Christ at his death gave it such a Wound that will never be cured till it has by the Faith and Prayer of every Believer bled it self to death When Guilt seems to live most and so sends a Believer afresh to Christ then does Guilt die apace and remains only to keep a Believer's faith in continual exercise and render Christ precious to the Soul as cold Weather makes a Fire the more comfortable and pleasant so that while my Soul holds close to this that Christ is upon his own terms Righteousness Pardon and Life to me by making me his and he being mine my own guilt becomes no longer my own because I am no longer my own but his who bought me with his blood and as guilt is removed so the fear of falling away is removed and relief against daily infirmities provided for If being an Enemy I was reconciled by his Death much more being reconciled shall I be daily saved by his Life Rom. 5. 10. But whence ariseth this that I Faith only a relief against daily infirmity find it harder to relie on him for power against daily infirmities than against the power of condemning Guilt Daily Infirmities are the lesser Enemies but yet they are present Enemies and seeming smaller in stature than the great bulk of universal Humane Guilt the Soul of a Christian is apt to step forth against them in his own strength and resolution and so returns many times with shame whereas the same Covenant which takes away the stony heart and state of Guilt is that only which gives a heart of flesh and cleanseth the Soul from all unrighteousness I cannot therefore mortifie one foolish filthy or distracted thought without the application of the whole power of the same Christ who has removed my great and condemning guilt and cast it into the Sea I am apt foolishly to think that my great guilt being removed I may in some sort take my ease which degenerates more and more into spiritual sloth and unthankfulness but my daily infirmities are like a pricking Bryar which continually afflicts me and lets me know that this is not my Rest neither will my own hands put away these Bryars but only the consuming fire of Christ's Spirit setting his Death and Resurrection in Battel Array against them So that I see if ever I expect a good hour in this World or to all Eternity it must be only and all over in Jesus Christ O cursed Nature O cursed Sloth that is ever dividing that which a blessed Covenant of Grace has joyned together Jesus Christ and my Soul All his drift towards me is that he might be all in all to me Oh that he would vent himself and spare not he that bids me fear not only believe is only able to make me believe I often draw near methinks to some Resignation to him with some universal scope but am quickly gravelled again yet so much delight remains in the very hope of my Soul towards him that makes me chuse rather to have my eyes towards him though with a long look than to say within my heart My Beloved will never come surely he will yet come and his Reward is with him This Resignation to God is so glorious in the Nature Ground Properties Resignation and encouraging Privileges of it that the very glimpse thereof makes my heart light and even faint for desire to be wholly swallowed up and translated in Spirit Soul and Body into the pure Rest and Crystal Life of God but the nature of it I can no more express than a Man's Pensil can draw the Portraicture of a Man's Life or represent the nature of a Taste albeit it may draw the Figure of a Humane Body or represent the visible Food in which lies that hidden quality of Life and Taste But if words may be used about it I would thus express it 'T is an allaying delightful willing The nature of Resignation open-hearted dissolving of all my desires cares and enjoyments of things present and to come relating to Soul and Body into the heart and unlimited disposure of God in Jesus Christ my Lord with an endless victorious Security of Confidence Consolation and Peace of heart and Conscience The ground of which glorious active and Soul-quickning Rest is The Ground of it Jesus Christ the Mediator who has received his Redeemed to the Glory of God Rom. 15. 7. He is called their Peace Mich. 5. 5. their Rest Isa 28. 12. their Sufficiency 2 Cor. 3. 5. Comfort 2 Cor. 1. 3. Joy Psal 43. 4. and All in all Col. 3. 11. In all these respects Jesus Christ becomes the ground and attractive cause of Resignation as he is God and Man bringing the Soul through Union with his Humanity to God with whom he is personally united 1 Pet. 3. 18. into which Union every Believer is received through the Mystery of his free Grace Joh. 17. 21. and the Application of this Union to the Soul by Faith breeds this blessed Resignation for Christ being thus qualified in his own Person and thus uniting the Soul to himself by his Spirit begets in the heart through believing an answerable Counterpane of Conformity and Quiet in the Inward Man which cannot be capable of loss because the unchangeable God is the Author and unalterable Cause thereof nor be obstructed while Faith holds up its exercise therein but runs out into an infiniteness of Satisfaction in all cases because it is got with the help and expiating boundless Interest of him who is infinite It enters in by the Door of his Manhood to the partaking of whatever he is Heir to and is made Heir with him of his Conquest Fulness Security Peace and Joy so that albeit the Flesh may fail God being the portion of a Believer faileth not but always unchangeably continueth in the Mystery of this Union to be the Foundation and effecting Cause of a Believer's Resignation to him as into the hands of a faithful Creator 1 Pet. 4. 19. Jesus Christ himself is the glorious Model of Resignation for God in Christ resigned up himself to the Nature of Man Heb. 2. 14. and being the Eternal Son resigned up himself to the Will of his Father to be made a Servant and he who is the Law-giver resigns himself subject to the Law God over all blessed for ever resigns himself to the Curse of the Law he resigns up the freedom of his own Will to a voluntary Covenant he undertakes as it were the encumbrance of a Family and accounts the cries of many Infants about him no disturbance but a delight he resigned up his Body to death and became of no Reputation that out of his Dust he might bring many Sons to Glory he resigned up his heart to bear their sins and sorrows he hath resigned up whatever he is to be theirs that they might be his and be saved both living and dying from all wants and fears through his Resignation of himself to stand or fall with
knows how and is able to make me and the rest who are alike exercised to learn profit that 's my work at present Bless God with me that our Sun is in the Firmament though Clouds breed darkness his Nature his Word Covenant Mercy and Truth never fails and that is enough Remember that God even the Eternal Word came lived fulfilled all Righteousness died paid our Debts removed away the Curse and overcame in our Nature for us as our Mediator for us only not for himself he needed it not himself Your nature and mine is as really in Heaven as our persons are on Earth and that Magazine is open to every desiring and sincerely hankering Soul Our Redeemer is strong his heart tender his words true his Grace free and his Love strong as Death his Compassions never fail Oh let us love fear adore and believe him and in him alone lift up our heads To him I commend you c. 1663. To B. D. N o 73. I Perceive God has struck you off at last from any further hope about that troublesome business and that you did conceive you should be at London some time this Month. I think there is nothing at this day more remarkably experienced by the People of God than disappointments in the matters of this present Life but certainly 't is not their Doom but their Physick neither is the Dispensation wrath but fatherly Wisdom and rich Bounty to all the adopted Seed He gives his Children bitter Cups but yet healthful at least the issue will prove it so c. 1664. To B. D. N o 74. CLouds and darkness doth grow thicker and thicker but yet there is some light in the Lord in the midst of outward darkness Light is sown and the Harvest will come Our God is everlasting and the Covenant of his Love and Truth sure he is still unchangeably the same in his Grace whatever Changes he orders us to pass through that Promise is the same You shall not be tempted above what you are able What God spake to Jacob is every word of it true for our Faith and Learning Gen. 28. 15. I am with thee and will keep thee in all places c. Make as much room as you can for your Understanding and Affections to feed on Christ our daily Bread for Pardon Protection Direction Purging Blessing and Comfort There I leave you blessing God with you and for you that he doth make you cling upon him and to roll your eye beyond these uncertain momentany things Ply that aim and that work still for the good Will of him that dwelt and dwells in the burning Bush doth not change in the Fire and in the Water he will be with us c. 1664 To W. D. N o 75. THat you are walking Heavenward is the best News one Christian Friend can hear of another I doubt not but that you make that your Journey You as well as others have had that word of Christ fulfilled In the world you shall have trouble and I hope you have found it as true that In me viz. in Christ you shall have peace Certainly inward Peace can be had no where else in him alone that Jewel is to be enjoyed 'T is good that things below do frown when they force a Child of God to retreat and shelter himself in the bosom of him whose Love and good Will is everlasting We have but one great Care to spend our thoughts most about viz. To rest with joy in the Will of God seeking his Glory endeavouring after more of Christ's Image to be renewed in us and so with faith and patience to breath after that deliverance that will put an end to sin and trouble Afflictions are then prosperous when they are blest with a right instructing and weaning efficacy and are useful to render the excellency of things not seen more precious and desirable when they make a Soul to search and pray much and so wind out of the World then they are profitable Physick This is that frame I would be at and who can help us in this great work but he that has promised that he will never quench the smoaking Flax till he hath brought forth Judgment and Righteousness to Victory c. 1664. To D. H. N o 76. THe Lord himself be with you as a Guide Sometime fair Weather and sometime foul we must expect no other a while at the Evening it will be light yea constant clear Light and Peace when all these lower Shadows and Clouds are blown over and gone In the mean while we are sure to have Pardon Favour Life and the blessed Spirit of Life for our relief Our Prayers herein will be granted because we have a bountiful and faithful Promise for it and our Surety ready to make it good Here we are Soldiers but shall overcome through the victorious Blood of the Lamb and his Presence with us through Darkness and Light through Life and Death the Issue will be Victory through him who hath loved us Oh let the Children of Zion rejoyce in their King c. 1664. To B. J. D. N o 77. OUr Relation to each other require not only mutual Remembrance but now and then a Line or two to signifie the same As for News whatever I see or hear I write but little but would employ my thoughts and time in the best way of improvement that I can Time runs out apace with both of us the Redemption of it in order to Eternity will be found the best Wisdom What perilous times the last days will bring forth has been told us already 2 Tim. 3. 1. amongst which a dry heartless form of Godliness instead of sincere power is marked as the Mode of the last times Happy is that Soul that shall be enabled to escape those Rocks and Sands where many are like to split or run aground If God be pleased to conquer our hearts into an ingenious Resignation to his gracious Will and wise Providence and make room enough for his Authority to reign there we shall be more than Conquerors as to other difficulties The Truths we have heard concerning Christ and the way of Life by him being truly realized and become in good earnest of a transforming Power into our Souls that and that only will at length land us on a safe Shoar Let us search much pray and give serious Welcome to the Spirit of Christ our Head and the end of our work will be Peace c. 1664. To B. D. N o 78. WE must always cling upon our strong Refuge our Life our Peace present and eternal Blessedness lies in his hand and under his Covenant and Seal to give forth You are much upon my thoughts that you may be kept sincere and hold the things you have heard and received Let nothing dismay you preserve your Intercourse with Jesus Christ with all watchfulness he will provide things needful in their best season Wait on God creep to Heaven and God will order these outward
none of my work 8. Against the enchanting Comforts of the Flesh and the World it can say as Barzillai did to David Can I hear the sound of such Melody What is such Musick to a dead Man I am not my own But whose am I then Will such an one say this Scripture shews that he who is washed sanctified and justified c. as vers 11. is Gods viz. by Justification by Sanctification he is translated from the Dominion and natural Right of corrupt Self to be the Lord 's in Body and Spirit As he did bear the corrupted Image of the first Adam so now he bears the spiritual Image of the Second he is not in his own propriety as before he was but is now in a peculiar gracious propriety to God The nature of which may be more distinctly understood by considering these three Particulars viz. I. What this Propriety is and wherein it lies II. How it comes to pass and was effected III. How the truth fulness entireness and the excellency of it is demonstrated and held forth in the Scriptures 1. 'T is a Propriety which stands distinguished from the Propriety which God has in that common state of Mankind in the whole Earth Exod. 19. 5. 2. 'T is a Propriety which stands in opposition to Estrangement Ephes 2. 12 19. compared with Lev. 24. 22. 3. In opposition to that which is anothers Hos 3. 3. 4. In opposition to former Unsuitableness Ezek. 16. 8. and Enmity Col. 1. 21. So that a justified person is peculiarly intimately entirely complacently and fully the Lords II. This Propriety came to pass and was effected 1. By the free deliberate gracious Choice of God and therefore they are called God's Elect Rom. 8. 33. which Choice was made with respect to Christ Ephes 1. 4. 2. Giving these Elect to Christ Joh. 17. 6. and so being Christ's they are God's 1 Cor. 3. 23. Joh. 17. 10. 3. By Christ's Meditation and Advocateship whereby 1. He takes away all that which necessarily hindred the effecting of this Propriety satisfying the-Justice of God and removing out of the way that Pollution and Enmity which stood between the righteous and holy God and defiled Sinners by the price and sprinkling of his own Blood 1 Cor. 6. 20. Ephes 2. 13 14 15 16. 2. He sends forth the Gospel inviting all persons to apply to themselves by faith the vertue and end of his Death Matth. 16. 15 16. Act. 13. 38. and that a Covenant is made betwixt God and Sinners and confirmed in his Blood Heb. 9. 14 15. 3. He gives faith to apply the same Act. 14. 27. Ephes 2. 8. and opening the Understanding to receive it Luk. 24. 45. Act. 16. 14. 4. He reneweth the heart through his Spirit and rendreth it suitable and subject to the Laws and state of this Appropriation to God Ephes 4. 22 23 24. 1 Pet. 1. 2. and from vers 14. to 19. Ephes 1. 4. 5. He presents those whom he thus redeemed to his Father 1 Pet. 3. 18. Col. 1. 22. bequeathing them to him as his own to be kept from evil Joh. 17. 11 15 25. 6. The Father accepteth of these chosen and redeemed ones Ephes 1. 6. and thereupon saith These are mine Mal. 3. 17. 3. The Truth Fulness Entireness and Excellency of this Propriety is set forth in the Scriptures by divers sorts of Resemblances which have a most appropriating Nature and endearing influence amongst Men in this World which are comprehended chiefly under three Heads 1. Resemblances which concern the Propriety of Estate 2. Resemblances which concern a Propriety in things that betoken labour care and skill in the Proprietor to manage them 3. Resemblances which concern the Propriety of natural Relations 1. In Allusion to the Propriety of Estate among Men the People of God and so every Regenerate Person is called 1. The Inheritance of God Psal 33. 12. which notes the setled part of an Estate as in Naboth's Case 1 King 21. 3. 2. The Habitation of God Ephes 2. 22. noting Constancy of Residence Joh. 8. 35. The servant abideth not in the house for ever but c. 3. The Temple of God 2 Cor. 6. 16. noting sacred Converse with God Psal 27. 4. and divine Presence Hag. 2. 9. and great stately Magnificence Luk. 21. 5. where God is said to dwell and walk 2 Cor. 6. 16. and reign Psal 11. 4. 4. The peculiar Treasure of God Exod. 19. 5. noting the delightful part of an Estate 5. The Jewels of God Mal. 3. 17. noting their precious esteem and value 6. And in general the Portion of God Deut. 32. 9. which compriseth the whole Luk. 15. 12. of an Estate 2. In allusion to the Propriety of Things wherein the skill labour and care of the Proprietor is employed and thus a regenerate person is called a Creature which God has formed for himself Isa 43. 21. God's Building 1 Cor. 3. 9. God's Workmanship Ephes 2. 10. All which do set out the freeness of God's Grace and Man's Inability and Impossibility to regenerate himself or add one Cubit to his own stature Also God's Husbandry 1 Cor. 3. 9. noting God's mindfulness care and as it were laborious hand towards his people and thus they are called his Vineyard Jer. 12. 10. noting peculiarness and delight Isa 5. 1 2 c. And his Garden Cant. 4. 12. made for retired delight and familiar use 3. In allusion to the Propriety of Natural Relations 1. A Regenerate Person is called the Spouse of Christ and married unto God Cant. 4. 12. Isa 64. 5. noting Love and Familiarity and affectionate Remembrance 2. The Son of God and his Child Exod. 4. 22. Jer. 31. 20. yea as a sucking Child cast on God for relief Isa 49. 15 16. Ezek. 4. c. shadowing out his tender respect to his people 3. His Body in Christ and so accounted as his Flesh and his Bone Ephes 5. 30. and the Apple of his eye noting his sympathy with his people Zac. 2. 8 4. To which may be added that they are his Flock 1 Pet. 5. 2. Act. 20. 28. noting care of them provision and security for them NOW walk about this City of God tell the Towers thereof mark well the Bullwarks consider the Palaces and Excellencies of being in the Propriety of God who will be the Guide of his People to the death Psal 48. 14. and so bring them to Glory Psal 73. 24. HENCE for Trial whether I am God's Let me see what Reciprocation this Propriety of God doth work declaring I am his by my appropriating him to be mine Hos 2. 23. viz. 1. Do I give my consent and render up my self to be the Lords and as it were subscribe it with my hand and change my name upon it Which are the tokens of Confirmation of Consent and Translation of Propriety Isa 44. 5. compared with Jer. 32. 10. Gen. 41. 45. Dan. 4. 8. and Change of Condition 2. Do I comply with God's method in making this Purchase to