now by the testim ny of two it is rendred certain unto those that question the same this is witnessing 2. In special The witnessing of the spirit is an Office of the spirit whereby it works the soul into a knowledge perswasion or conclusion of its acceptation into favour with God in Christ Now the spirit witnesseth either objectively or efficiently 1. Objectively When it only affords such special operations as have an aptitude to ascertain the soul but do not ascertain thus many a time the Spirit comes and brings in such and such ascertions or affirmations of our adoption as if they were but duly observed might manifest the same but we over-look these evidences we will not hear what the spirit speaks to us John 3.11 We speak that we know saith Christ and testifie that we have seen but ye receive not our witness so may the spirit complain I have testified to you that which I know I have said that ye were children of God but ye have not received my witness doubtless it is a sinful neglect not to yield attention unto the voyce of the spirit and yet the spirit in this way may be resisted 2. Efficiently and if the spirit witness thus it cannot be resisted in this way the spirit causeth the soul to conclude of its adoption by its speakings to it this is not onely the assertions or affirmations of our adoption but the assurances of our souls that we are adopted Rom. 8.38 Job 19.25 1 John 3.24 I am perswaded saith the Apostle and I know that my Redeemer liveth saith Job And hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us But 2. How doth the Spirit thus witness I answer 1. Immediately 2. Mediately 1. Concerning the immediate testimony of the Spirit there is some controversie Antinomians would have no other testimony but this all other evidences say they are deceiving evidences or if not deceiving yet to make use of them it were but to light a candle to the Sun for what are the graces of the Spirit in comparison of the Spirits own testimony and it may be the running into this extream hath caused others absolutely to deny any such testimony or at least to say for these enthusiasms or inspirations let them boast of them that have them wâ— know no such thing Methinks a middle betwixt both these as it is proved by others is most consonant to truth for neither can I reject the graces of sanctification from being grounds of our assurance neither dare I deny but there is something of the work of the Spirits testimony which is an immediate work Let us hâ—ar what others say of it Certainly there is a work wherein the spirit acts as in illumination and infusion of good motions into us Ford of the Spirit wherein by a secret influence upon the heart he quiets and calms the troubled soul concerning its condition by his own immediate power without any grounds from Scripture without or graces within There is a threefold work of the spirit first to conveigh and plant grace in the soul 2. To act and help us to exercise the graces which are planted there 3. To shine upon and enlighten those graces Caryl on Job chap. 10. this last work the spirit fulfills two wayes first by arguments and inferences which is a mediate work 2. By presence and influence which is an immediate work this the Apostle calls witness-bearing There are three that bear witness in Earth The spirit and water and blood the spirit brings in the witness of Water and Blood which is his mediate work but besides and above these he gives a distinct witness of his own which is his immediate work is in a way of peculiarity and transcendency called the witness of the Spirit As it is with the motions of the spirit many a time the spirit excites a man to such or such duties by laying his hand immediately upon the heart and thereby inclining it to obey those motions so in this case when a poor soul sits in darkness and sees no light Boltons direct for a comfortable walking with God sometimes upon a sudden it is as it were taken up into the third Heaven and this is in such away that though the spirit of a man really believe it and is immediately calmed by it yet it cannot tell how it came to pass There is a Testimony of the spirit which sometimes the spirit may suggest and testifie to the sanctified Conscience with a secret still heart-ravishing voice thus or in the like manner Thou art the child of God thou art in the number of those that shall be savid thou shalt inherit everlasting life and that as certainly and comfortably as if that Angel from Heaven should say to thee as he did to Daniel greatly beloved Mighty and remarkable was the work of the spirit this way upon the heart of that noble Martyr Robert Glover upon the first sight and representation of the stake
apt to listen to his doubts that in the conclusion I know not how to extricate my self Person Sayst thou so surely in this case there 's no cure no remedy but onely the testimony of God's Spirit but saith not the Apostle Rom. 8.16 That the spirit of it self bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God if a Man or Angel or Archangel should promise Heaven peradventure thou mightest doubt but if the Supream Essence of the Spirit of God bear witness within what room for doubting why this voice of the spirit is the very voice of God hark then enquire O my soul if thou hast but this testimony of the spirit thou art sure enough Soul Oh that it were thus with me oh that the spirit would even now give me to drink of the wells of salvation oh that the spirit would testifie it home oh that he would shine upon and enlighten all those graces which he hath planted in me fain would I come to the highest pitch of hope oh that I could look upon the things hoped for as certainly future Person Thou sayst well O my soul and if these wishes be real then pour out thy self unto God in prayer this was the Apostles method Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing Rom. 15.13 that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost let this be thy practise pray as he prayed pray thou for thy self as he prayed for others if an earthly Father will hearken to his child Luk. 11.13 how much more will God the Father give the spirit to them that ask the spirit of him Soul Why if this be it to thee Lord do I come O give me the Spirit the witness of the Spirit the first-fruits of the spirit the sealing of the spirit the earnest of the spirit O give me the spirit and let the spirit give me this hope O the hope of Israel and Saviour thereof in the time of trouble why shouldst thou be as a stranger in my soul and as a way-faring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night Come O come and dwell in my soul Come and blow on my garden that the spices thereof may flow out come and fill me with a livelv hope yea Lord excite and quicken and stir up my soul to act this hope yea so illighten or shine upon my hope that I may know that I hope and know that I joyfully expect and wait for the coming of Christ O Let me hear thy voice Say unto my soul I am and will be thy salvation Person Well now thou hast prayed Psal 35.3 O my soul Come tell me dost thou feel nothing stir is there nothing at all in thee that assures thee of this assurance of hope is there no life in thy affections no spark that takes hold on thy heart to set it on flame no comfort of the spirit no joy in the holy Ghost Soul Yes methinks I feel it now begin to work the Spirit that hath breathed this prayer into me comes in as Comforter O now that I realize Christ's coming and my resurrection Psal 16.9 I cannot but conclude with David Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoyceth and my flesh also shall rest in hope Oh what an earnest is this what a piece hath the spirit put into my hand of the great sum promised not onely that he in great mercy promised me Heaven but because he doth not put me into a present possession he now gives me an earnest of my future inheritance Why surely all is sure unless the earnest deceive me and what shall I dispute the truth of the earnest oh God forbid the stamp is too well known to be mistrusted this seal cannot be counterfeit because it is agreeable with the Word I find in my self an hope a true sincere hope though very weak I find upon trial that I am regenerate that I look and long for the second coming of Jesus that I love his appearance even before hand that my works though imperfect are sincere and true that I believe on the Name of the Son of God and flesh and blood could never work these duties or these graces in me it is only that good spirit of my God which hath thus sealed me up to the day of redemption Away away despair trouble me no longer with a musing thoughts I will henceforth if the Lord enable walk confidently and chearfully in the strength of this assurance and joyfully expect the full accomplishment of my happy contract from the hands of Christ The Lord is my portion therefore will I hope in him Lam. 3.24 25 26. the Lord is good to them that wait for him to the soul that seeketh him it is good that I both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord It is good that I hope to the end 1 Pet. 1.13 for the grace that is to be brought unto me at the revelation of Jesus Christ SECT V. Of believing in Jesus in that respect 5. LET us believe in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation in his second coming Now this believing in Christ is more than hoping in Christ Faith eyes things as present but hope eyes things as future and hence the Apostle describes faith to the substance of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 it is the substance foundation or prop which upholds the building or it is the substance essence existence of things hoped for and consequently absent and a far off to be by a firm apprehension of the believer as already present and real And this is as necessary as the former oh if we could but see things now as they shall appear at that last general day of Judgment how mightily would they work upon our souls I verily think the want of this work of faith is the cause almost of all the evil in the world and the acting of Faith on this subject would produce fruits even to admiration If we could but see that glory of God in Christ and those glorious treasures of mercies that shall then be communicated if we could but see those dreadful evils that are now threatned and shall then be fulfilled would not this draw the hardest heart under Heaven come let us act faith this day as if this day were the last day a thousand years are but as one day to faith it takes hold upon eternal life whensoever it acts it takes present possession of the glorious things of the Kingdom of God even now O then let us believe in Jesus in reference to his second coming to judgment But how should we believe what directions to act our saith on Jesus in this respect I answer 1. Faith must directly go to Christ 2. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh 3. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh made under the Law 4. Faith must go to Christ made under the
and in some of these if not in all of these thou wilt find thy Objections answered removed routed 3. It is sure God is not fast and loose in his Covenant heaven and earth shall pass away before one jot or title of his Word shall fail consider O my Soul he both can and will perform his Word his Power his Love his Faithfulness his Constancy all stand engaged What sweet matter is here for a Soul to dwell upon what needs it go out to other objects whilst it may find enough here but especially what needs it to bestow it self upon vain things O that so much pretious sand of our thoughts should run out after Sin and so little after grace or after this Covenant of grace 5. Jer. 31.33 34 Consider Jesus in that new Covenant or Promise which God made with Israel and Judah I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my People and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their Iniquity and I will remember their Sins no more Oh what an errour is it that there is no inherent righteousness in the Saints there is no grace in the soul of a believer but only in Christ is not this the ordinary Scripture phrase Ezek. 36.27 John 4.14 1 John 2 27. Col. 1.27 Ezek. 1.20 I will put my Spirit within you and the water that I shall give you shall be in you a Well of water springing up into everlasting Life and the anointing which you have received of him abideth in you and Christ in you the hope of glory Observe how the spirit of the Living Creatures was in the Wheels so that when the Spirit went they went and when the Spirit was lifted up they were lifted up even so is the Spirit of Christ acting and guiding and framing and disposing them to move and walk according to his Laws Luk. 17.21 Psal 40.8 The Kingdom of heaven is within you saith Christ and I delight to do thy Will O God saith David yea thy Law is within my heart O my Soul if thou art in Covenant whith God besides the in-dwelling of the Spirit there is a certain spiritual Power or Principle of Grace which Christ by his Spirit hath put into thy heart enabling thee in some measure to move thy self towards God And this Principle is sometimes called a new Life Rom. 6.4 Sometimes a Living with Christ Rom. 6 8. Sometimes a being alive to God Rom. 6.11 Sometimes a revealing of his son in man Gal. 1.15 And somtimes a putting of the Law into our inward parts and a writing of the Law within the heart Jer. 31.33 O consider of this inward Principle it is an excellent subject worthy of thy consideration 2. I will be their God and they shall be my people Consider God essentially and personally God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost God in himself and God in his Creatures this very promise turns over heaven and earth and sea and land and bread and cloths and sleep and the world and life and death into free grace No wonder if God set this promise in the midst of the Covenant as the heart in the midst of the Body to communicate life to all the rest this promise hath an influence into all other promises it is the great promise of the new Covenant it is as great as God is though the heavens and heaven of heavens be not able to contain him yet this Promise contains him God shuts up himself as it were in it I will be their God 2. They shall be my People i.e. They shall be to me a peculiar People Tit. 2.14 The word hath this Emphasis in it that God looks upon all other things as accidents in comparison and his substance is his People they are his very Portion for the Lords Portion is his People Jacob is the Lot of his Inheritance They are his treasure his peculiar treasure Deut. 32.9 Exod 19.5 his peculiar treasure above all People If ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my Covenant then shall ye be a peculiar treasure unto me and above all people for all the earth is mine Observe O my soul all the earth is mine q. d. All people is my people but I have a special interest in my covenanted people they are only my portion my peculiar treasure Blessed be Egypt my People Assyria the work of my hands and Israel mine Inheritance I have made all People Egypt and Assyria and all the world is mine but only Israel is my inheritance the Saints are those that God satisfies himself in the Saints are those that God hath set his heart upon they are children of the high God they are the Spouse that are Married to the Lamb they are nearer God in some respects than the very Angels themselves for the Angels are not in a mystical union so Married to Christ as Gods People are Isa 19.28 O the happyness of Saints I will be their God and they shall be my People 3. They shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. Consider of this O poor Soul thou complainest many a time of thy weakness thou knowest little or nothing why see here a Glorious promise if thou art but in Covenant with God thou shalt be taught of God and then thou shalt know God far more clearly than the Jews of old he will open to thee all his treasures of wisdom and knowledg he will bestow on thee a greater measure of his Spirit so that out of thy belly shall flow Rivers of Living waters John 7.38 We say a good Tutor may teach more in a day than another in a week in a month now the promise runs thus that all thy Children shall be taught of God Isa 54.13 not that private instruction or publick Ministry must be excluded we know these are appointed under the New Testament and are subordinate to the Spirits teaching but that the teachings of God do far surpass the teachings of men and therefore the knowledg of God under the New Testament shall far surpass that under the old herein appears the excellency of Christ's prophetical Office He is such a Prophet as enlightens every man within John 1.9.33 that comes into the World He is such a Prophet as baptiseth with the Holy Ghost and with Fire He is such a Prophet as makes men's hearts to burn within them when he speaks unto them He is such a Prophet as bids his Ministers Luk. 24.32 Mat. 28.19.20 Go teach all Nations and I will be with you and I will
where-ever Christ is clusters of divine promises grow out of him as the motes rayes and beames are from the Sun I shall instance in some few As 1. God in the Covenant gives the world All is yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the World Mat. 6 33. 1 Cor. 3.22 First seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you These temporary blessings are a part of the Covenant which God hath made to his People It is he that giveth thee Power to get wealth that he may establish his Covenant which he sware unto thy Fathers Others Deut. 8.18 I know may have the World but they have it not by a Covenant-right it may be thou hast but a little a very little of the world well but thou hast it by a Covenant-right and so it is an earnest of all the rest 2. As God in the Covenant gives thee the world so in comparison of thee and his other Saints he cares not what becomes of all the world I loved thee saith God Isa 43.4 therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy Life If the case be so that it cannot be well with thee but great evils must come upon others kindred people and nations I do not so much care for them saith God my heart is on thee so as in Comparison of thee I care not what becomes of all the world O the love of God to his Saints 3. God in the Covenant pardons thy sins this is another fruit of Gods love Vnto him that loved us and washed us from our sins by his own blood Rev. 1.5 it cost him dear to pardon our sins even the heart-blood of Christ such were the transactions betwixt God and Christ if thou wilt take upon thee to deliver souls from sin saith God to his Son thou must come thy self and be made a Curse for their Sin Well saith Christ thy will be done in it though I lose my Life though it cost me the best blood in my heart yet let me deliver them from sin This exceedingly heightens Christs Love that he should foresee thy sin and that yet he should Love Many times we set our Love on some outward unthankful Creatures and we say could I but have foreseen this untowardness they should never have had my Love but now the Lord did foresee all thy sins and all thy ill requitals for love and yet it did not once hinder his love towards thee but he puts this in the Covenant I will forgive their Iniquities and remember their sins no more Ezek. 36.25 4. God in the Covenant gives thee Holiness and Sanctification I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you this Holiness is our excellency in the eyes of Men and Angels this is the Crown and Diadem upon the heads of Saints whence David calls them by the name of excellent ones Holiness is a Spirit of Glory 1 Pet. 4.14 it is the delight of God Psal 16.3 1 Pet. 4.14 as a Father delights himself in seeing his own Image in his Children so God delights himself in the Holiness of his Saints God loved them before with a love of benevolence and good-will but now he loves them with a love of complacency Psal 47.11 Psal 149.4 The Lord takes pleasure in those that fear him the Lord takes pleasure in his People Holiness is the very Essence of God the Divine Nature of God O what is this that God should put his own nature into thee You are partakers of the Divine Nature O what a love is this that God should put his own Life into thee that he should enable thee to live the very same life that he himself lives remember that piece of the Covenant I will put my Law into their inward parts and write it in their hearts 5. God in the Covenant gives thee the knowledg of himself it may be thou knewest him before but 't is another kind of knowledg that God now gives thee than thou hadst before When God teaches the Soul to know him it looks on God with another eye it sees now another beauty in God than ever it saw before for all that knowledg that it had before bred not love only Covenant-knowledg of God works in the Soul a true Love of God But how doth this Covenant-knowledg work this Love I shall tell you my own experiences I go through all the Virtues Graces and Excellencies that are most amiable and I look in the Scriptures and there I find them in God alone if ever I saw any excellency in any man or in any Creature I think with my self there is more in God that made that Creature He that made the Eye shall not he see And so he that made that Loveliness is not he Lovely Now when by these Mediums I have presented God thus lovely to my Soul then I begin to feel my heart to warm As when I conceive such an Idea of a man that he is of such a carriage behaviour disposition that he hath a mind thus and thus framed qualified and beautified why then I love him so when I apprehend the Lord aright when I observe him as he is described in his Word when I observe his doings and consider his workings and learn from all these together a right Idaea opinion or apprehension of him then my will follows my understanding and my affections follow them both and I come to love God and to delight in God O here 's a sweet knowledg surely it was God's Love in Christ to put this blessed Article into the Covenant of grace They shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord. 6. God in the Covenant of grace gives thee his Son John 13.6 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Nay more as God hath given thee his Son so he hath given thee himself O my Soul wouldest thou not think it a marvellous love if God should say to thee Come Soul I Will give thee all the World for thy Portion or that I may give thee a testimony that I love thee I will make another world for thy sake and I will make thee Emperour of that world also Surely thou wouldst say God loves me dearly ay but in that God hath given thee his Son and given thee himself this is a greater degree of Love Christiâ—ns stand amazed Oh what love is this to the Children of men Oh that we should live to have our ears filled with this sound from Heaven I will be a God to thee and to thy Seed after thee I am the Lord thy God I will be their God and they shall be my People O my Soul where hast thou been rouze up and recollect and set before thee
and the fellowship of his sufferings now by the Grace of Christ I am made conformable to his death As he died for sin so I die to sin and here is the ground of my hope that Christs death is mine For the second whether we encrease and grow in our mortification this question is needfull as the former to satisfie our souls interest in the death of Christ As true Grace is growing Grace so true mortification is that which grows Now that we may be resolved in this point also the growth of our mortification will appear by these following signs 1. Growing Mortification hath its chiefest conflicts in spiritual lusts At first we mortifie grosser evils such as Oaths Drunkenness Uncleanness worldly-mindedness or the like but when we grow in this Blessed duty we then set our selves against spiritual wickednesses as Pride Presumption Self-carnal confidence in a man 's own graces or the like 2 Cor. 7.1 this Method the Apostle sets down let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit first from all filthiness of the flesh or body and then from all filthiness of the spirit or soul as the children of Israel in their entrance into the land of Promise first they sate upon the frontiers and skirts of the Land and then they sought it out and prevailed in the heart of the Country so Christians in their mortification they first set upon worldly lusts gross evils outward sins and when they have encountred them at the frontiers they then conflict with such corruptions as lie more inwardly in the very heart spiritual wickednesses that are within Now if this be our case here is one sign of our growth 2. Growing mortification is more even constant lasting durable when there is in the heart a sudden flowing and reflowing it comes from those vast Seas of Corruptions that are within us many souls have their Ague-fits sometimes hot and sometimes cold it may be now they are in a very good frame and within an hour or two a mighty Tide comes in and they are born down by sin and corruption in this case mortification is very weak But on the contrary if we find our standing more firm and sure if for the main we walk evenly and keep closely to the Lord it carries with it an evidence that our mortification grows 3. Growing mortification feels Lust more weak and the Spirit more strong in its ordinary actings If we would know the truth of growth let us look to our usual fits of sinning for then a man's strength or weakness is discerned most as a man's weakness to good is discerned when he comes to act it Rom. 7.18 to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I find not so a man's weakness to sin is best discerned when he comes to act it Mark then the ordinary fits as we call them of sinning sometimes God is pleased to appoint some more frequent assaults as if he would on purpose suffer the law of the members to war and to muster up all their forces that so we might the rather know what is in our hearts at such a time if we find that resistance against sin grows stronger that sin cannot advance and carry on his Army so as formerly that sin is encountâ—ed at first or met withal at the frontiers and there overthrown this is a good sign that now our mortification grows as suppose it be a Lust of Fancy it cannot boyl up to such gross fancies as it was wont or suppose it be a Lust of Pride it boyls not up to such a spirit of Pride as formerly in stead of bringing forth fruit it now brings forth blossomes or instead of bringing forth blossomes it now brings forth nothing but Leaves why this is a sure sign that this Lust is withering more and more when the inordinate thirst is not so great in the time of the Fit when the inward lusts pitch upon lower acts than they had wont when the waters abate and fall short and lessen and overflow less ground we may conclude certainly that mortification grows 4. Growing mortification hath more ability to abstain from the very occasions and beginnings of lust Ioâ— 31.1 Thus Job whom we look on as a man much mortified made a Covenant with his eyes that he would not think upon a Maid and no question as he made a covenant so he kept his Covenant Oh! when a man cannot endure to come where such a one is that he loves not when he cannot endure the fight of him or any thing that puts him in mind of him not so much as to parlie or speak with him this is a sign of a strong hatred and so when a man hates the very garment spotted with the flesh here 's a good sign I know this height is not easie to attain to and therefore some in imitation of Job and David have bound themselves with vows and promises as much as might be to abstain from the appearance of evil to crush the Cockatrice Egg before the Serpent could creep out of it to avoid sin in its first rise but alas how have they broken their vows from time to time For all this I dare not speak against vows provided that 1. They be of things lawful 2. That we esteem them not as duties of absolute necessiâ—y And 3. Thâ—t we bind not our selves perpetually left our vows should become burdens unto us but only for some short time and so renew them as occasion requires in this way our vows might much help us in our mortification and if once through the help of vows or prayer or looking unto Jesus or going to the Cross of Jesus Christ or by any other means we feel our selves more able to resist sin to hate sin in its first rise first motions first on-set we may assuredly hope that now our mortification grows O my Soul try now the growth of thy mortification by these signs hast thou overcome grosser sins and is now thy chiefest coâ—flâ—t with spiritual wickednesses is thy standing and walking with God more close and even and constant than sometimes it hath been is thy lusts more weak and thy Grace more strong in ordinary actings I say in ordinary actings for the estimate of thy growth must not be taken for a turn or two but by a constanst course hast thou now more ability to quench the flame of sin in the very spark to dash Babylon's Brats against the stones even whilst they are little to abstain from sin in its first motion or beginning why then is the promise accomplished he will subdue our iniquities Surely thou art a growing Christian Micah 7.19 thou hast fellowship with Christ in his sufferings thy ground is solid firm and stable thy hope hath a rock-foundation and thou maiest build upon it that Christ's death and blood and sufferings are thine even thine he loved thee and gave himself for thee SECT V. Of Believing in Jesus in
Christ after his Resurrection he was full of the Spirit he was enlivened immediately by the Spirit of God which flowed into him and that supplied the absence of all other things 6. He had an agile body it was in his pleasure to move as well upwards as downwards as it may appear by the ascension of his Body into heaven which was not caused by constrainâ— or by any violent motion but a property agreeing to all bodies glorified Aug. liâ— 22. de Câ—v Dei cap. ult Augustine hath an expression concerning the glorified Saints that they shall move to any place they wâ—ll and assoon as they will they shall move up and down like a thought how much more mâ—y it be said of the Body of Christ 7. He had a glorious body this appeared in his Transfiguration when his face did shine as the Sun Mat. 17.2 and his rayment was white as light but especially after his Resurrection and Ascension Rev. 1.14 15. Phil. 3.21 when his head and his hairs were white like wool as white as snow and his eyes were as a flame of fire and his feet like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace the glorified bodies of Saints which are fashioned like unto his glorious body are said to shine like stars Dan. 12.3 or like the Sun it self Matth. 13.43 O then how glorious is the Sun of righteousness from whence all those Suns and Stars do borrow their Light It is true that from his Resurrection until his Ascension his body appeared not thus glorious unto them that saw it But whâ—ther his Glory was delaied and he was not possessed of it duâ—ing his forty daies abode upon the earth or whether he so far condescended for his Disciples sake as to keep in his Glory that it might not dazle them and therefore appeared sometimes in the form of a Gardiner John 20.15 John 20.15 and sometimes in the form of a stranger Luke 24 18. Luke 24.18 and sometimes in another form Mark 16.12 Mark 16.12 and sometimes in his own form in the same form wherein he lived before he was crucified John 20.20 27. Joh. 20.20 27 is hard to determine I am apt to think that in some sort he might draw in the beams of his Glory and yet that he was not entred into that sulness of glory as after his Ascension and so some expound those words of Christ to Mary Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father q. d. fix not thy thoughts so much upon my present condition for I am not yet attained to the highest pitch of my exaltation nor shall I until I ascend unto my Father Vse Rom. 1.4 From this Resurrection of Christ how are we informed that Christ is the Son of God Thus Paul speaks he was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead And how are we informed that Christ is Lord over all things that are Rom. 14.9 For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived 1 Cor. 15.20 that he might be Lord both of the dead and living And how are we informed that Christ rose again for us as one that stood instead and room of all the Elect but now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that sleep And how are we informed that by his resurrection we are justified Rom. 4.25 1 Pet. 1.5 who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification and that by his resurrection we are regenerate for he hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead And that by his resurrection we are sanctified for as he was raised up from the dead by the glory of his Father Rom. 6.4 even so we also should walk in newness of life and that by his resurrection at the last day we shall be raised Rom. 8.11 for if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken our mortal bodies and that by his resurrection finally we shall be saved for after we are raised we shall never die any more but be equal unto the Angels and be the children of God Luke 20.36 as being the children of the resurrection of Christ Thus far the position Christ rose again the third day Now for the proof SECT IV. Of the Arguments of Christ 's Resurrection CHrist after his passion shewed himself alive by many infallible proofs Acts 1.3 And so he had need to perswade men into the faith of so strange a truth if we consult with antiquity or novelty with primitive times or later times never was matter carried on with more scruple and slowness of belief with more doubts and difficulties than was this truth of Christ's resurrection Mary Magdalen saw it first and reported it But they believed her not Mark 16.10 the two Disciples that went to Emmaus they saw it also and reported it but they believed them not Luke 24.37 divers women together saw him and came and told the Disciples but their words seemed to them as idle tales and they believed them not Luke 24.11 They all saw him and even seeing him Yet they believed not for joy but wondred Luke 24.41 When the wonder was over and the rest told it but to one that happened to be absent you know how peremptory he was Not he except he saw in his hands the print of the nails and put his fingers into the print of the nails and thrust his hands into his side he would not believe John 20.25 In after-times the whole world stopt their ears at this report of the resurrection of Christ it was with the Grecians at Athens a very scorn When they heard of the Resurrection of the dead some mocked Acts 17.32 It was with Festus the great Roman 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sickness of the brain a plain phrenzy Festus said with a loud voice Paul thou art besides thy self much learning doth make thee mad Acts 28.24 But come we to our own times the resurrection of Christ is to this day as much opposed by Jews and Atheists as any one Article of our Creed And surely we had need to look to it for if Christ be not risen as the Apostle argues then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain 1 Cor. 15.14 If Christ be not risen ye are yet in your sins and they which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished 1 Cor. 15.17 18. Of all the precious truths in the Book of God we had need to preserve this truth and to be well skilled in the defending of this truth of the resurrection of Christ Some talk of a tolleration of all Religions and some desire that the Jews may have free commerce amongst us it will then be time as I think to be well armed at this point Let the ordinary Professors of our times
I believe we are never more in heaven whiles on earth then when we are in this exercise of praising God and blessing God for Jesus Christ Come let us praise God for Christ and especially on this day called therefore the Lord's day because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ it is the design of God to glorify Christ redeeming us as much or more than he glorified himself creating us and therefore he purposely unhinged the Sabboth from the last day to the first day of the week that it might be spent as a weekly day of praise and thanksgiving for the more glorious work of our redemption that love might not only be equally admired with power but even go before it It is the advice of a godly Divine that we should improve the happy opportunity of the Lord's day wholly to devote our selves to his work And he adviseth Ministers and others that They spend more of those days in praise and thanksgiving Baxters method of peace and comfort and be briefer in their confessions and lamentations that they would make it the main business of their solemn assemblies on those days to sound forth the high praises of their Redeemer and to begin here the praises of God and the Lamb which they must perfect in heaven for ever That they would spend a greater part of those days in Psalms and solemn Praises to their Redeemer that some Hymns and Psalms might be invented as fit for the state of the Gospel-Church and worship to laud the Redeemer come in the flesh as expresly as the work of grace is now expressed O that these directions were but in practice O that our Churches and Families would make our streets to resound with the Eccho's of our praises O that this were the burthen of each duty on these dayes Now blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead SECT IX Of conforming to Jesus in that respect 9. LEt us conform to Jesus in respect of his resurrection In this particular I shall examine these Queries 1. Wherein we must conform 2. How this conformity is wrought 3. What are the means of this conformity as on our parts For the first wherein we must conform I answer in a word in our vivification There is a resemblance of our vivification to Christ's resurrection and if we would know wherein the Analogy or resemblance of our vivification to Christ's resurrection doth more especially consist the Apostle's answer is very express Rom. 6.4 Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life Christ's resurrection was to newness of life it was a new life a life different from that which he lived before and so is our vivification a new life it is a life of a new principle of new actings of a new state of a new relation of a new income and of a new kind or manner 1. It is a life of a new principle before vivification our principle was the flesh or word or devil In time past ye walked according to the course of this world Eph. 2.2 according to the Prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience but now we have a new principle a Spirit of holiness or sanctification the Spirit of God even the same spirit which dwelt in the humane nature of Christ and raised him If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you Rom. 8.11 it is an in-dwelling Spirit even as the soul dwells in the body so doth the holy Ghost dwell in the soul of a regenerate person animating and actuating and enlivening it This is the new principle that God puts in us after vivification 2. It is a life of new actings According to our principle so be our actings Rom. 8.5 They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are of the Spirit the things of the Spirit If some men hear of a good bargain they mind it they find their souls going on with much activity there is something in them proportionable to that which is propounded but if they hear of Divine love and of the riches of Grace they find their souls flat unmoveable and dead they mind no such things now on the other side they that are vivified according to their principle they put forth their power more or less if they hear of the glorious things of the Gospel they find inward workings unless it be under a temptation they find their souls drawn out to close with the goodness of the thing propounded They mind the things of the Spirit i.e. they muse and meditate and think on these things they affect them and love them and like them they care for them and seek after them with might and main they live in the Spirit they walk in the Spirit they are led by the Spirit Gal. 5.26 Rom. 8.1.14 Rom. 7.6 they serve in newness of the Spirit How might we try our vivification even by these actings of our principle within what do we mind the things of the Spirit do we find things heavenly and spiritually to be sweet and savoury and best pleasing to us is the Sabbath our delight do we long for it before it come do we rejoyce in it when it is come do we consecrate it as glorious to the Lord Isa 58.13 do we come to the exercises of Religion whether publick or private with much delight and with chearfulness as to a feast what is this but the life of God but if these things be harsh and unpleasant if the Sabbath be a burthen if holy exercises be irksome and tedious Psal 41.4 if in attending on the Word we are heavy and drouzy and we find no relish no sweet no savour in the ointments of Christs no goings out of the soul with an activity to the things propounded O then deceive not our selves we have no good evidence of our vivification 3. It is a life of a new state before vivification we are in an unjustified estate sins are unpardoned we are unreconciled And such were some of you said the Apostle to his Corinthians but now ye are washed now ye are sanctified 1 Cor. 6.11 now ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God This justification denotes a state and is universal and unalterable I know Arminians deny such a state for as by their Doctrine no man can be absolutely Elected till he die so neither absolutely justified for say they he may fall into such sins as that though formerly justified yet now he may be condemned yea to day he may be justified and to morrow thrown out of that estate But against this we hold that those that are once justified are never again
say was a saving work of God some one that sate with me in the same seat found much stirings of God Oh what meltings chearings warmings of the spirit had such a one and such a one the Word was to them as hony and as the hony comb but to me iâ— was as dry bread I found no sweet I got no good at all Or you have been often tossing the Bible and you have observed this or that promise but O what in-come hath appeared Surely nothing at all I wonder at Saints that tell of so much sweetness and comfort and ravishing of heart that with joy they should draw water out of these Wells of salvation Whereas I find therein no joy no refreshing at all Ah poor soul thou art in a sad case thou art not yet vivified thou hast not the life of God in thee After vivification thou wilt in the use of Ordinances at least sometimes if not frequently feel the saving in-comes of God In prayer thou wilt feel the spirit breathing in and carrying up thy soul above it self plainly declaring there is another power than thy own which makes thee not only to exceed others but thy self also in hearing of the Word thou wilt see the Windows of heaven set wide open and all manner of spiritual comforts showred down upon thee thou wilt hear the rich treasury of everlasting glory and imortality unlocked and opened so that thou mayst tumble thy self amidst the mountains of heavenly pearls and golden pleasures joyes that no heart can comprehend but that which is weaned from all worldly pleasures As it is written Rom. 10.15 how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things In meditation of the promises or of Divine love thou wilt find meltings quickenings encouragings filling thy heart with gladness and glorying and thy mouth with praises and songs of rejoycings O What fountains of life are the promises to a living man to a soul that is vivified what food what strength what life is a thought of Christ of Heaven and of God's love to a spiritual man whereas all these glorious things of the Gospel are to the natural man but as a withered flower a sealed book a dry and empty cistern he hath no use of them 6. It is a life of another kind or manner Before vivification our life was but death because we our selves were but dead in sin even whilest alive 1 Tim. 5.6 Col 2.13 She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth and you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh But after vivification we live how live a spiritual life Gal. 2.20 Phil. 3.20 I live by the faith of the Son of God an heavenly life for our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ an immortal life Rom. 6.9 11. Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion over him likewise reckon your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. John 11.26 You know the meaning of Christ Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never dye he shall never dye a spiritual death never come under the dominion of sin never totally fall away from grace Rom. 8.10 that incorruptible seed by which he is regenerate shall abide in him for ever If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin but the spirit is life because of righteousness the body indeed is subject to corporal death through the remainders of sin but the Spirit it life even that little spark of grace through the most perfect righteousness of Christ imputed is life here and shall be life hereafter even for ever And herein is our vivification answerable to Christ's resurrection like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father Rom. 6.4 raised up to a new life even so we also should walk in the newness of life For the second question how is this conformity or vivification wrought I shall answer only to the state and so our vivification is usually wrought in us in this manner As first in the understanding Secondly in the will First the understanding lets in the verity and truth of what the Gospel hath recorded John 1.4 John 6.35 John 11.25 In him was life and the life was the light of men I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live I am the way John 14.6 1 John 5.11 12. the truth and the life And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life 2. This light let in the understanding thence inferreth as to a man 's own self that by the assistance of the Spirit of holiness who raised up Jesus from the dead it 's possible for him to attain this life Eph. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. others have attained it and why not he You hath he quickened who were dead in traspasses and sins here 's a president for a sin-sick soul In time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience this was the state of the Ephesians But were they all no no ye and we also among whom also we had all our conversation in times past But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ that in ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus Mat. 8.2 9 21. Ezek. 37.4 5. Christ's dealings with some are as flags and patterns of mâ—rcy hung forth to tell and to bring others in whence the understanding infers it 's possible for a dead soul yea for my dead soul to live others have lived and why may not I I discover in those Scriptures even in these presidents a door of hope to my self why Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean yea if I may but touch thy garment I shall be whole if thou wouldst but say O ye dry bones hear the word of the Lord then breath would enter into me and I should live surely if Christ be risen again from the dead there 's no impossibility but I may rise if others have been raised by the vertue of Christ's resurrection why may not I However this may seem to be little or nothing yet considering the soul in a mourning dark disconsolate frame under deep apprehensions of sin guilt and wrath full of
grace well may we cry come holy Spirit Oh what a comfortable condition would it be if our Spirits never lay still but we were alwayes hungring thirsting or moving after God and goodness 6. That the holy Ghost might according to his Office comfort his Saints amidst all their afflictions this was that which Christ had so often told his Apostles John 14.16 V. 18. V. 26. John 15.26 I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me John 16.17 If I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you But how is it that the spirit comforts Saints I answer in these particulars †See at large Dr. Reynolds on Psal 116. 1. The Spirit discovers sin and bends the heart to mourn for sin and such a sorrow as this is the seed and matter of true comfort as Josephs heart was full of joy when his eyes poured out tears on Benjamin's neck so there is a certain seed and matter of joy in spiritual mourning I know they are contrary but yet they may be subordinate to each other as a dark and muddy colour may be a fit ground to lay gold upon Certainly there is a sweet complacency in an humble and spiritual heart to be vile in its own eyes But especially the fruit of it is joy and great joy John 16.21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow because her hour is come but as soon as she is delivered of her Child she remembreth no more the anguish for joy that a man is born into the World 22. and ye now therefore have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you 2. The Spirit doth not only discover but heal the corruptions of the soul and there is no comfort to the comfort of a saved and cured man the lame man that was restored by Peter expressed the abundant exaltation of his heart by leaping and praising God Act. 3.8 and for this cause the Spirit is called the Oyl of gladness because by that healing vertue that is in him he makes glad the hearts of men 3. The Spirit doth not only heal but renew and revive again when an eye is smitten with a sword there is a double mischief a wound made and a faculty perished and here though a Chirurgeon can heal the wound yet he can never restore the faculty because total privations admit no regress or recovery But the spirit doth not only heal and repair but renew and re-edifie the spirits of men as he healeth that which was torn and bindeth up that which was broken so he reviveth and raiseth up that which was dead before Hos 6.1.2 And this the Apostle calls the renovation of the Spirit Tit. 3.5 Now this renovation must needs be matter of great joy for so the Lord comforts his afflicted people O thou afflicted tossed with tempest Isa 54.11 12. and not comforted behold I will lay thy stones with fair colours and lay thy foundations with Saphyres and I will make thy windows of Agates and thy gates of Carbuncles and all thy borders of pleasant stones The meaning is that all must be new and new built up as for a goodly costly and stately structure 4. The spirit doth not only renew and set the frame of the heart aright and then leave it to it self but being thus restored he abideth with it to preserve and support it and to make it victorious against all tempests and batteries and this further multiplyeth the joy and comfort of the heart victory is ever the ground of joy Isa 9.3 They joy before thee as men rejoyce when they divide the spoyle And the spirit of God is a victorious spirit A bruised reed shall he not break and smoaking flax shall he not quench Mat. 12.20 till he send forth judgment unto victory 5. The spirit doth not only preserve the heart which he hath renewed but he makes it fruitfull and abundant in the work of the Lord. And fruitfulness is a ground of comfort Sing O barren thou that didst not bear break forth into singing Isa 54.1 and cry aloud thou that didst not travail with Child for more are the Children of the desolate than the Children of the married Wife saith the Lord. 6. The Spirit doth not only make the heart fruitful but gives it the hansel and earnest of its inheritance and thereby it begets a lively hope an earnest expectation a confident attendance upon the promises and an unspeakable peace and comfort thereupon Oh when I feel a drop of heavens Joy shed abroad into my soul by the Holy Ghost and that I look upon this as a taste of glory and a forerunner of happiness how should I but rejoyce with joy unspeakable in all these respects the Spirit is our Comforter and this is another reason why the Holy Ghost is sent I will not leave you comfortless saith Christ no no for I will come unto you by my spirit Eph. 4.30 7. That the Holy Ghost might according his Office seal us unto the day of redemption By sealing is meant some work of the Spirit by which he assurâ—s a believer that he is Gods it is all one with the spirits witnessing only under that notion I shall speak of it another time But all the question is what is that work of the spirit by which he assures I answer this work is many-fold As 1. There is a reflex work of faith and this is the work of the Spirit too assuring our souls of our good estate to God-ward 1 John 5.10 and Christ-ward He that believeth hath the witness in himself he carries in his heart the Counterpane of all the promises this is the first seal or if you will the first degree of the Spirits sealing the first discovery of our election is manifested to us in our believing as many saith the Text as were ordained to eternal life believed Acts 13.48 2. There is a work of sanctifying grace upon the heart and this is a seal of the Spirit also 2 Tim. 2.19 for whom the Spirit sanctifieth he saveth The Lord knoweth who are his saith the Apostle ay but how should we know it why by this seal as it follows Let every one that Nameth the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity none are children of God by adoption but those that are Children also by regeneration none are heirs of Heaven 2 Pet. 1.3 4. but they are new born to it Blessed be
the holy One and ye know all things But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and hence it is that this holy spirit is called the Spirit of wisdom Eph. 1.17 and revelation in the knowledge of God 2. The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of adoption it brings our souls into that blessed estate that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 Ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear but we have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba Father Zach. 12.10 Rom. 8.16 3. The spirit of Christ is a spirit of prayer I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered It is not said that the spirit teacheth us words and fluent phrases but it teacheth us to pray in the heart and spirit with sighs and groans 4. The spirit of Christ is a spirit of sanctification the Apostle having told the Corinthians that they had been notorious sinners 1 Cor. 6.11 Rom. 1.4 saith further that they were washed and sanctified by the spirit of God Hence the holy spirit is called The spirit of holiness because he makes us holy who were in our selves corrupt and sinful If we have thiâ— spirit it inclines our hearts to the things above it mortifies our lusts it brings us nearer unto God the spirit therefore that is impure and encourageth men in sin and cries up carnal Liberty is certainly none of the spirit of Christ and by this one sign many carnal pretenders of our times may be justly convicted 5. The Spirit of Christ is a spirit of love God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God 1 John 4.16 Gal. 5.22 and God in him as the spirit is love so it begets love in the hearts of his people The fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance All these graces are the fruits of the spirit but the first grace in the link is love by his spirit we are taught to love God not only for his benefits but in respect of his nature for his goodness mercy justice holiness and all other his saving attributes by his spirit we are taught to love any thing that hath but the stamp and image of God upon it but as touching brotherly love 1 Thes 4.2 ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another the most of the Heretical spirits of these times do hereby shew that they have not the Spirit their very religion lyeth in rayling at ministers and reproaching those that are not in their way this is far from the Spirit of love that is in God's Children certainly where there is malice hatred strife bitter-envyings raylings revilings for such kind of persons to lay claim to the Spirit of unity it is a piece of impudent vanity and a false suggestion from their own corrupt erring spirit or from the spirit of error himself who is an hater reviler and the accuser of the brethren 6. The Spirit of Christ is a leading Spirit Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God But what is this leading of the Spirit I Answer 1. It is a drawing of the soul Christ-ward Cant. 1.4 Draw me saith the Spouse and we will run after thee There must be a drawing of the soul in every duty to Jesus Christ I say to Jesus Christ for a man may be furnished with eminent gifts and with suitable assistance in the laying out of those gifts from the Spirit and yet he may be without the leadings of the spirit gifts exercised cannot suppress corruptions in a man 's own heart and hence they that used their gifts are called workers of iniquity Mat. 7.23 Jer. 30.21 gifts do not carry out the heart towards Christ but graces do I will cause him to draw near and he shall approach unto me for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me saith the Lord. 2. It is a giving liberty to the soul to walk in the wayes of Christ 2 Cor. 3.17 Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty I mean not a liberty to sin but to duty nor yet every liberty to duty for a man may exercise himself in the external part of all duties and yet be without the leadings of the spirit but I mean such a liberty as when a soul accounts it an high favour from the Lord if he will but use him in any services for himself when it finds more delectation in these than in any other wayes Psal 119.34 173 174. Rom. 7.22 Rom. 8.2 I have chosen the way of truth saith David and therein is my delight And I delight in the law of God after the inner man saith Paul for the law of the spirit of life in Jesus Christ hath made me free from the law of sin and death 3. It is a corroberating or strengthening of the soul against all those impediments that would hinder it in the wayes of Christ Isa 63.11 12 13 14. Israel is said to be led by the spirit of the Lord and how did he lead them but by dividing the waters before them and by keeping them that they should not stumble many times God's holy ones are beset with temptations they find their hearts full of deadness hardness unbelief and all manner of distempers now if at such a time the mountains have been made planes if at such a time corruptions have been born down and their hearts have been let out towards Christ certainly these are the leadings of the spirit Rom. 8.13 14. If ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live for as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God the particular for argues mortification to appertain unto the leadings of the spirit There is in the Saints a constant opposition between the works of the flesh and the works of the spirit Gal. 5.17 18. now when the works of the flesh are kept underneath and prevailed against then a soul enjoyeth the leadings of the spirit I know such oppositions are not in any but Saints carnal men would wonder that any should complain for want of strength unto duties why they can easily come up to them and be in the exercise of them but alas this arises either from Satans not molesting them in the performance of duty because they look not
when he cryed he is come he is come Such an immediate springing of the spirit was in the heart of Master Pecocke who after many dayes of extreamest horrour professed The joy which he felt was incredible Such an immediate work was upon the heart of Mistris Brettergh who after the return of her beloved suddenly cryed out How wonderfull How wonderfull how wonderfull are thy mercies O Lord O the joys the joyes the joyes that now I feel in my soul we feel and acknowledg by daily experience that Satan doth immediately inject and shall not the blessed spirit after his holy and heavenly manner immediately also suggest sometimes As there is in the eye lumen innatum a certain in-bred light Rutherford on Joh. 12. P. 100. to make the eye see lights and colours without and as there is in the ear aer internus a certain in-bred found and air to make it discern the sounds that are without so is there in a gracious heart a new nature an habitual instinct of Heaven to discern the consolations of God's Spirit immediately testifying that we are the Sons of God there are some secret and unexpressible lineaments of the Fathers countenance in this child that the renewed soul at first blush knows and owns it But for fear of mistakes in this case observe we these Rules 1. That although the spirit may immediately testifie without any express or formal application of a word yet he never testifies but according to the Word If a man that never felt sin a burthen that throws away all duties of Religion that never Prayes Reads Hears or Meditates shall say that he is filled with joy Peace and the assurance of God's Word it is certain the holy Spirit is not the Author of this because the promise of peace belongs to none of this stamp see Math. 11.28 Isa 57.15 Mal. 5.3 4 5 6 7 8. 2. That ordinarily the spirit brings in his testimony either in duty or after duty I have seen his wayes and I will heal him I will lead him also Isa 57.18 19. and restore comforts to him and to his mourners I create the fruit of the lips peace peace to him that is far off and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heal him I know there may be a case of grievous temptations and at such a time the spirit of God may come in by a sudden irradiation and chear the soul wonderfully though it knows not how yet usually the spirit brings in his testimony either in duty or not long after duty 3. That such testimonies of the Spirit beget only an actual assurance during the present exigency or in order to some present design that God is working thereby these are extraordinary dainties that God will not have us feed constantly upon a gleam of light in a dark winters night when a man cannot coast the Country and discern his way by those marks which direct him at other times or as a lightning from a thunder-cloud that comes just in the moment when a man is stepping into a pit that would swallow him up now a Traveller will not depend alwayes upon such guides but rather he will choose to travel by day and learn out such way marks as may be standing assurances to him that he is in the way And therefore 2. The spirit witnesseth mediately and that either without or with argumentation But both from the Word 1. Without argumentation and that is when the spirit applies some suitable word to the soul and without more ado enables the soul to close with that suitable word As for instance thou art burthened for sin and thou hast prayed earnestly for pardon of sin and even then a secret whisper of the Spirit casts that word into thy heart Hos 14.4 Mat. 11.28 I will heal thy back-slidings and love thee freely or such a voice as that come un-unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Now this is a direct testimony only I dare not leave it without a caution Some can relate extraordinary passages of providence attending the coming in of such and such a word as that they did not know there was any such Scripture nor did thy know where it was and yet in opening the Book it was the very first place their eye was cast upon or they wanted a Book and in the use of some other means unexpectedly a word was spoken or remembred so pat to the case as if it had been a very message from Heaven certainly the Spirits hinting in of words thus is very observable yet a bare giving in of a word is no warrant that it comes from the spirâ—â— unless the soul come up to some end which the word it self poynteth at there must not only be a word but a closing with the word and improving of the word for the ends it aymeth at as quickning comforting supporting acting of some graces or such like and by this we may know that the testimony is true and proceeds from the Spirit of God 2. With argumentation and that is when the Spirit brings in the testimony of blood and water I may call it a testimony of Faith and other graces of the Spirit written in our hearts and brought out by the spirit in a way of argument as thus He that believeth hath everlasting life but I believe Ergo. The first proposition is the Gospel and in this way it is the first work of the spirit to open our eyes for the understanding thereof The second proposition is thy case or my case and here the Spirit enlightens the soul to see it self under that condition but I believe Indeed many times this is not so easily done and therefore the spirit doth elicite and draw forth the soul to an assent by a further evidence of argument True sayes the soul he that believes hath everlasting life but I am none of those believers and therefore what doth this promise concern such an unbelieving wretch as I am In this case now the Spirits work is longer or shorter even as he pleaseth if it will be no better the Spirit is fain to produce some other proofs of Scripture as evidence faith in the subject in whom it is such as purifying the heart love to God his wayes his people c. and possibly it goes further yet and proves those graces to be in the soul by further marks I know some object if the spirit say thou art a believer because thou hast love the soul may doubt still whether it have love or no and if the spirit say thou hast love because thou delightest in God's Commandments the question may be still whether that delight be sincere or counterfeit pure or mixed and therefore say they There can be no judgment of a man's justification by his sanctification or of his sanctification by the operation of particular graces I Answer it is true that whiles I endeavour to discover these graces meerly
by reason they may be still subject to question and so they can make no firm assurance but in the soul that is graciously assured this way the Spirit of God rests the heart upon an ultimum quod sic he convinceth the soul by that which is most visible in him and so stops the mouth of cavilling reason from perplexing the question any more Indeed it is a fine skill to know whether a true assurance be meerly rationall or from the witness of the Spirit of God whether it be wrought out of a man 's own brain or wrought into his heart by the Holy Ghost now in some cases we may discern it as thus the assurance that the Spirit gives doth sometime surprise a man unexpectedly at unawares as it may be in a Sermon that he came accidentally unto or in a Scripture that I cast a transient-glancing eye upon but thus doth not reason Again The assurance that the spirit gives maintains a soul in a way of reliance and dependance when it sees no reason why he should do so or it may be when he sees a reason why it should not be so as it is said of Abraham in another case Rom. 4.18 that he believed in hope against hope faith told him there was hope that he should be the Father of many Nations when reason told him there was none Again The assurance that the spirit gives is attended with an high esteem of Prayer Duties Ordinances and in the issue which is the most principal sure mark it purifies the soul that hath it 1 John 3.3 He that hath this hope purifieth himself even as he is pure he is ever washing himself from sin and watching against sin and taking all possible care to keep himself pure and unspotted in this present evil world it keeps the soul humble and lowly it being impossible that such a testimony of the spirit and so intimate a converse with God and the light of his countenance should not reflect low thoughts upon a man's self concerning himself such a man cannot but say Lord what am I that thou hast brought me hitherto what for such a peevish unbelieving impatient soul as mine is to be carryed in thy arms and cheered with thy smiles and to enjoy the comforts of thy spirit Oh what a wonderful merciful gracious God have I Yet in all this I exclude not the Spirit in drawing a rational evidence from Scriptures certainly the spirit helps in a general way by making use of our reason only it elevates and improves our reason to a further assurance by a supernatural assistance as in Prayer and in Preaching of the Word there may be a common assistance of the Spirit of God but there is another kind of praying and preaching by the Spirit which the Scripture often speaks of and calls the spirit of supplication and the demonstration of the spirit and that is not performed by a common or general but by a special and particular assistance of the Spirit of God so there is a two-fold influence of the Spirit in putting forth acts of assurance in the heart even of a Godly and Sound Christian the very same man may act assurance sometimes rationally and sometimes spiritually in the former the spirit acts too but in a common way only in the latter is the supernatural special assistance which peculiarly is said to be the witness of the Spirit I speak not against rational evidences only it concerns us to apply our selves to the Spirit to superadd his testimony O let us not so content our selves with ratioral evidences but that we labour to elevate the evidence of reason into a testimony of the Holy Spirit of God To wind up all I have said O my soul try now the hope of the spirits indwelling by these several signs art thou enlightned savingly in the knowledg of God and of Christ art thou a Child of God one of his adopted sons for whom he hath reserved the inheritance hast thou a spirit of Grace and Supplication a spirit of Sanctification a spirit of Love art thou led by the spirit dost thou feel the drawings of thy soul in every duty to Jesus Christ dost thou feel a liberty or a delight in thy soul to walk in the way of his Commandments dost thou feel any strength to come in against thy corruptions dost thou feel the spirits help to act in Gospel-duties for Gospel ends hast thou ever had the immediate testimony of the spirit or if not so hast thou ever had the immediate testimony of the spirit without any argumentation hast thou unexpectedly dipt and lighted on some places of scripture that hath satisfied thy soul as with marrow and fatness or if not so neither hast thou the immediate testimony of the Spirit with argumentation canst thou argue thus He that believeth shall be saved but I believe therefore I shall be saved Or if any doubt be made of the assumption canst thou prove it by such other graces as accompany faith and are the fruits of faith canst thou say by the help of the spirit and shinings of the spirit that these and these graces are in me and have been acted by me yea I do love God and â—hrist I do repent of my sins c. surely then thy hope is well grounded thou hast the indwelling of the spirit it is thine even thine SECT V. Of believing in Jesus in this respect 5. LEt us believe on Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in these particulars many scruples are in many hearts What is it possible that I should have any share in Christ's ascension Christ's session Christ's mission of his spirit was it ever in God's heart that I should partake with Christ in all these glories if it must be so that he will let out his loves to so unworthy a wretch was it not sufficient for him to have come down from Heaven and to have acted my redemption here below Is it not an high Favour that a King should leave his Court to give a poor prisoner in the Jayl a visit but will he take him with him to his own home and bring him into his own presence-chamber and set him at his right hand in his throne And so that Christ should not only leave his Fathers throne and give me a visit lying in the dark dungeon of unbelief but that he should take off the bolts and set open the prison doors and take me up with him into Heaven and there set me down at his right hand and in the mean time give me the earnest and pledge of my inheritance by filling my soul with his own spirit O what an admirable incredible thing is this it was the last vision of John which was so full of wonders And I John saw the holy City the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying Rev. 21.2 3. Behold the tabernacle of God is
is this had not Christ said it how could I have believed it admire O my soul at this aim of Christ the meaning of his exalting himself it was to exalt thee and the meaning of his exalting thee on this manner it is to mâ—nifest to all the World what the Son of God is able to do in raising so poor a creature to so rich a glory O the end of Christ's sitting at God's right hand hereby thâ— Saints are Christ's ass ssors Lord's of the higher house the Kings Peers to judge the World with him Christ divides as it were the throne with them I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me Luk. 22.29 30. that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel 3. Christ sent down the Holy Ghost that he might dwell in our souls endow us with gifts and graces that he might comfort us seal us unto the day of redemption fit us for glorâ— amongst the many ends for which Christ sent down his holy spirit I shall insist only on these two 1. That he might help us to cry Abba Father and make us to come boldly to the Throne of grace as Chilâ—ren to a Father It is the spirit that takâ—s us by the hand and leads us to the Father when others stand at a distance and cannot come near As a Princes Son is admitted at all times though others are kept our by Oâ—ficers and Guards so though there be never so much darkness and fire and terrour about God yet the adopted child who hath received the spirit of adoption can say make way there and let me come to my Father guards are appointed to keep out strangers but not Sons And no wonder for the spirit makes intercession for us Rom. 8.26 with groanings which cannot be uttered the spirit teacheth us what to pray and how to pray as â—e ought the spirit puts a courage and boldness into the hearts of his Sâ—ints even to admiration this appears in that sometimes they have beset God with his promises that he could no way get off Quicken me according to thy word Psal 119.25.28.29.116.169 And strengthen me acâ—ording to thy word And be mercifull unto me according to thy word And uphold me according to thy word And give me understanding according to thy word And sometimes they have beset God with their challenges of his Justice Faithfulness and Righteousness so David Deliver me in thy righteousness Psal 31.1.35.24.119.40.143.1 And judge me according to thy righteoâ—sness An quicken me according to thy righteousness And in thy faithfulness answer me and in thy righteousness Why this is the â—pirits work he helps our infirmities he imboldens our spirits in their approaches to God surely it is one end of the spirits mission Beâ—ause ye are sons Gal. 4.6 God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying Abba Father I will not deny but that bastards strangers without the Covenant having no right to God as their Father may yet petition God as a subdued people do their Conqueror or as Ravens cry to God for food or as some howl upon their beds for Corn and Wine but they cannot pray Hos 7.14 in right Prayer there is not only required gracious ingredients in the action but also a new state of adoption and filiation many speaks words to God who do not pray many tell over their sins who confess not their sins to God many speak good of God who do not praise God thousands claim Fathership in God where there is no Sonship nor ground in the thing it self A new nature is only that best bottom of Prayer that takes it off from being a taking of God's Name in vain Now this is the fruit of the spirit and one of those ends of the spirits mission 2. That he might guide us into all Truth I mean into all necessary Fundamental saving Truths in this respect we have need of the spirit in these dayes He it is that Dictates to us which is the true Religion he it is that transcribes upon our hearts that which was before onely written in our books he it is that not onely reveals truth from without but imprints it also on the soul as a man doth a seal by impressing it on the wax 1 John 5.10 to this purpose saith the Apostle He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself how in himself I answer 1. In that the Spirit gives him a habit of faith 2. In that the Spirit causeth him to bring it forth into act 3. In that the Spirit stamps on the soul all those other impressions of desire hope love joy or whatever else we call the new nature so that now there is a new nature within him he hath new thoughts new designs new desires new hopes new loves new delights he drives a new trade as it were in this world for another world he is become in Christ a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Old things are passed away and all things are become new And from hence we may soundly argue the truth of our religion Mark this as the Written word is the testimony without us so are these impressions of the spirit the testimony within us by which we may know every necessary truth as it is in Jesus this is the meaning of the Apostle He that believeth hath the witness in himself unbelievers have indeed a testimony without them but believers have a double testimony one with out and one within and this witness within us will go with us which way soever we go it will accompany us through all straits and difficulties The external testimony may be taken from us men may take from us our Bibles our Teachers our Friends or they may imprison us where we cannot enjoy them but they cannot take from us the Spirit of Christ this witness within is a permanent setled habituate standing witness O what an excellent help is here that a poor Christian beyond all the furniture of the most Learned Men that want this testimony of the spirit of Christ surely this advantage will exceedingly furnish us against all temptations to any errour that is plainly contrary to the essentials of religion One of our late Divines puts a case Mr. Baxters Spirits witness to the truth of Christianity If the Devill or any seducer would draw us to doubt whither there be indeed a Christ or whither he did rise again ascend sate down at God's right hand and thence sent down the holy Ghost what an excellent advantage is it against this temptation when we can repair to our own hearts and there find a Christ or a Spirit of Christ within us O saith the sanctified soul have I felt Christ relieving me in my lost condition delivering me from my captivity reconciling me to God and bringing me with boldness into his glorious presence and now
Thorns now with Majesty then judged by one man now judging all men then as a Lamb now as a Lyon oh horror to conceive how will the sight of this Judge amaze the wicked and the rather because they shall see him whom they have pierced Is not this the aggravation of their terror conceive the guilty man-slayer coming to his tryal will not the red robes of his Judge make his heart bleed for his blood-shed doth not that crimson cloath present a monstrous hew before his eyes O then what sight is this when the man slain sits in the Judgment-seat the rosy wounds of our Saviour still bleeding at it were in the prisoners presence well my they hang their heads but they shall not shut their eyes They shall see him saith the Text yea they also which pierced him shall see him This very sight will be as convincing as if they heard Christ say Thou art the man that didst murther me thou art the man hast pierced me this wound this skar and this print of the nails in my hands and feet were thy very doings in thy sinning against me And who can tell but Christ may speak in some such manner as this Come all you on the left hand prepare you for the sentence I am them an whom you did crucifie afresh I am he whose person you despised whose Commands you disobeyed whose Ministers you abused whose Servants you hated whose Offers you rejected and of whom you said There is no beauty in him that we should desire him Whatsoever he shall say this I believe that Christ's sweet face will be most terrible to the wicked at that day Oh it will cut them to see him in the judgment-seat whom they basely shut out of doors preferring a lust before his presence then will they begin with extreamest grief and bitterness of spirit to sigh and say Oh he that I look upon and must look upon and cannot choose but look upon he whom I now see sitting on yonder flaming white and glorious Throne is Jesus Christ the Mighty God the Prince of Peace that true Messiah whose precious blood was poured out as water upon the earth to save his people from their sins it is he yea the self same he that many a time whiles I lived on earth invited and wooed me by his faithful Ministers that besought and entreated me with tears of dearest love to leave my lusts and to bid the Devil adieu that knocked again and again at the door of my heart for entrance offering himself to be my al-sufficient and everlasting husband telling me that if I would but have embraced him at this time should have been the solemnity of the marriage and now he would have set an immortal crown of bliss and glory upon my head with his own Almighty hand but I alas like a wilful desperate wretch forsook my own mercy judged my self unworthy of everlasting life and wretchedly and cruelly against my own soul persecuted all the means which should have sanctified me and all the Ministers which should have saved me as instruments in the hands of Christ and now happy I if I were an hundred thousand millions of miles distant from this sight of Jesus Christ oh that these eyes in my head were holes again as they were but even now when I was rotting or rotten in the grave oh that I could turn any way aside from this glorious sight oh that I were a Stone or Tree or Air or any other thing that wanted eyes oh that I had no eye within nor understanding faculty to conceive of Christ or to know Christ Jesus as my Judge now ready to bid me go to Hell certainly these will be the woful wishes of the wicked when they shall look on Christ as sitting on his Throne of Judgement 2. For the Saints they shall look on them Indeed they sit so near their Saviour that they cannot look on him but they must look on them the Saints are on their Thrones either in the Throne or about the Throne of Jesus Christ and the reprobates stand in a direct opposite line to the Saints so that their eyes cannot be off them It is said in the parable that the rich man being in Hell He lift up his eyes Luke 16.23 and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom but the distance being so great as Heaven and Hell that cannot be litterally understood but onely parabolically it is otherwise here for howsoever the separation be already made yet neither is the sentence nor execution past upon the reprobates and indeed as yet both the Saints and reprobates are in the Air the one on the right hand and the other on the left hand of Jesus Christ and therefore they cannot but have a full view of each other In the Apocriphal book there is a plain description of this view Wisd 5.1 2 3 4 5. Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted him and made no account of his Labours and when they see it they shall be troubled with terrible fear and shall be amazed at the strangeness of his salvation so far beyond all that they looked for and they repenting and groaning for anguish of Spirit shall say within themselves this is he whom we had somtimes in a derision and a proverb of reproach we fools accounted his life madness and his end to be without honour how is he numbred among the children of God and his lot is amongst the Saints Here is a sight that will trouble and amaze the wicked that those who sometimes were their footstools should now be on Thrones that poor Lazarus who lay at the gates of that certain rich man should now shine like a Star near the Sun of Righteousness that they who were reproached reviled massacred murthered by them should now be their Judges joyning with Jesus Christ to sentence them to Hell Oh who can conceive the terrible thoughts of these men's hearts now the world cannot help them their old companions cannot help them the Saints neither can nor will onely the Lord Jesus can but Oh! there is the soul-killing misery he will not Ye Men and Devils saith Christ joint-heirs of Hell fit fuel for eternal fire look on us in our Thrones time was we could not have a look from you Christ and Christians were an abhorrency of spirit unto you you troad us under foot but now we are got above you oh see the vast difference betwixt us and you look on us look on me and my Saints see us on our Thrones see us glittering in glory and be confounded and amazed for ever 4. A particular strict account shall be then required and given Of what you will say I Answer 1. Of sins Come will Christ say Now confess all your sins before all the world time was that you consealed your sins but now every sin shall be laid open before God Angels and Men and now is the black Book
have commanded both us and them To which our Saviour replyes O deceitfull ignorant and stupid souls have you no better learned Christ than so am not I Head of the Church and can the Head be without Members Verily if you had loved relieved or done good to them you had done so to me but in being uncharitable to them you were no less unto me Never say you would have been thus and thus kind to Christ whiles you were unkind to Christians herein lies the deceitfulness of your hearts O they are deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked who can know them but I the Lord search the heart I try the reins Jer. 17.9 10. even to give to every man according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his doings In as much as ye did it not to one of the least of my members ye did it not to me and therefore get you down into Hell and get you out of my presence take them Devils away with them Angels to the Devil and his Angels for ever These are the reasonings betwixt Christ and Reprobates and if so may we not imagine the like between Saints and Reprobates is there not the same reason of reasoning betwixt them and the inferior Judges as betwixt them and the supreme Judg for my part I cannot conceive but if we admit of such disputes betwixt Christ and them well may there be the like disputes arguings and reasonings betwixt Saints and them for they had on earth more familiarity converse and communion together some of them it may be were in near and dear relations to each other and now that one shall judge the other to eternal flames oh what passages will be betwixt them I shall instance in our nearest relations upon earth as of Masters and Servants Parents and Children Husbands and Wives Ministers and People no question but in these very relations some shall judge and others be judged our Saviour tells us There shall be two men in one bed the one shall be taken the other shall be left Luke 17.34 35 36. two women shall be grinding at one Mill the one shall be taken and the other left two men shall be together in the Field the one shall be taken aad the other left wherein the Lord seems to shew that God's Election doth extend it self to all sorts of persons and separates the most They shall not be saved by Families as in Noah's time but one frieâ—â— shall be taken by Christ into Heaven and another left for the Devil to carry into Hell Give me leave but to enlarge on those reasonings or discourses that we may imagine will be now betwixt these several relations As 1. Betwixt Master and Servant if the Master be the Saint and his Servant the Reprobate then shall the Master say O thou wicked Servant how many a time did I call on thee to duty how often have I told thee that I would have thee to be God's Servant as well as mine Colos 3.22 23 24 25. how often came that word to thy ears Servants obey your Masters in all things according to the flesh not with eye-service as men-pleasers but in singleness of heart fearing God how often was that precious Word laid close to thy conscience He that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he doth but in doing service to me as to the Lord thou shouldst of the Lord receive the reward of the Inheritance for in such service thou didst serve the Lord Christ but thou wouldst not be warned and now thou art justly condemned I say Amen to Christ's Sentence get thee down to Hell and there serve Satan and receive his wages in fire and Brimstone for ever Or if the Servant be the Saint and his Master the Reprobate then shall the Servant say O my quondam Master how many a time hast thou tyrannized it over me how didst thou use me or abuse me to serve thy own lusts and corruptions many a time I had strong desires to waite upon God in the use of publick and private Ordinances this morning and that evening I would have served my Master the Lord Jesus Christ but thou wouldst not spare me one hours time for prayer reading meditation c. I was ever faithful in thy service going to bed late and rising early Gen. 31.40 42. The drought consumed me by day and the frost by night and my sleep many a time departed from mine eyes surely God hath seen my affliction and the labour of my hands and now he hath rebuked thee dost thou not observe the admirable justice and righteousness of Christ in the sentences past on us both remember that thou in thy life-time received thy good things and I received evil things but now I am comforted and thou must be tormented I now serve a better Master after my weeks work with thee I shall keep a perpetual Sabbath with God but go thou with thy old companions from thy glorious Mansion to a loathsome dungeon from thy table of surfeit to a table of vengeance from thy faithfull Servants to afflicting Spirits from thy bed of doun to a bed of fire from soft linnen and silken coverings to wish a rock for thy pillow and a mountain for thy coverlet 2. Betwixt Parent and Child if the Parent be the Saint and the Child the Reprobate then shall the Parent say O thou wicked rebellious Son or O thou wicked rebellious and disobedient daughter it is I that begot thee or that brought thee forth that during thy Infancy laid thee in my bosom and dandled thee on my knee and carried thee in my arms and set thee as a seal upon my heart that during thy minority fed thee and apparelled thee and trained thee up in manners learning a particular calling and especially in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and then when I saw thy untowardness of spirit and thy breakings out into things forbidden by God and man O the admonitions reprehensions corrections O the many thousands of warnings that I gave thee of this day and of the wrath to come and yet thou wentest on in thy stubbornness till thou becamest many and many a time a grief of mind a bitterness of spirit unto me and then how often did I mind thee of thy duty Children obey your Parents in all things Honour thy Father and Mother Colos 3.20 Ephes 2.6 Prov. 30.27 which is the first Commandment with promise The eye that mockketh his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Vally shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eat it But alas all these expressions made no saving impression on thy hardned heart thy brow was Brass and thy sinew of Iron thou wast ever stiff-necked and now thou art justly damned I cannot but approve of Christ's judgment upon thee though thou camest out of my bowels yet now I have no pity no bowels of compassion towards thee the glory of God hath so
and destroys the sense as the Sun by its brightness darkens the eye and other things by mighty sounds bring deafness to the ear Paul indeed had a vision of glory but because his faculties were not glorified he was he knew not how whether in the body or out of the body whether alive or dead he did not know certainly the sight of the glory of the other world would amaze distract and destroy us if we had a sight of it as now we are but in heaven the eye shall have great pleasure in beholding the brightest light because it shall be advanced to the highest pitch of strength that may be 2. As the eye shall be glorified so it shall act in a glorified body and this will make the sight of the glory of Christ in stead of hurting us to leave upon us a more sweet enlivening and powerful impression By this means all the impediments that hinder the conveyance of divine influences from that heavenly object will be removed To illustrate this let the most excellent sight be set before a man that is defective in his bodily state and it doth not take him what should a sick man do with such things he makes nothing of the most pleasant gardens orchards buildings nor of the most glorious sights that are when he is sick they are but sick things to him and of none effect but in heaven the body shall be glorified and stript of all corruptions and imperfections so that there shall be no bar unto the influences of the glory of Christ which shall there be seen 3. As there shall be a glorified eye acting in a glorified body so it shall be acted by a glorified Spirit the eye is but the organ or instrument of sight and without the spirit would conveigh no more then a glass doth it is the Spirit of a man that gives life to vision it is the Spirit of a man that discovers things and sets them forth in their worth vertues ends now in heaven the spirit of men shall be glorified and enabled to perform all those offices in perfection so that when a man shall look on the man Christ Jesus by vertue of a glorified spirit he shall see more know more taste more than any other can As a man of understanding when he looks on a diamond or a wedge of gold he hath other apprehensions of it and a further touch upon his spirit then a beast or a child in a cradle hath so where the sight of the eye is acted by a glorified mind it takes in more from the sight of every thing which is to be seen unexpressibly more then what can be done here by the most sanctified Spirit in the World Now in these respects Christ's glorified body though it be the brightest visible thing in the Heaven of Heavens yet may it be the object of the eye of Saints for they shall have glorified eyes in glorified bodies and acted by their glorified spirits 2. There is a mental vision a sight of Christ by the eyes of our understandings and surely this exceeds the former the eye of the body is only on the body of Christ but the eye of the soul is on the body and soul on the Humanity and Deity of Jesus Christ This is the very top of heaven when Saints shall be illightned with a clear and glorious sight of Christ as God Divines usually call it Beatifical vision Quest But how shall Saints behold the glorious Essence or God-head of Christ Answ 1. Some say Christ as God or the God-head of Christ shall be known by the Humanity of Christ such a lustre of his Deity shall shine through his humanity as that thereby and by no other means shall the Essential glory of Christ appear 2. Others say That besides the Humanity of Christ there shall be a species representing the Divine Essence of Christ and a light of glory elevating the understanding by a Supernatural strength and that thereby the glorious Essence of Christ shall be discovered 3. Others say That the Divine Essence shall be represented to the glorified understanding not by Christs humanity nor by any species but immediately by it self yet they also require a light of glory to elevate and fortifie the understanding by reason of its weakness and infinite disproportion and distance from the incomprehensible Deity 4. Others hold that to the clear vision of Christ as God there is not required a sight of Christ's humanity as the first suppose nor a species representing the Divine Essence as the second suppose nor any created light elevating the understanding as the third suppose but only a change of the natural order of knowing It is sufficient say they that the Divine Essence be immediately represented to a created understanding which though it cannot be done according to the order of nature as experience tells us for so we conceive things as first having passed the sense and imagination yet it may be done according to the order of Divine grace I shall not enter into these Scholastical disputes 1 Cor. 13.12 Rev. 22.4 it is enough for a sober man to know that in heaven we shall see him face to face his Servants shall serve him and they shall see his face Quest His face what 's that I answer Answ 1. They shall see Christ as God of the same Essence with the Father and the holy Ghost and yet a distinct Person from them both they shall see the Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity they shall see how the Son is begotten of the Father and how the holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son they shall see the difference between the generation of the Son and procession of the Spirit These are mysteries in which we are blind and know very little or nothing but in seeing his face we shall see all these 2. They shall see Christ at their first being or principle of all the good that is in the World they shall see how all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made they shall see all the good in the creature as flowing from Christ John 1.3 and as contained in the absolute perfection of Christ's Divine Nature they shall see in one Christ all the excellencies of all the creatures united which is indeed to see him in his eminency if there be any beauty riches honour goodness in any creature that is eminently transcendently and originally in Christ and that shall be seen 3. They shall see Christ in all his ways counsels decrees executions transactions from everlasting to everlasting that great business of Election and Reprobation will then be discovered it is an expression of Augustine They shall then see the reason why one is Elected and another Reprobated why one is rich and another poor they shall then see all the works that ever God did or that ever God will do it is not yet Six thousand years since
shall thy God rejoyce over thee look how the joy of a Bridgroom is over his Bride upon the wedding-day surely then if ever all is love and joy so is Christ's joy over his Saints at the last day then begins that joy that never never shall have end there shall be no moment of time wherein Christ will not rejoyce over his Saints for ever after 9. It is the day of Christs perfection Christ as Mediator is not fully perfect till all his members be in glory united to him As an head that wants an arm or hand or leg we say is lame so it is a kind of mistical lameness that Christ our head hath not with him all his members the Saints are little pieces of mystical Christ and it shall not be well till Christ gather in his arms and thighs and pull them nearer to himself in glory and is not this desirable to see the Lord Jesus Christ as Head of the Church in his perfection to see the Son of righteousness with every beam united to him O desirable day Hos 2.18 10. It is Christ's Wedding-day or the Marriage day of the Lamb. The Saints are betrothed to Christ when first they believe in Christ that is Christ's word I will betroth thee unto me Cant. 4.10 and thou art my sister my spouse not my Wife thou art not yet married onely contracted here but at that day the marriage of the Lamb will be compleat and then will the voyce be heard Rev. 19.7 Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his Wife hath made her self ready O the joy that Christ and Saints and Angels and all that belong to Heaven will make at this marriage Blessed are they that are called to the Marriage-supper of the Lamb. One of the seven Angels that came to John in visions Rev. 21 9. talked with him saying Come hither and I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs Wife If the espoused Virgin be willing to be married how is it that we cry not Come Lord Jesus come quickly 1 Cor. 5.24 11. It is Christ's day of presenting his Saints unto his Father he delivers up the Kingdom to God even the Father Then shall he take his Bride by the hand and bring her to his house and present her in all state and solemnity to the Father Is not this a desirable day surely Christ rejoyceth and his very heart even springs again to present his Church unto his Father Father here behold my Bride that I have marryed unto my self It is true a Child may sometimes marry such a one as he may be ashamed to think of bringing to his Fathers house but how mean and sinful soever we are of our selves when once we are marryed unto Christ he will not think it any dishonour no not before his Father that he hath such a bride Father will he say lo here all my Saints of all that thou hast given me I have lost none but the children of perdition these are mine dearly bought thou knowest the price O welcome them to glory 12. It is the day of Christ's glory What glorious descriptions have we in scripture of Christs coming to Judgment The Son of man shall come from heaven with power and great glory and the work no sooner done Math. 24.30 but he shall return again into Heaven with power and great glory Not to mention the essential glory of Christ O the glory of Christ as Mediator all the glory that Ahashuerus could put upon his favourites was nothing to this spiritual and heavenly glory which the Father will put upon the Son it is a glory above all the glories that ever were or ever shall be it is an eternal glory not but that Christ shall at last give up his Kingdom to his Father he shall no more discharge the acts of an Advocate or intercessor for us in heaven onely the glory of this shall alwayes continue it shall to all eternity be recorded that he was the Mediator and that he is the Saviour that hath brought us to life and immortality and upon this ground the tongues of all the Saints shall be imployed to all eternity to celebrate this glory This will be their everlasting Song Vnto him that loved us Rev. 1.5 6. and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Now is not this a desirable thing do we believe there is such a thing as Christ's mediatory glory and Christ's essential glory as Christ's humane glory and Christ's divine glory and have we no desires to behold this glory surely Christ himself desired it of God he would have his Saints with him where he is that they might behold his glory and shall not we desire it whom it most concerns O the sweet temper of the spouse when she cryed out Cant. 8.14 Make haste my beloved and be thou like a Roe or to a young Hart upon the mountains of spices Come now and run over these particulars surely every one is motive enough to desire this day it is a day of refreshing a day of restoring a day of manifestation of the sons of God a day of adoption and of the redemption of our bodyes a day of Christs coming of Christ's revealing of Christ's appearing of Christ's joy of Christ's perfection of Christ's Wedding of Christ's presenting of his Saints of Christ's glory what are we not yet in a longing frame the wife of youth that wants her husband for some years and expects that he should return from over Sea-lands she is often on the shore her very heart loves the wind that should bring him home every Ship in view that is but a drawing near the shore is her new joy and new reviving hopes she asks of every passenger O saw you my husband what is he a doing when will he come is he not yet Shipped and ready for a return souls truly related to the Lord Jesus Christ should methinks long no less O what desire should the Spirit and the Bride have to hear when Christ shall say to his Angels Make you ready for the journey let us go down and divide the skies and bow the Heavens I 'le gather my prisoners of hope unto me I cannot want my Rachel and her weeping Children any longer behold I come quickly to judge the Nations Methinks every spouse of Christ should love the quarter of the sky that being rent asunder should yield unto her husband methinks she should love that part of the heavens where Christ puts through his glorious hand and comes riding on the Rain-bow and Clouds to receive her to himself I conclude this with the conclusion of the Bible He that testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly Amen Even so Rev. 22.20 come Lord Jesus SECT IV. Of hoping in Jesus in that
this day of the Lord we look for it and hasten unto it we are glad it is so near and we do what we can to have it nearer with an holy kind of impatience we beg of the Lord Rom 8.22 23 Come Lord Jesu come quickly This was Paul's character We know that the whole creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together until now and not onely they but our selves also which have the first-fruits of the spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our bodies God's children such as have the first-fruits of the spirit the beginnings of true saving grace in them they constantly look and long for the day of full deliverance or of the coming of Christ This the Apostle instanceth in his Corinthians ye come behind in no gift 1 Cor. 1.7 waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and in like manner he writes to his Philippians Phil. 3.20 Our Conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Tit. 2.13 And to Titus himself he writes the same things We look for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Now Christians lay this character to heart do you long pant and look for this glorious and second coming of Christ have you any such wishes and sayings of heart and mind as these are Oh that Christ would appear Oh that Christ would now break the Heavens and come to Judgment oh that I could see him in the Cloud and on his Throne oh that his enemies were ruined my sins subdued my soul saved that I might serve him without weariness for ever and ever Surely if these elongations of soul be in you it is a comfortable evidence that your hopes are sound and that Christ will come to receive you to himsâ—lf and to bring you to glory 3. If we love Christ's appearing then will he appear on our side 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also that love his appearing A true Christian loves Christ's appearing in ordinances and in all the means of grace how much more in his own person but how should we love that we see not O yes there 's a kind of an Idea of Christ and of his glorious appearing in every sanctified soul and in that respect we love him though we cannot see him Who having not seen ye love 1 Pet. 1.8 Verse 7. saith the Apostle and so your love and faith at the appearing of Jesus Christ shall be found unto praise and honour and glory Those that have not seen Christ and yet love the Idea of his sight even they shall appear at the appearing of Christ in praise and honour and glory Is not the Crown laid up for them that love the appearing of Christ is it not a sign of a good cause to love a day of hearing surely the love of Christ's coming cannot consist without some assurance that a soul shall stand upright in the Judgdment He that hath not a confidence in his cause loves not the coming of the Judge no guilty prisoner loves the Sessions or loves the judges presence it is the cry of Reprobates Rev. 6.16 O ye mountains and O ye Rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne But as for Christ and his Saints O the mutual loves and mutual longings in their breasts The last words that Christ speaks in the Bible and amongst us last words make deepest impressions are Surely I come quickly and the last answer that is made in our behalf is Amen even so come Lord Jesus I know this Character is near the former and therefore I shall pass it over 4. If our works be good then will he reward us according to our works At that great day this will be the trial works are no works Mat. 25.33 34 35 36. Then will he say to them on his right hand come ye blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdom prepared for you for I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in prison and ye came unto me Here were works Verse 46. upon which followed the rewards of Heaven for these went into eternal life I know Works are not meritorious and yet they are evidences I know works without Faith are but glisterrings sins and yet works done in faith are signs and fore-runners of eternal glory I know that if all the excellencies of all the moralities of all the men in the world were put together these could never reach glory and yet a cup of cold water given to one of Christ's little ones in the name of a Disciple of Christ shall not lose its reward Mat. 10.24 If a Christian doubt how should I know that my works are of a right stamp I answer 1. Look at the principle is there not something above nature do I not find some new light let out by God that shews a glory and excellency and beauty in good works is there not something in me that makes the same to be sweet or pleasant or agreeable to me 2. Look at the end natural works have no better end than self and creature-respects but in my works is there no aim at something higher than self whatever I do is not this in mine eye that all I do may tend to the honour and glory of God I had need take heed of vain-glory and self applause the Godly at the day of Judgment do not know the good works they did if my aim be at God I shall forget my self as if all I did were swallowed up in God 3. Look at the manner of my doing works Vzzah had a good intention but his work was not good because the manner was not good are my works according to the rule do they carry a conformity to the Law of God Let every man try his own work in this O my soul bring thy works to the touch-stone the Scripture the Rule of goodness is not all thy gold then discovered to be dross the Scripture doth not onely tell of works but tells us the manner of performing them as for instance if rightly done they must be done in zeal in fervency in activity thus Gods people are called a peculiar people zealous of good works a formal customary superficial performance of holy works fails in the manner of performing them what are my works performed in zeal is there not too much of coldness emptiness formality in all I do why thus may I know whether my works are of a right stamp certainly all works duties actings which are not done by a gracious heart through
for granted that this and no other no better is my case and what say you then if it be so heark then to the voice of our ministry We poor Ministers that love your souls say what you will of us would fain have all this enmity against God and against Christ done away and to this purpose we not onely appear many and many a time upon our knees to God for you but mangre all your opposition against us we could be content to come upon our knees from God to you to beseech you not to provoke your Judge against your souls what is Christ and you at odds is the difference wide betwixt your judge and you I do now in my Masters Name in the Name of God and in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ beseech you to believe I beseech you in Christs Name in Christ's stead be ye reconciled unto God Is not this the Apostles word Now then we are Embassadours for Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead Christ's Ministers are not onely God's Legates but Christ's Surrogates to make this plain to you when a Prince sends a messenger to another Prince that messenger is onely an Embassador the Prince being not bound to carry the message himself in Person but now Jesus Christ he is the Father's Embassador and Christ is thereby bound to bring the message of peace himself but being necessarily imployed elsewhere in the same design of grace he constitutes us his officers so that we do not come only in the Name of God but in the place of Christ to do that work which is primarily his As the Father hath sent me John 20.21 Gal. 4.14 even so send I you and this was the commendation of the Galathians that they received the Apostle Paul even as Jesus Christ Now weigh our desire we beseech you to believe we beseech you to sign the articles of agreement betwixt Christ and you what shall some base inconsiderable lust stand in competition with Jesus Christ will you not make your peace with your judge whilest you are in a way and before he sit in the Throne behold we give you warning the Judge is at the door now believe and be saved Oh how fain would we tempt you as it were with glory we tender Christ and we offer peace we come in the judges name to beseech you to make ready for him and for Heaven we bring salvation to your very doors to your very ears and there we are sounding knocking Will ye go to Heaven sinners will ye go to Heaven Oh believe in him that will judge you and he will save you 3. Christ by his Spirit moves excites and provokes you to believe Sometimes in reading and sometimes in hearing and sometimes in meditating you may feel him stir have you felt no gale of the spirit all this while John 16.8 It is the spirit that convinceth the world of sin especially of that great sin of unbelief and then of righteousness which Christ procureth by going to his Father observe here it is the work of the spirit thus to convince so that all moral philosophy and the wisest directions of the most Civil men will leave you in a wilderness yea ten thousands of Sermons may be preached to you to believe and yet you never shall till you are over-powred by Gods Spirit it is the Spirit that enlightens and directs you as occasion is saying this is the way walk in it Isa 30.21 It is the spirit that rouzeth and awakeneth you by effectual motions Arise my love Cant. 2.10 my fair one and come away He stands at the door and knocks he stretches out his hand with Heaven in it and he doth so all the day long Rom. 10.21 all the day long have I stretched out my hand and that you may find his yoke easie and his burthen light it is the Spirit that draws the yoke with you and by secret animations and sweet inspirations heartens and enables you to do the work with ease and in this respect the Saints are said to be led by the spirit even as a mother leads her child that is weak and enables it to go the better so the spirit leads the Saints as it were by the hand and strengthens them to believe yet more and more I speak now to Saints if whiles I press you to believe in Jesus you feel the spirit in his stirrings and impetuous acts Rom. 8.24 surely it concerns you to believe it concerns you to be obsequious and yielding to the breathings of God's Spirit it concerns you to co-operate with the spirit and to answer his wind-blowing As you are to take Christ at his word so you are to take Christs spirit at his work if now he knocks do you knock with him if now his fingers make a stirring upon the handles of the bar let your hearts make a stirring with his fingers also O reach in your hearts under the stirrings of free grace obey dispositions of grace as God himself if now you feel your hearts as hot as Iron it is good then to smite with the hammer if now you feel your spirits docile say then with him in the Gospel I believe Lord help my unbelief I believe what I believe when Jesus comes again he will receive me to himself and that I shall be for ever with the Lord Amen Amen SECT VI. Of Loving Jesus in that respect 6. LET us love Jesus as carrying on the great Work of our Salvation for us in his second coming In prosecution of this I must first set down Christ's love to us and then our love to Christ that is the cause and this effect that is the spring and this the stream in vain should we perswade our hearts to love the Lord if in the first place we were not sensible that our Lord loves us John 4.19 We love him saith the Apostle because he first loved us it is Christs way of winning hearts he draws a lump of love out of his own heart and casts it into the sinner's heart and so he loves him Come then let us first take a view of Christ's love to us and see if from thence any sparks of love will fall on our hearts to love him again Should I make a Table of Christ's acts of love and free-grace to us I might begin with that eternity of his love before the beginning and never end till I draw it down to that eternity of his love without all ending his love is as his mercy from everlasting to everlasting he loved us before time in the beginning of time in the fulness of time at this time the flames of his love are as hot in his brest as they were at first and when time shall be no more he will love us still this fire of Heaven is everlasting there is in the brest of Christ an eternal coal of burning love that never never