36.37 Jer. 29.11 12 13. All that comes from God to you or to you from God must come in this Channell Be convinced then of the need you have to improve your selves herein as ever you hope to stand in the evil day But how are these praying abilities capable of improvement in the people of God Quest Praying abilities are either externall and common or else internal and speciall Sol. The external and common ability is nothing else but that dexterity and skill men get to express themselves to God in Prayer which men have by nature or industry Thus many can put their meaning into apt and decent expressions to which the Spirit sometimes adds his common touches upon the affections And this Hypocrites rest and glory in Or else they are special and internal whereby men are enabled to pour out their souls to God in a saving manner And this may be considered either in the Habit or Act. The Habit is given by the Spirit when the principles of Grace are first infused into the soul Zech. 12.10 Acts 9.11 By being sanctified we are made near and by acting those principles in Prayer we are said to draw near Psal 10.17 Now in our actual drawing near to God the Spirit hath the chief and principal hand and his assistance therein is threefold 1. He excites the heart to the duty 't is he that whispers to the Soul to draw nigh to God Psal 27.8 2. He suggests the matter of our Prayers and furnisheth us with the Materials Rom. 8.26 guiding us as to the matter not onely to what is lawful but also to what is expedient for us 3. He stirreth up suitable Affections in Prayer Rom. 8.26 and hence those groans and tears those gaspings and vehement anhelations But notwithstanding all our Abilities both habitual and actual be from the Spirit and not from our selves yet are they capable of improvement by us For though in respect of acquirement there be a great difference betwixt natural and supernatural Habits yet their improvement is in the same way and manner and this improvement may be made divers wayes For First Though you have the Spirit and can pray yet you may learn to pray more humbly then before Though you rise no higher as to words yet you may learn to lay your selves lower before the Lord as Abraham and Ezra did Gen. 18.27 Ezra 9.6 Secondly You may learn to pray with more sincerity then formerly Ah! there is much Hypocrisie and Formality in our Prayers much of Custom c. Now you may learn to pour out more Cordial Prayers See Psal 17.1 Psal 119.10 Thirdly You may learn to pray with more zeal and earnestness then before Some Saints have excelled and been remarkable for this Dan. 9.19 Hos 12.4 James 5.16 Fourthly With more assiduity and readiness at all times for it Ephes 6.18 Praying alwayes with all Prayer Hence Christ gives that commendation to the Church Cant. 4.11 Thy Lips O my Spouse drop as the Honey Comb The Honey Comb often drops but always hangs full of Drops ready to fall Fifthly You may learn to pray with more Faith Oh the Qualms of Unbelief that go over our Hearts in a Duty Faith is the Soul of Prayer and according to the Faith God finds in them he accepts and values them Now in all these things you may improve your selves abundantly 1. By being more frequent in the Duty Job 22.21 acquaint thy self with the Almighty in the Hebrew it is accustom thy self Those that have been excellent have also been abundant in it Psal 55.17 2. By taking heed that you grieve not the Spirit on whose influences and assistances you so intirely depend Even as much as a Ship doth upon the Gales of Wind for its motion 3. By honouring the Spirit which enables you to pray and that especially two ways 1 By dependance on him go not forth in your own strength to the Duty trust not upon your own promptness or preparations 2 By returning and with thankfulness ascribing the praise of all to him Be humble under all Enlargements Say Not I but Grace 4. By searching your own Hearts and examining your Necessities and Wants when you draw nigh to God this will be a Fountain of Matter and give you a deep Resentment of the worth of Mercies pray'd for 5. Lastly By looking more at the exercise of Graces and less at the discovery of Parts by labouring for Impressions more and pumping for Expressions less And thus I have briefly shewed you how to furnish yourselves with this needfull Qualification also CHAP. XI Wherein is shewed the necessity of going out of our selves even when our habitual and actual Preparations are at the greatest height and depending as constantly and intirely upon the Spirit who is Lord of all gracious Influences as if we had done nothing Together with the means of working the Heart to such a frame THus you have seen your habitual and actuall readiness for Sufferings and blessed is the Soul that gives diligence to this work But now least all that I have said and you have wrought should be in vain I must let you know that all this will not secure you unless you can by Humility Faith and Self-denial go out of your selves to Christ and live upon him daily for supplies of Grace as much as if you had none of all this Furniture and Provision for Sufferings I confess Grace is a very beautiful and lovely Creature and it 's hard for a man to look upon his own Graces and not doat upon them But yet know that if you had all these excellent preparations that have been mentioned yea and all Angelical Perfections superadded yet are you not compleat without this dependance upon Christ Col. 2.10 When ever you go forth to suffer for Christ you should say in the Head of all your excellent Graces Duties and Preparations as Jehosaphat did when in the head of a puissant and mighty Army 2 Chron. 20.12 O Lord I have no might nor strength but my Eyes are unto thee This was one thing in which Paul excelled and was a special part of his readiness See 1 Cor. 15.10 What a poor Creature is the eminentest Saint left to himself in in hour of trial the Hop the Ivey and the Woodlind are taught by Nature to cling about stronger Props and Supporters What they do by Nature we should do by Grace The necessity and great advantage of this will appear upon divers Considerations 1. The Christians own imbecility and insufficiency even in the strength and beight of all his Acquirements and Preparations what are you to grapple with such an Adversary Certainly you are no Match for him that conquered Adam hand to hand in his state of integrity It is not your inâ—erent strength that enables you to stand but what â—ou receive and daily derive from Jesus Christ Joh. 15.5 Without me or never so little separated from me ye can do nothing all our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3.5
should you decline even a violent death for Christ when as the bitterness of death is past and there is no Hell following the pale Horse It cannot separate you from Christ Rom. 8.38 Sixthly Think what a death Christ suffered for you in which the fulness of the Wrath both of God and Man met together so that he was sore amazed yet with desire did he desire it for your sakes 7. Lastly Think what a life you shall have with Christ as soon as this is deliver'd up to and for him 2 Tim. 2.12 It is but wink and you shall see God Oh that these things might provoke you to folâ—â— on and ply the Work of Mortification CHAP. IX Therein is opened the singular advantage that suffering-Saints have by their skill and in-sight into the Methods and Mysteries of Sathans Temptations some of those Wiles of Sathan opened and Rules for the avoiding of the danger briefly described THE hazards and dangers of Christians in times of Persecution arise not so much from their Sufferings as from the Temptations that always attend and are by Satan planted upon their Sufferings for the most part Sufferings and Temptations go together Heb. 11.37 And therefore it behoves such as are or expect to be called to Sufferings to dive into the Mysteries of Temptations and be well acquainted with the Enemies Designs upon them So was Paul and so he supposes all others to be that ingage in the same Cause We are out ignorant of his Devices 2 Cor. 2.11 There is a manifold advantage redounding to suffering Saints thereby 1. He that is well acquainted with the Methods of Temptation will be the better able to descry the first approaches and beginnings of it and a Temptation discovered is more then half conquered It is a special Artifice of Satan to shuffle in his Temptations as undiscernably as may be into the Soul for he knows that in vain is the Net spread in the sight of any Bird Prov. 1.17 And therefore he ordinarily makes a suffering season to be a tempting season because as sufferings do like Fire to Iron make it impressive and operable so they do ordinarily put the Soul into an hurry and distraction and so gives him an advantage to tempt the Soul with less suspicion and greater success But now a skilfull Christian that is acquainted with his Wiles will discern when he begins to enter into temptation aâ— Christs expression is Luke 22.46 and so checquâ— the Temptation in its first Rise when it 's weakest and most easily broken Doubtless one Reason why so many fall by Temptation is because it 's goâ— within them and hath prevailed far before it be discovered to be a Temptation 2. He that is well acquainted with Satans Methods of tempting will not onely discern it sooneâ— than another but also knows his Work and Duty and how to manage the Conflict with it which is a great matter There are many poor Souls that labour under strong Temptations and know not what to do They go up and down complaining from Christian to Christian whilest the Judicious Christian plyes the Throne of Grace with strong Criesâ— See 2 Cor. 12.8 keeps up his Watch Luke 22.46 countermines the Temptation by assaulting that Corruption by endeavours of Mortification which Satan assaults by Temptation 1 Cor. 9.27 3. Lastly To name no more he that is best acquainted with the Mystery of Temptation and can maintain his ground against that he shall be the persevering Christian under Persecutions and the victorious Christian over them Here lies the main Design of Satan in raising Persecution against the Saints It is not so much their Bloud that he thirâ— steth after as their Fall by Temptation and all Persecutions are designed by him to introduce hiâ— Temptations These work upon our Fear and Fear drives us into his Trains and Snares Prov. 29.25 The Devils Work in raising Persecution is but as the Fowlers work in beating the Bush in the Night when the Net is spread to take the Birds which he can affright out of their Coverts He that understands this is not easily moved by the strongest Opposition from his Place and Duty and so is like to prove the most constant and invincible Christian in Times of Persecution Oh then how necessary is it that since all Persecutions are intended as means to promote Temptation and that skill and insight into these Designs of Sathan so advantages us to frustrate his Designs in both I say how necessary is it that you should be all instructed wherein the strength of Temptation lies as also how to resist those strong and dangerous Temptations which your Sufferings onely are intended to usher in and make way for It will not be unseasonable or impertinent then in this Chapter to shew you First wherein the force and efficacy of Temptations lyeth Secondly what you are to do when in a suffering hour such Temptations shall assault you And first 1 Qu. Wherein doth the efficacy and power of Temptation lie Sol. I answer It lies principally in three things 1. In the kind and nature of the Temptation 2. From the Craft and Policy of Satan in managing them 3. From that secret Correspondency that Satan hath with our own Corruptions 1. It lies in the kind and nature of the Temptation it self For it 's most certain that all Temptations are not alike forcible and dangerous Some are ordinarily more successful then others and such are these that follow 1. Strange and unusual Temptations I mean noâ— such as none have been troubled with before us for there is not a Dart in his Quiver but hath been let fly at the Breasts of other Saints before it was levelled at ours 1 Cor. 10.13 But by strange and unusual I mean such as the People of GOD are but rarely troubled with and possibly we were never exercised with before These are the more dangerous because they daunt and amaze the Soul and ordinarily beget despondency even as some strange Disease would do that we know not what to make of 2. Mark them for most dangerous Temptation that are adapted and suited to your proper sin or constitution-evil For certainly that is the most dangerous Nick and Crisis of Temptation when it tryes a man there Now if he be not truly gracious he falls by the Root irrecoverably Luke 22.5 6. Or if sincere yet without special assistance and extraordinary vigilance he falls scandalously 2 Sam. 11.2 compared with 1 Sam. 16.12 3. When it is a Spiritual Temptation which rises undiscernably out of a Christians Duties This is the less suspected because Temptations usually come from the strength and livelyness of Corruptions but this from the Slaughter and Conquests we make of them Duties and enlargements in them which are the Poyson of other Lusts proves the Food and Fewel of this 1 Cor. 4.7 8. And how much the more covert and close any Temptation is by so much the more dangerous it is 2. The strength and efficacy of
AN OFFER OF Farther Help TO SUFFERING SAINTS OR The best Work in the worst Times WHEREIN The necessity excellency and means of preparation for Sufferings are clearly evinced and prescribed 〈◊〉 which as in a Glass the people of God may see how 〈◊〉 to dress themselves for Death or any other Suffering 〈◊〉 to which the Lord shall call Added as an Appendix to the Sufferers Mirrour 〈◊〉 and therefore having your loynes girt about with Truth and having on the Breast-plate of Righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace Ephes 6.14 15. â—â—hold I come as a Thief Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame Rev. 16.15 â—â—pienti meliora sunt in votis deteriora vero in expectatione Plut. de tranquil â—â—avius est vulnus quod non expectatur illa aegrius tollerantur quibus homo se non prius assuefacit Aug. London Printed for the Authour and are to be sold by Robert Boulter 1665. The Epistle to the Reader Christian Reader TRuth is the proper object of the Understanding which when sanctified relishes Spiritual Truths with a strange delight and pleasure Job 12.11 The soul in all its laborious researcheâ— and disquisitions sometimes climbing up from the Effects to the Causes and sometimes descending from the Causes to the Effects is making enquiry after Truth It racks and tortures it self upon knotty Problems to find it out and with vehement anhelations and insatiable longings followes the pleasant though painfull chase of Truth All the objections doubts and scruples it meets with are but the pauses of a bivious and hesitateing soul which is at a stand not able to resolve whether Truth lie on this side or on that And as its desires are vehement in the pursuit of Truth so is its joy proportionate in the acquisition thereof For no sooner doth the Understanding discover it but the soul runs to it as it were with open arms to embrace hug and welcome it And though Truth be welcome in any dress to a soul that loves it for its native excellency yet it may be clothed with such taking circumstances and considerations as may commend it to the soul with greater advantage and be to a truth what health is to a good feature which enammels and sprinkles it over with a ravishing beauty Now amongst all those beautifying and endearing circumstances and considerations that of seasonableness is not the least If it be a present truth as the Apostle calls it 2 Pet. 1.12 it is for that the more gracefull and highly acceptable because it bears upon the souls present occasions and is of present use and service to it Prov. 15.23 A word spoken in due season how good it is Reader under this great advantage for I can bestow no other ornaments upon them do the truths of Jesus held forth in the following Treatise present and commend themselves to thine acceptance If therefore thou be an ingenuous soul that lovest the Truth as it is in Jesus thou wilt entertain these Truths in love which make as seasonable an offer to assist and relieve thy soul engaged in this hour of temptation as Joab once did to Abishai in the day of battel 1 Chron. 19.12 It may possibly prove a castly Truth to thee but be confident it will pay thee richly for its entertainment That great Truth which in the following discourse is commended to thee is the same which God is now preaching to all the world in a louder dialect by his present dreadfull dispensations Say Reader Do they not all with one mouth call upon us to prepare for fiery Trials Is there not a dreadfull sound of approaching judgements in thine ears and will they not be by so much the more sinking and intolerable as they come by way of surprize upon thee Expected evils are the more comportable For look as expectation deflowreth any temporal enjoyment and sucking out much of the sweetness of it beforehand we find so much the less when we come to enjoy it even so the expectation of evils abateth much of their dread and terrour They seem not new or strange to a person that hath often conversed with them before-hand in his thoughts and besides that hath had the advantage of fortifying and preparing his spirit for them When the Keepers Wife came running into Mr. Bradford's Chamber saying O Mr. Bradford I bring you heavy tidings for to morrow you must be burned your Chain is now buying and presently you must go to Newgate He put off his Hat and looking up to Heaven said O Lord I thank thee for it I have looked for this a long time it comes not suddenly to me the Lord make me worthy of it See in this example the rare advantage of preparation for sufferings Believe it Reader Sufferings are a very bitter Cup and thou hadst need to provide some sweething thing to drop into that Cup that thou mayest be able to receive it with thanksgiving And though it be true that God may immediately do that for thee when he delivers it into thine hand yet if thou neglect his calls to thy present duty thou hast no ground to expect such a mercy in thy future streights It is an excellent thing for a Christian to prepare for trials as if he expected no immediate assistance and then when the trial comes so entirely to depend upon immediate assistance as if he had made no preparation for it It grieves my heart to see how the generality of the Professours of this Age are seized by a Spirit of slumber and having got a soft Pillow of Creature-comforts under their heads are fallen asleep and * Mundus ersceus spatitur phantasias Gerson dream pleasant dreams of Halcyon golden dayes at hand not considering what storms or tempests must usher in the glory of that day nor making provision to grappâ—e with the intercurrent difficulties that so nearly approach them and are their next work That God will appear in his glory to build up Sion And that the New Jerusalem shall come down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride for her Husband is no dream but a most certain and comfortable truth but that therefore it is needless for the Expectants of that day to make themselves ready for the worst of Sufferings that they may ascend in a fiery Chariot into the glorious Kingdome above not knowing whether ever they may live to see this New Jerusalem come down to them this I say is a dream which will be of ill use to the Saints except the Lord seasonably awake them out of it If this spirit of slumber which our Lord hath fore-shewen shall fall even upon the Virgin Churches at the last dayes Mat. 25. have not invaded thee but thou standest with Habakkuk upon thy Watch-Tower expecting and fitting thy self for a day of greater temptation and trouble such a discourse cannot but be welcome to thee and thou wilt bless
the Light of the Gospel which breaking into mens Consciences thwarts their Lusts and over-awes them with the fears of Hell Which is no more then what the Gentiles had Rom. 2.15 3. Nor is it a change from meer Morality to meer Formality in Religion Thus Hypocrites are changed by the common gifts of the Spirit illuminating their Minds and slightly touching their Affections Heb. 6.4 5. 4. Nor is it such a Change as Justification makes which is relative and onely alters the state and condition Rom. 5.1 2. 5. Lastly it is not a change of the Essence of a Man he remains essentially the same person still But this Change consists in the infusion of New Habits of Grace into the old Faculties which immediatly depose sinne from its dominion over the Soul and deliver up the Soul into the Hands and Government of Christ so that it lives no more to it self but to Christ This is that Change whereof we speak And this Change 2 I assert to be reall no phansie nor delusion not a groundless conceit but it is really existent extra mentem whether you conceit it or not Indeed the blind World would perswade us it is supposititious and phantastick and that there is no such reall difference betwixt one man and another as we affirm Grace makes And hence it is that whoever professeth it is presently branded for a Phanatique and that Scripture Esa 56.5 Stand by thy self I am holier then thou c. clapt in their Teeth in their absurd and perverse sense of it But I shall briefly offer these seven things to your consideration which will abundantly evince the reality of it and at once both stop the slanderouâ— Mouthes of ignorant men and silence those Atheistical Surmises which at any time Sathan may inject into the hearts of Gods own people touching this matter And first let it be considered that the Spirit of God hath represented to us this Work of Grace under such Names and Notions in Scripture as if they had been chosen purposely to obviate this Calumny It 's called a Creature Gal. 6.15 a Man 1 Pet. 3.4 a New Birth Joh. 3.3 Christ formed in us Gal. 4.19 all which express its reallity and that it is not a conceited thing 2. It appears to be reall by the marvellous effects it hath upon a man turning him both in Judgment Will Affections and Practice quite counter to what he was before This is evident in that famous instance of Paul Gal. 1.23 which is abundantly attested and sealed by the constant experience of all gracious Souls that are Witnesses of the Truth hereof 3. A Divine and Almighty Power goes forth to produce and work it and hence Faith is said to be of the operation of God Col. 2.12 Yea that the same Power which raised Jesus Christ from the Dead goes to the production of it Ephes 1.19 20. And if so how much less then Blasphemy is it to call it a Conceit or Phansie Doth God set on work his infinite Power to beget a Phansie or raise an imagination 4. Conceits and Whimsies abound most in men of weak Reason Children and such as are crackt in their Understandings have most of them strength of Reason banishes them as the Sun doth Mists and Vapours But now the more rational any gracious person is by so much the more he is fixed setled and satisfied in the Grounds of Religion Yea there is the highest and purest Reason in Religion and when this Change is wrought upon men it 's carryed on in a rational way Esa 1.18 Joh. 16.9 The Spirit overpours the Understanding with clear Demonstrations and silences all Objections Pleas and Pretences to the contrary 5 It 's a real thing and gracious Souls know it to be so else so many Thousands of the Saints would never have suffered so many cruel Torments and Miseries rather then forsake a fancy and so save all They have been so well satisfied of the reality of that which the World calls a Phansie that they have chosen rather to embrace the Stake than deny it The constancy of Christians in cleaving to Religion was common to a Proverb among the Heathen who when they would express the greatest difficulty would say You may as soon turn a Christian from Christ as do it Surely no wise man would sacrifice his Liberty Estate Life and all that is dear for a Conceit 6 It 's reality appears in its uniformity in all those on whom it is wrought They have all obtained like precious Faith 2 Pet. 1.1 They are all changed into the same Image 2 Cor. 3.18 Three Thousand Persons affected in one and the same manner at one Sermon Act. 2.37 Could one and the same Conceit possess them all together Take two Christians that live a Thousand miles distant from each other that never heard of one another let these Persons be examined and their Reports compared and see if they do not substantially agree and whether as Face answers Face in Water so their Experiences do not answer one to the other which could never be if it were a groundless Conceit 7 And lastly it 's manifest it is a reality and puts a real difference betwixt one and another because God carryes himself so differently towards them after their Conversion now he smiles before he frowned now they are under the Promises before they were under the Threats and Curses and what a vast difference will he put betwixt the one and other in that great Day See Mat. 25. Surely if these nominal Christians did but differ in Conceit not really from others the Righteous Judge of all the Earth would not pass such a different Judgment and Doom upon them By all this you evidently see that Grace is a reall Change and not a conceited one 3. We say that this reall Change passes upon the whole Man he is changed in Soul Body and Practice all things are become new 1 This Change appears in his Soul For by it 1 his Understanding is strongly altered and receives things in another way than formerly It did look at Christ and things Eternal as uncertain and light matters The things that are seen and present did mostly affect and appeared great and excellent It admired Riches and Honours while Christ and Glory were over-looked and despised But now all these Temporals are esteemed Dung Dross Vanity Phil. 3.8 Rom. 8.18 and Jesus Christ is now esteemed the wisdom and the power of God 1 Cor. 1.23 24. It did look on the Saints as despicable persons but now as the excellent of the Earth Psal 16.3 Strictness and Duty was once esteemed a needless thing but now the onely thing desireable Psal 119.14 Oh saith the renewed Soul Where were mine Eyes that I could see no more excellency in Christ his wayes and people 2 It stops not there as it doth in Hypocrites but passes on further and reduces the Will that strong Hold is taken and delivered up to Christ It did rebel against God and could not
these things which increase the difficulty yet God hath afforded his people a sure Light and sufficient means in the diligent use and improvement whereof they may attain a certainty of the work of Grace in them And there is a threefold Light by which it may most clearly and infallibly be discovered 1. Scripture Light which is able to discover the secrets of a mans heart to him and is therefore compared to the Anatomizers Knife Heb. 4.12 2. The innate Light of Grace it self or if you will the Light of Experience 1 John 5.10 It hath some properties and operations which are as essential necessary and inseparable as heat is to the fire and may be sensibly felt and perceived by the Soul Psal 119.20 3. The Light of the Spirit superadded to both the former which is sometimes called its Earnest sometimes its Seal The Spirit doth both plant the habits excite and draw forth the acts and also shine upon his own work that the Soul may see it and that sometimes with such a degree of Light as onely begets peace and quiets the heart though it do not fully conquer all the doubts of it And at other times the heart is irradiated with so clear a Beam of Light that it 's able to draw forth the triumphant Conclusion and say Now I know the things that are freely given me of God I believe and am sure And so much briefly for the opening of the nature of this evidence 2. I shall shew you the necessity of it to a suffering Saint in order to the right management of a suffering condition And this will appear by the consideration of five things 1. Dem 1 You will readily grant that the Christians love to God hath a mighty influence into all his sufferings for God This Grace of love enables him victoriously to break through all difficulties and discouragements The Flood 's cannot drown it nor the Waters quench it Cant. 8.6 7. It facilitates the greatest hardships 1 John 5.3 And whatever a man suffer if it be not from this principle it is neither acceptable to God nor available to himself 1 Cor. 13.3 But now nothing more inflames and quickens the Christians love to God then the knowledge of his interest in him and the sensible perception and taste of his love to the Soul Our love to God is but a reflection of his own love And the more powerfull the stroke of the direct Beam is the more is the reflex Beam also Never doth that flame of Jah burn with a more vehement heat then when the Soul hath the most clear manifestations of its interest in Christ and his benefits Luke 7.47 It must needs be of singular use to a suffering Saint Dem. 2 because it takes out the sinking weight of affliction That which sinks and breaks the Spirit is the conjunction and meeting of inward and outward troubles together then if the Lord do not strangely and extraordinarily support the Soul it 's wrackt and overwhelmed as the Ship in which Paul sailed was when it fell into a place where two Seas met Acts 27.41 Oh how tempestuous a Sea doth that Soul sail in that hath fightings without and fears within How must that poor Christians heart tremble and meditate terrour that when he retires from troubles without for some comfort and support within shall find a sad addition to his troubles from whence he expected relief against them Hence it was that Jeremy so earnestly deprecates such a misery Be not thou a terrour to me thou art my hope in the day of evil Jer. 17.17 This is prevented by this means If a man have a clear breast and all be quiet within he is like one that hath a good Roof over his head when the Storm falls We glory in tribulation because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts Rom. 5.3 5. It is a fountain of joy and comfort in the darkest and saddest hour Dem. 3 Hence the glorious triumphs of Saints in their afflictions Rom. 5.5 and in the Christians joy in the Lord lies much of his strength for sufferings Neh. 8.10 If once the Spirit droop and sink the man is in a bad case to suffer holy joy it is the Oyl that makes the Chariot-wheels of the Soul free to follow the Lord Non tardat uncta rota To suffer with joyfullness for Christ is a qualification that Gods Eye is much upon in his suffering Servants Col. 1.11 How did these famous Worthies magnifie Christ and glorifie Religion by the holy triumphs of their faith and joy under tribulation One kiss'd the Apparator that brought him news of his Condemnation and was like a man transported with an excess of joy Another upon the pronouncing of the Sentence kneels down and with hands and eyes lifted up solemnly blesses God for such a day as that Oh how is Christ magnified by this And this can not be untill interest be cleared It 's true the faith of recumbency gives the Soul a secret support and enables the Christian to live but the faith of evidence keeps him lively and prevents all those uncomfortable and uncomely sinkings and despondencies of spirit 2 Cor. 4.16 17. and therefore cannot but be of singular use to a soul at such a time Lastly Dem. 4 It is of special use to a Christian under sufferings inasmuch as it enables him to repell the temptations that attend upon sufferings Nothing sets a keener edge upon his indignation against unworthy compliances then this Indeed a poor cloudy and dubious Christian will be apt to catch at deliverance though upon terms dishonourable to Christ but he that is clear in point of interest abhors compositions and capitulations upon unworthy terms and conditions Heb. 11.35 Heb. 10.34 He that sees the gain and reward of suffering will think he is offered to his loss when life and deliverance are set before him upon such hard terms as sin is And thus you see what influence it hath into a suffering condition 3. In the next place I promised to prescribe some Rules for the attaining of this Evidence and the dispelling of those Doubts by which it is usually clouded in the souls of Believers And oh that by the faithfull use of them you may attain it against a suffering day come upon you And the first Rule I shall give you is this Rule 1 Make it your business to improve Grace more for the more vigorous it is the more evidential it must needs be 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Oh how much time have many Christians spent in enquiring after the lowest signs of sincerity and what may consist with Grace which had they spent in the diligent improvement of the means of Grace for the increasing of it they would have found it a shorter cut to peace and comfort by much Mistake not the Rule by which you are to trie your selves Rule 2 least you gain a false judgement upon your selves Some are apt to make those things signs of
Grace which are not and when the falseness of them is detected how is that poor Soul plunged into doubts and fears that leaned upon them As now If a man should conclude his sincerity from his diligence in attending on the Word preached this is but a Paralogism as the Apostle calls it Jam. 1.22 by which a man deceiveth his own Soul For that which is a note or mark must be proper to the thing notified and not common to any thing else There are divers sorts of marks some are exclusive the principal use of which is to convince bold Pretenders and discover Hypocrites Such is that 1 Cor. 9.9 It is a most certain signâ— where these are there is no Grace but yet it will not follow on the contrary that where these are not there is Grace See Luke 18.11 Others are â—elusive the use of which is not so much for trying of the truth and the strength and degrees of Grace As now when Faith is described by the radiancy of it or by some of its heroick acts and promises made to some raised degrees and operations of it as that Ephes 3.12 c. Here a mistake is easily made Besides these or rather bewixt these are another sort of marks which are called positive marks and these agreeing to the lowest degree of Grace are for the trial of the truth and sincerity of it Such are these 1 John 4.13 1 John 2.3 Matth. 5.3 Be sure to try by a proper mark Take heed of such sins as violate and waste the Conscience For these will quickly raise a mist Rule 3 and involve the Soul in clouds and darkness Psal 51.8 c. Such are sins against Light and the reclamations of Conscience Labour to shun those common mistakes that Christians make in judging of their state Rule 4 amongst which I shall select these five as principal ones 1. Call not your condition into question upon every failing and involuntary lapse into sin Iniquities prevail against me as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away Psal 65.3 In short thou needest not call thy condition into question provided thou find thy Spirit working as Paul's did under the surprisals of temptation viz If 1 thou do approve of and delight in the Law though thou fall short of it in thy practice Rom. 7.12 14. 2 If thy failings be involuntary and against the resolution and bent of thy Soul vers 25.18 19. 3 If it be the load and burden of thy Soul vers 24. 4 If the thoughts of deliverance comfort thee vers 25. 2. Question not the truth of thy Grace because it was not wrought in the same way and manner in thee as in others For there is great variety as to the circumstances of time and manner betwixt the Spirits operations upon one and another Compare the History of Paul's Conversion with that of the Jaylor Zacheus or Lydia 3. Conclude not that you have no grace because you feel not those transportations and ravishing joyes that other Christians speak of If thou canst not say as Paul doth Rom. 8.38 yet bless God if thou canst but breath forth such language as that Mark 9.24 4. Say not thou hast no Grace because of the high attainments of some Hypocrites who in some things may excell thee When some persons read the sixth Chapter to the Hebrews they are startled to see to what a glorious height the Hypocrite may soar not considering that there are these three things wherein they excell the most glorious Hypocrite in the world 1 That Self was never dethroned in Hypocrites as it is in them All that an Hypocrite doth is for himself 2 The Hypocrite never hated every sin as he doth but hath still some Agag Rimmon or Delilah 3 That the Hypocrite never acted in duty from the bent and inclination of a new nature taking delight in heavenly imployment but is moved rather as a Clock by the weights and poises of some external motives and advantages 5. Conclude not you have no Grace because you grow not so sensibly as some other Christians do You may be divers wayes mistaken about this 1 You may measure your growth by your desires and then it appears nothing for the Christian aim high and grasps at all 2 Or by comparing your selves with such as have larger capacities time and advantages then you 3 Or by comparing your Graces with other mens Gifts which you mistake for their Graces 4 Or by thinking that all growth is upward in joy peace and comfort whereas you may grow in mortification and humility which is as true a growth as the former Oh! take heed of these mistakes they have been very prejudicial to the peace of many Christians Lastly Decline not sufferings when God gives you a fair call to them Rule 5 Oh! the Christians suffering time is commonly his clearest and most comfortable time See that Golden Letter of Pomponius Algerius P Then the spirit of God and glory resteth on them 1 Pet. 4.14 That which hath been in suspence for some years is decided and cleared in a suffering hour And thus I have shewed you how to attain this necessary qualification also CHAP. VI. Discovering the necessity of an improved faith for the right management of sufferings and directing to some special means for the improvement thereof THe next thing conducing to our actual readiness for sufferings is the improvement of Faith to some considerable degree of strength This is the Grace that must do the main service in such an hour and hath the principal hand in supporting the Christian under every burden This is the Grace that crowns our heads with victory in the day of battel Ephes 6.16 Above all taking the shield of Faith It 's true every Grace is of use and contributes assistance suffering Saints have been beholding to them all But of this we may say as Solomon of the vertuous woman Though many Graces have done excellently yet this excels them all In this Grace ready Paul was eminent It was the life he daily lived Gal. 2.20 Oh it is a precious grace 2 Pet. 1.1 so precious that Christ who seldome admired at any thing yet wondred at this Mat. 8.10 A victorious Grace it is that overcomes all difficulties Mark 9.23 By this Sword it was that all those famous Heroes Heb. 11. atchieved all those glorious conquests and in every distress it may say to the Soul as Christ to the Disciples John 15.5 Without me ye can do nothing This is that Sword that hath obtained so many Victories over the world 1 John 5.4 and that trusty Shield that hath quenched so many deadly Darts of temptation as have been levell'd at the very heart of the Christian in the day of battel By it a Christian lives when all outward sensible comforts die Hab. 2.4 It 's the ground upon which the Christian fixes his foot and never fails under him 2 Con. 1.24 The necessity of it will more clearly appear by considering how many wayes it
a weaned heart from all earthly enjoyments If the heart be inordinately fixed upon any one thing that you possess in the world that inordinate estimation and affection of it will strangely effeminate soften and cowardize your Spirit when your trial comes 2 Tim. 2.4 You meet not with a man of courage for God but had his heart dead to earthly things so it was with Paul Phil. 3.8 Since the Apostles dayes we scarce meet with a greater example of holy magnanimity then Luther and if you read his story you will find few men ever set a lower rate on the world then he All the Turkish Empire in his eye was but a Crumb east to the Dogs Germana est baec bestia paecuniam non curat Money could not tempt him Suffer not guilt to lie upon your Consciences Rule 2 It is a fountain of fears and you can never attain boldness for God till it be removed Rom. 5.1 2 3. The Spirit of a sound mind is opposed to the Spirit of fear 2 Tim. 1.7 Now that sound mind is a mind or spirit that is not wounded and made sick and infirm by guilt Oh what black Fogs and Mists arise out of Guilt which becloud our Evidences and fill us with fears and discouragements Gen. 42.21.22 Clear your Call to difficult services Rule 3 be well satisfied that you are in that way and posture God expects to find you in O what courage this will give Josh 1.9 Then a man may promise himself Gods presence and protection 2 Chron. 15.2 But whilst a man is dubious here and cannot tell whether it be his duty or not that he is engaging in how can he have courage to hazard any thing for it For thinks he I may suffer much from men and yet have no thanks of God for it 1 Pet. 2.19 And further till a man be clear in this he cannot commit his Cause to God And it is a sad thing to be cut off from so choice a relief as that is 1 Pet. 4.19 Get right notions and apprehensions of your enemies Rule 4 We are apt to magnifie the Creature as if he could do more then he can and thereby disable our selves from doing what we should Possess your souls with the belief of these five things concerning them 1 That they are poor weak enemies Isa 40.15 17 22. but as a swarm of Gnats in the aire See how God describes them Isa 51.13.14 2 That little power they have is limited by your God who hath the bounding and ordering of it John 19.11 Psal 76.10 3 They carry guilt upon them which makes them more timerous then you Isa 8.12 Their fear is a strange fear 4 They onely use carnal weapons against you which cannot touch your souls If they were praying enemies that could engage God against you they would be formidable Enemies indeed but this they cannot do The largest Commission that any of them ever had from God extended but to the bodies and bodily concernments of the Saints Lake 12.4 5. They cannot thunder with an arm like God nor blot your name out of the Book of Life nor take away your part out of the New Jerusalem therefore fear not man 5 Your Enemies are Gods Enemies and God hath espoused your Cause and Quarrel The more cruel they are the kinder he will be to you John 9.34 35. Labour to engage the presence of God with you in all places and conditions Rule 5 Whilst you enjoy this your spirits will be invincible and undaunted Josh 1.9 Psal 118.6 A weak Creature assisted and encouraged by the presence of a great God will be able to do and suffer great things Poor Flesh in the hand of an Almighty Spirit acts above it self A little Dog if his Master be by and animates him will seize upon a greater Beast then himself though he would run from him were his Master absent Our courage ebbs and flowes as the manifestations of the Divine Presence do Oh get thy self once within the Line of that Promise Isa 43.1 2. and thou art invincible Get an high estimation of Jesus Christ Rule 6 and all his concernments They that value him highest will adventure for him farthest Magnanimous Luther how inestimable a value did he set upon the Truths of Christ Ruat Coelum c. Let Heaven rush rather then a crumb of Truth should perish Thou wilt never be a man of zeal and courage for Christs interest untill that interest of Christ have swallowed up all thine own Interests No sooner is the Soul acquainted with and interested in Christ but he heartily wishes well to all his affairs and concernments Psal 45.3 4. This is that which pnts mettle and resolution for Christ into the soul Beware you be not cheated with Maximes of carnal policy mistaken for Christian prudence Rule 7 Many are so And they prove destructive to all true zeal and courage for Christ Never was Religion professed with greater plainness and simplicity then by the Primitive Christians And never was there an higher Spring-tide of courage and zeal for God then in those dayes We are apt to call it prodigality and are grown wiser to husband our lives and comforts better then they did But indeed our Prudentials have even swallowed up our Religion It 's true there is such a thing as Christian prudence but this doth not teach men to shun all costly and difficult duties and prostitute Conscience to save the Skin But a man of understanding walketh uprightly Prov. 15.21 Look upon the in-side of Troubles for Christ Rule 8 as well as upon the outside of them If you view them by an eye of sense there appeareth nothing but matter of discouragement To look on the out-side of a Prison Banishment or Death is affrighting and horrible But then if you look into the inside of these things by Faith and see what God hath made them to his people how joyfull and comfortable they have been in these conditions what honey they have found in the carkass of a Lion what songs in the Stocks and Dungeons what glorying in tribulation and an hundred fold reward even in their sufferings O then that which looked like a Serpent at a distance will appear but as a Rod in hand How many have found themselves quite mistaken in their apprehensions of sufferings and been more loth to come out of a Prison then they were no go in If you did but see your supports and comforts that Souls ordinarily meet with in their troubles for Christ you would not look on them as such formidable things View the issue and reward of sufferings by an eye of Faith Rule 9 this also will strongly abate the horrour and dread of them Heb. 10.34 Upon this account it is the Saints have so slighted and contemned them Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.16 17. But then see that you act your Faith 1 Upon the certainty of it Look at it as a most reall and substantial thing Heb. 11.1 2 View it as a great and