in his Fatherly care for them remembring them in their low estate and the workings of their own hearts toward God in that through grace they are enabled to reckon upon it That God's allowance is best for them and that by faith they can live upon him for their livelihood when they have little in sight to live upon So that they can subscribe to what the Apostle saith 1 Tim. 6.6 as a true saying and worthy of all acceptation That godliness with contentment is great gain They have the clear gain of a quiet and well-composed spirit so that their Souls dwell at ease as Psal 25.13 And is not this real prosperity Verily it is so Are not these prosperous persons Surely they are so Thus we see the first branch of the first reason is confirmed That the prosperity of Mens outward condition in the general depends upon Soul-prosperity 2. The other branch will be as clearly made good That the health and well-fare of the Body stands upon the same bottom No Man therein ever did or ever shall truly and really prosper but in conjunction with Soul-prosperity This may seem at the first mentioning as great a Paradox as the former But it is a just and measured truth and cannot but be acknowledged to be so if we consider the state of the Body either in reference to this World or the World to come 1. In reference to this World Though it be true that many whose Souls are death-struck sinfully sick unto death the second death eternal death in respect of their bodily health live to a great old age in great health scarce knowing for a long while together what a days sickness means As Job observed in his time Job 21.23 One dyeth in his full strength being wholly at ease and quiet yet Bodily health as a blessing is certaninly annexed to Soul-prosperity Prov. 3.7 8 fear the Lord and depart from evil The Soul prospers that doth so and while it doth so And what then It shall be health to thy Navel and marrow to thy Bones Now according to the store of marrow which moistens and feeds the Bones so is the strength of the Body And then it shall be health to thy Navel This is expressed because as Physicians say Bodily health in a natural way depends chiefly on the vital parts and entrails which are comprehended under the Navel because there they are knitt up and fastened The meaning then is this Fear the Lord and depart from evil and thy Body shall be strong and healthy This shall be health to all thy flesh as Prov. 4.22 For they are life unto those that find them and health to all their flesh Thus it is and will be till sickness and weakness be better for the well fare of the Soul as it was to Gaius in the Text whose Soul prospered the better under his Bodily weakness And when sickness and weakness grow upon us the gracious workings of a healthy and prosperous Soul are in some sense the best Physick and the most cherishing Cordials to a weak and languishing Body When the Soul can say as Psal 73.26 My heart and my flesh faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Isa 38.2 3 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed unto the Lord and said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked in truth before thee and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight It is observable what ye may read in the Book of Martyrs concerning Mr. Saunders that whilst he was in examination before the Bishop of London he felt a most ravishing sweetness from every part of his Body come together to the place and seat of his heart and from thence it did ebb and flow to and fro to every part of his body to his marvellous consolation This he told to one of his friends Thus far this branch of the reason is made good That the health and wellfare of the Body as it is a blessing may be expected and cannot otherwise be expected then in conjunction with Soul-prosperity Whatever Men think of it this is true That though Nature be an enemy to Grace yet Grace especially thriving and prospering is a friend the best friend to Nature 2. In reference to the World to come the well-being of the Body to all Eternity depends absolutely upon the well-being of the Soul That fares as the Soul fares If the Soul perish and be undone the Body is undone and perisheth too We read Luk. 16.24 25. that when the Soul of the rich Man was in Hell not the least refreshment could be had for his Body not a drop of water to cool his Tongue Therefore as Job 27.8 He hath no hope of all that he hath gained when God taketh away his Soul But if the Soul prospers while it is in the Body as it doth when it doth lay up its treasure in Heaven and hath its conversation in Heaven then the Body when it is laid in the Grave as it is still a Member of Christ death doth not dissolve that union It sleeps in Jesus 1 Thes 4.14 And by virtue of that union it shall be raised up and made like the glorious Body of Christ Thus ye have the first reason made good in both the branches of it that Soul-prosperity is so far all in all c. 2. Of all prosperities Soul-prosperity is the most desirable prosperity because it is made up of the most desirable materials Those goods whereof it consisteth are the best things the most desirable blessings It 's true the materials whereof Worldly prosperity consists are good things too We read Luk. 16. that the rich Man's purple Garments and fine Linnen which were his every-days-wearing and his sumptuous fare wherewith his Table was furnished every day and his great estate which maintained all this were good things in themselves and might have been good to him if he had used them well So they are said to be vers 25. But what are these things to the principles of Spiritual life thriving and increasing in the Soul Verily great heaps of Gold and Silver are but great heaps of Dust and Dirt to the least grain of grace The price of it is far above rubies Job 28.18 The Apostle speaking of one particular grace the grace of Faith one of these choise materials which make up soul prosperity saith That the Trial of it when it is exercised is much more pretious then Gold 1 Pet. 1.7 No marvel then if Solomon who knew the worth of every thing as much as ever any Man did saith of it That the Merchandize thereof is better then Silver and the gain thereof then fine Gold But of the excellency of the materials of Soul-prosperity I need say no more then what hath been said in the explication of the point only I shall shew you a little of that exceeding much which the Scripture speaks of the materials of Worldly prosperity
strength of Christ to keep a stricter watch for the future The Soul at least begins to thrive 3. When though we let out our affections to this or that as sometimes we may lawfully do and in duty ought to do about the things of this life and what concerns us in our outward condition yet we can take them off again as the matter requires as when we are to address our selves to God in any act of worship This is hard work Moses was very angry as there was cause Exod. 32.19 c. But it was the morrow after before he prayed for them vers 30.31 But when we can do with our affections as Abraham did with his Servants Gen. 22. Leave them at the foot of the hill when we go to be with God in the Mount The more and oftener this is done the more and better the Soul prospers I shall conclude all that I have to say in this matter with this which every one of you that have any spiritual experience what it is to converse with God will acknowledge That the Soul prospers according to its Communion with God and Communion with God on our part is both preserved maintained and enjoyed by the well governing and exercising of sanctified affections of Love Fear Joy and Sorrow Trust and Desire These are the motions of the Will and the out-goings of the Heart As 1 Thes 2.8 Being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only but our own Soul because ye were dear unto us They are said also to be the Feet of the Soul Eccles 5.1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the House of God i.e. See that thy heart be fixed and thy affections composed By these the Soul draws nigh to God in Christ closeth with him and abides in him from day to day And the more it doth so the more it prospers for God draws nigh to such Jam. 4.8 Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you And he never comes empty handed If the Father go out to meet the repenting returning Prodigal the poor young Man finds the affection of a Father Therefore what S. James speaks of bridling the tongue is true also of governing the affections He is a perfect Man he can bridle the whole Body And after this perfection we should strive as ever we desire that our Souls should prosper Thus much of the second Particular 3. The Soul prospers when the principles of spiritual life are so kept in exercise that in times of doubtful expectation we can cast upon all events with an humble resignation of all into the hands of God being willing to submit to his determination whatever it be And when the matter is out of doubt so as the evil which we feared and perhaps worse is actually upon us and a sentence of death and desolation is passed upon all Creature comforts we can then find rest and satisfaction in the exercise of faith on the promises of God Here two things are to be considered A little to each of them 1. When in times of doubtful expectation such as besides what any one of us may be in with respect to his own particular condition we are all of us in upon a publick account we can cast upon all events with an humble resignation of all into the hands of God and with a willing mind submit to his determination Thus it was with David 2 Sam. 15. If ye read the Chapter and consider the story ye will acknowledge it was a time of great sadness he could not but be full of fear of what might befall him God was now reckoning with him for his sin so he had reason to think His own Son and a great Body of his people were up in Arms against him He was at great uncertainties what God would do with him He fore cast what might be this way and that way and not being able to foresee the event he refers all to God's disposing leaving all his troubled thoughts fears and doubts with him vers 25 26. If not so then thus If so then so He is in either way at a point Here I am let him do saith he what he pleaseth This was a Heaven-born frame of Spirit to be able to perish and to be undone in his outward condition if God would have it so Such a Man may be beggared and butchered sooner then hurt Surely David's Soul now prospered for never was his Kingdom more shaken yet never was his heart more fixed It was not so with David at all times 1 Sam. 27.1 And David said in his heart I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul Psal 73.2 But as for me my feet were almost gone my steps had well-nigh slipt vers 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocence He was upon the point of repenting that ever he had repented This is not to be marvelled at though it be to be lamented as if the Lord will I may shew in the Application of the point That it is a rare sight and seldom or never seen that any Man's Soul prosperity is always alike Thus much of the first Particular 2. When the matter is out of doubt and as bad or worse then what we feared is come upon us yet that Soul is in a prosperous frame that can even then in that dark and sad hour find sufficient satisfaction in the exercise of faith in the promises of God as Hab. 2.4 but the just shall live by his faith Then even then when the spirits of other Men in the like case with him fail and sink and even dye within them he is upheld in comfort When his faith is unto him like the Cork that is upon the Net though the Lead on the one side sink it down yet the Cork on the other side keeps it up When the eye of faith looks upward and sees the hand of the only-wise God in all that befalls him who makes every thing beautiful in his time a righteous God and can do no wrong a good God and will do no harm when faith believes all this that it is but to humble him and try him and to do him good in the latter end As Deut. 8.16 And sees love and faithfulness in all and hopes to find what David found and thankfully acknowledged Psal 119.75 I know that thy judgments are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me That in all the trouble that came upon him God was therein faithful to the interest of his Soul a thing which without much difficulty may be obtained of reason to bear up under all whilst we are perswaded that all is done in love and faithfulness for our good As for instance though it troubles a Man to be in a Town and forced to stay there when it is besieged by a potent Enemy yet the same Man can be content when need requires that his Physician should confine him
really happy as his Soul prospers These things being so one would think I might forbear to press any thing farther and might say concerning this duty of minding Soul-prosperity as the Apostle doth of Brotherly love 1 Thes 4.9 ye need not that I should write any more concerning it But considering what a deep inward rooted respect for and reaching after the things of the World there appears to be in some who yet profess they are fully convinced of the vanity thereof and such a strong byass in others turning them aside into ways that are not good So far it may be charged upon them as Rom. 1.18 They hold the truth they believe in unrighteousness not suffering it to exercise its autority in their Consciences And feeing it is so difficult a thing yea impossible without the Almighty power of the Spirit of God to raise up a drosly earthy spirit sunk into the world to look after things that are not seen to mortifie the deeds of the flesh and to set their affections on things that are above or to six a vain light spirit so as to reduce it to a sober and serious consideration of the things of Eternity and yet both the one and the other must be done by all those that resolve to mind the prosperity of their Souls above all other prosperity I shall to what hath been said already before I come to shew the great work that is to be done for the welfare of Souls first give you some Arguments to prove the Inference That if Soul-Prosperity be the most desirable Prosperity Then is it the most rational thing in the world to mind it above all things else 1. It is a rational thing ye must all grant it for any man to part with any thing except the Peace of his own Conscience and to do any thing that is possible to be done except sinning against God for the preservation of natural life It is a Scripture expression Prov. 6.26 that Life is pretious It is indeed the most pretious thing in Nature Matth. 6.25 Is not the life more than meat Act. 27. They cast away the Lading of the Ship in hope to save their lives Esth 7.2 3 4 Let my life be given me at my petition For we are sold I and my people to be destroyed to be slain and to perish If we had beensold for Bond-men and for Bond-women I had held my tongue See how she pleaded for her life he valued not the one half of 127 Provinces in comparison of that And we read of a poor woman that had spent all that she had in hope of health which is a degree below life Mar. 5. Now if it should be asked as Jam. 4.14 What is this life that is so much valued we must answer as he doth That it is a vapour which appeareth for a very little time and then vanisheth away The frailty whereof is set forth by heaps of similitudes in Scripture from the most perishing things that come under observation It is but a little warm breath turned in and out at our nostrils a narrow passage and soon stopt Isa 2.22 Cease from Man whose breath is in his nostrils and wherein is he to be accounted of Now if it be so agreeable to reason by all lawful means to serve the Providence of God for the preservation of such poor and frail things as our lives are as indeed we are bound in obedience to God's command Is it not much more rational to do whatever God would have us to do for the life and well-fare of our immortal Souls Certainly if Nature teach a Man to prize his life above the World Grace should make a Man to prize his Soul above his Life Believe it To save our Lives and to save our Souls are two things This we find in Scripture that those who have learned to value their Souls according to their excellency and have understood how much their own happiness is concerned in them have willingly run the hazard of their lives to save their Souls not only as Paul 1 Cor. 9.27 I keep under my Body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast-away but also as they Revel 12.11 they loved not their lives unto the death They did not so love their lives as out of inordinate care to preserve them and so to escape death when God called them by their open profession to give in their testimony for Christ and his Gospel against the Anti-Christian Generation So Dan. 3.19 c. The three Witnesses chose rather to be thrown into the fiery Furnace then to worship the Golden Image Heb. 11.35 Others were tortured not accepting deliverance Yea so careless have some of the Saints of old been of their Bodies in comparison of their care for the well-fare of their Souls as if they had been other folks Bodies and not their own We read Act 7 that when the sentence of death was passed upon Stephen he prays not for the mitigation of his Enemies rage he is totally silent concerning his burial It 's true there were some good Men took care of it Act. 8.2 but not at his intreaty that we read of but that which his thoughts were most taken up withal ye read vers 59. They stoned Steven calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my Spirit So the Lord Jesus left his Body in the hands of Pilate but he commended his Spirit into his Father's hands Luk. 23.46 It is observable what we have Psal 141.7 8. when some of David's followers were hackt and hewed in pieces and left unburied or as some think when their dead Bodies after they were buried were digged up and their bones were scattered about the Grave's mouth When David saw or heard of this see what he had most in his thoughts Lord leave not my Soul destitute Thus ye have one argument to make good the Inference That it is the most rational thing in the World to mind the wellfare of our Souls above all things else because it is very rational above all outward things to mind the preservation of our lives And that though it be so those that have been wise to Salvation have minded the saving of their Souls above the saving of their Lives there being indeed no comparison between this Natural life and the Spiritual life of the Soul 2. It is every way most rational agreeable to the best and highest principles of reason to mind that most which Jesus Christ in whom dwelt all the Treasures of Wisdom minded most This none will deny but that as it is the highest pitch of our holiness that our Ends in all things fall in with his So it ought to be our greatest business that in all things we should be of the same mind with Christ Now that this was and still is the greatest work that Jesus Christ did and still doth mind in our behalf will appear by these particulars 1. This was
he apprehend himself at present to be Spiritually dead that his Soul shall never live So there is no sufficient reason for any Man to doubt who is really though weakly alive to God but that waiting upon God and keeping his way his Spiritual life may grow to be lively and his Soul may prosper as much as ever the Soul of Gaius did Therefore let us up and be doing and the Lord will be with us Phil. 2.12 13 Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure This is that which slackens many Mens endeavours that because they think they shall never attain to such an height of Soul-prosperity as others have attained unto therefore they stir not up themselves to reach after any prosperity at all as is charged on them Isa 64.7 There is none that calleth upon thy name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee As some poor Men because they think they shall never get beforehand as many of their Neighbours do whatever others get they shall never be worth a Groat and therefore mind no more then to live from hand to mouth But we have not so learned Christ This is all that I shall say by way of argument to perswade I now proceed to speak of the former of those two Particulars mentioned but now That those that are spiritually alive ought to see to it that their Spiritual life be lively and prosper because therein the prosperity of their Souls consisteth The great matter to be enquired into is to shew what is to be done in order to the carrying on of this holy and blessed design In speaking unto it Let this be considered That there is a Rule for and a Regiment of Health for the Soul as there is for the Body And what in a natural way may be prescribed and ought to be made use of for the wel-fare of the one may be prescribed and ought to be made use of in a Spiritual way for the well-fare of the other Of this kind there are five several things which I shall speak to in order 1. In reference to Bodily health upon good advisement the seasonable use of Physick is necessary This is an Ordinance of God and ought to be used in faith and obedience to God Sometimes for preventing of Diseases which otherwise might prejudice our health and sometimes for curing and removing of them which otherwise may endanger our life Answerably to this we find in the Scripture which is the Magazine and Store-house for all Spiritual Receipts Physick prescribed for the Soul by Jesus Christ himself the great Physician of Souls without the due and seasonable use whereof it is impossible the Soul should prosper Before I tell you what it is it is fit to premise these three things 1. That the Soul of every Man Spiritually alive to God is as subject to Spiritual Diseases as the Body of any living Man is to Bodily Diseases And it is sin alone and nothing else but sin which is the sickness of the Soul and which if it be not cured will be the death and destruction of the Soul It is the resemblance by which it is frequently set forth in the Scripture and that most fitly as all Scripture resemblances are For as sickness hinders the operation of Nature wasting and consuming by degrees both the Natural heat and Radical moisture often changing and altering a Man's countenance as Job 2.12 And when they lift up their eyes afar of and knew him not Often causing much pain so as the sick Man grows worse and unless happily recovered by the blessing of God upon the use of Means untill death seize upon him So that sickness upon this account is truly said to be contrary to Nature an Enemy to Nature Even such a thing is sin to the Soul It is contrary to the well-fare and prosperity of it It Wars against it 1 Pet. 2.11 It hinders the gracious actings of it Rom. 7.21 I find a Law then that when I would do good evil is present with me It puts even living and good Souls under such a disguise that they neither speak nor do like themselves As Job's Wife though it is believed that she was a good Woman yet she spake as her Husband told her as one of the foolish Women Job 2.10 So 1 Cor. 3.3 Their unmortified lusts put them under such a disguise that they walked as Men as those that were still dead in sin and never had received any principle of Spiritual life And farther As sickness causeth pain so guilt following of sin often causeth intolerable pain in the anguish and chargings of Conscience In a word sin being indulged consumes and wastes what is of God in the Soul so as it is said of the worst of Men 2 Tim. 3.13 it grows worse and worse and if not happily prevented it ends at last in Eternal death Rom. 8.13 If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye 2. As in all these respects sin is such a thing to the Soul as sickness is to the Body So that we may be the more affected and take the more notice of it It is fitly expressed by the same name As Pride is fitly compared to a Tympany Earthly-mindedness to a Dropsie Carnal security to a Lethargy Unruly passions to a Frenzy Apostacy and Back sliding from the ways of God to the Falling-sickness Envy to a Consumption An unquiet discontented Spirit to the grief of the Bowels Sore Diseases all of these are And besides all these Original sin is as a Leprosie over-spreading the whole Soul This evil Disease which is indeed all Diseases in one cleaves unto all Adam's posterity as Gehazi's Leprosie did to all his Seed for his Son if he had any and his Son's Son and so from generation to generation were all Lepers 2 Kings 5.27 3. Though this be generally acknowledged That sin is the sickness of the Soul therefore the Soul prospers only so far as it is well rid of it yet this would be farther observed That though sin have such evil effects upon the Soul as Diseases have upon the Body and that the names of Bodily Diseases do so fitly resemble the Diseases of the Soul yet the difference is great as to that which is required to dispose the sick in Soul and the sick in Body toward a recovery In the Diseases of the Body it matters not much it may perhaps something but much it doth not whether the sick Man know the name or nature of his Disease so he have a faithful and skillful Physician Nor whether he know the virtue of what is prescribed him or the composition of it Or whether he be able to judge of the increase or declining of his Disease by the beating of his Pulse Though perhaps some insight into these things might afford to some persons at least some satisfaction yet they are left specially to the care and wisdom
themselves and their Families Eccl. 6.7 All the labour of Man is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not filled But it is not so here this is prepared ready for us Matth. 22.4 I have prepared my Dinner mine Oxen and my Fatlings are killed and all things are ready And freely offered it is but Come and eat Isa 55.1 2. 'T is true we are commanded to labour for this food more then for any thing else that the World affords what need soever we stand in of it Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of Man shall give unto you But it is with a labour like that of Adam in Paradise sweet easie and delightful The very labouring after it affords more content and satisfaction to the Soul truly so called then any Creature-comfort whatsoever Prov. 3.15 16 17. 2. There is no other food for our Souls but this we must feed upon it or starve Any thing that God appoints may supply the want of bodily food Deut. 8.2 3 Man doth not live by Bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth Man live But nothing can supply the want of Christ They that feed upon any thing else expecting any Soul-nourishment do but as they Isa 44.20 feed on ashes And indeed the complexion of some Mens Souls shews what their diet is so Earthly c. As young folks under some bodily Distemper eat Chalk or Lime c. How ill do they look Make the best of it To feed upon any thing else is but perishing food Joh. 6.27 And as well may we think that fishes of the Sea may live in the Air or the beasts of the Field in the bottom of the Sea as that the Soul may live and prosper by any thing either Providences or Ordinances without feeding upon Christ in them 3. There needs no other food Joh. 6.55 For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed And as all the sweetness desirableness and matter of nourishment that is in the meat is for the health and wellfare of the Body So whatever is in Christ and whatever Christ is and Christ is altogether lovely quantus quantus est all is for the life and health strength and prosperity of the Soul Joh. 10.10 It is said He came into the World that is to live and dye in the World to do and suffer what was to be done and suffered that dead Souls might live and living Souls have life in abundance that is might live and prosper Whether we consider Christ in his Person or in his Offices we shall see in both that there and there alone food is to be had for our Souls Before I mention either of these I shall first lay before you this Proposition That whatsoever may encourage a doubting Sinner experimentally under clear convictions that there is no possibility of Salvation in an Unregenerate state and fully satisfieth him that all Salvation is to be had in Christ and without him no Salvation at all whatsoever I say may encourage such a Person under great uncertainties whether Christ will accept of him or no to come unto him to cast himself down at the footstool of his grace into the arms of his mercy to depend upon him and abide in him for all that may give him a Title to and a fitness for Heaven And 2. Whatever may establish such a Perfon having thus adventured his Eternal estate in the hands of Christ in a good hope through grace that he shall receive such help and assistance from the Spirit of Christ that he shall persevere unto the end both in the love that God bears unto him and in the grace that he hath wrought in him so as the good work begun in him shall be perfected Where that is to be found which hath an influence into all this there certainly food is to be had for the life health and prosperity of our Souls This needs no proof ye will all assent to it Now that all this is to be found in Christ and in him alone will appear whether we consider him in his Person or in his Offices 1. In his Person as God and Man in one Person This is the great mystery of Godliness as hath been heretofore at large opened unto you from 1 Tim. 3.16 Of all Gospel-mysteries this is the greatest That a lost sinner should have such a Saviour that is as verily Man as God and as verily God as Man That the Divine and Human Nature that were at first at such a distance should meet in one person The serious consideration of this hath much of Spiritual nourishment in it It will appear to be so when we have weighed these two things 1. What the work was which Christ came into the World to do It was to be a Mediatour between God and Man A Mediatour of Reconciliation between a most holy God most highly provoked and Rebellious sinners still continuing in their provocation This was his great work that was upon his hands 2 Cor. 5.19 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them 2. That this affords great encouragement so to come to Christ as being upon this account able to save to the uttermost Hereby we see that what he either did or suffered though but in his human Nature though but for a little while the whole time of his continuing visibly in the World being but 33 years rather to speak exactly but 32 years and a half was of infinite value and efficacy which did arise from the Union of his two Natures because the Person though in the form of a Man was the mighty God that Did such things and Suffered such things Now this is a great relief to Faith yea such may be the temptation that a humbled sinner may be under that nothing else can relieve or afford any nourishment so much as we use to say to keep Life and Soul together For suppose this to be the case Mr. John Hardy of Symondsbury as once it was of a godly Minister in this County who dyed but this last Summer I had the Relation of it from himself who was for a time in a great Agony and this was his temptation Why said Conscience and Satan too who stood behind the Curtain Thy sins deserve an infinite punishment for thou hast sinned against an infinite God and thou deservest Eternal death And that Christ in whom thou trustest he being Man and suffering only in his human Nature he could suffer only that which is finite And the time of his suffering was but short How then can he by suffering so short a time deliver from infinite suffering and Eternal death This as he told me was the temptation that lay upon him and how he was relieved Even thus The Lord brought it to his remembrance and set it home with a Divine
to Eternal Life But this the Law cannot do by reason of Man's weakness being utterly unable to fulfil it so that it is become a killing Letter the ministration of death and condemnation 2 Cor. 3.6 7. Now Jesus Christ by his obedience hath brought about this perfection of the Law perfectly fulfilling the Righteousness which the Law required for love is the fulfilling of the Law Now Jesus Christ loved the Lord with all his heart and with all his might and his neighbour as himself He failed not in the least of what was due either to the one or the other This he did and none but he could do it For though one sinful act in thought in word or deed did break the Law yet it is not fulfilled but by perfect conformity unto it and such a conformity there was in the obedience of Christ Joh. 8.29 I do always those things that please him This is the first Particular The Materials whereof this garment of Righteousness is made with which if the Soul be not clothed it cannot prosper as we shall see by and by 2. The Soul that is not clothed with this Righteousness cannot while it remains so possibly ever be in a capacity of prospering For sin hath made such a dreadful breach between God and Sinners that he stands upon this That though he will have mercy upon whom he will have mercy the motive is only from the good pleasure of his own Will Eternal Life with all that is antecedent to it and preparative for it is his own gift Yet I say God is absolutely resolved upon this that he will have his Justice satisfied for all the wrong that sin hath done him He hath also magnified his Law and made it honourable Isa 42.21 Therefore he will have all the demands of the Law fully answered and obedience thereunto perfectly fulfilled else no spiritual good shall be given forth to any Soul so as to make it live much less to prosper Isa 59.2 Your iniquities have separated between you and your God Jer. 5.25 your sins have with-holden good things from you Now this is done by Christ's Righteousness alone Therefore it is of absolute necessity that it be put on else the Soul cannot prosper 3. The Garment of Righteousness is put on only by a believing Soul Rom. 3.22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe 1. Upon every believing Soul that being acquainted with the way of God in bringing Sinners into a state of grace and mercy and knowing that God is just and Righteous as well as Merciful knows that he cannot find acceptance with God but he must be righteous Hab. 1.13 Thou art of purer eyes then to behold evil 2. Upon every Soul that knows that every righteousness will not serve the turn but it must be such as the pure eyes of the glorious Majesty of God can see no defect in Gal. 3.11 That no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God it is evident 3. Upon every Soul that knows and bewails the imperfection of his own righteousness and knows he hath reason to do so though he were sure he had as much of all the graces that accompany Salvation as ever Abraham or Isaac or Jacob had If this were all this Soul knows it would not avail him to stand before the Righteous God No his infinite wrath would come upon him for all that and confume him Job 15.14 What is Man that he should be clean or he that is born of a Woman that he should be righteous 1 Sam. 6.20 Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God 4. A Soul that knows all this in some measure and that the Righteousnes is such a Righteousness as God will accept of and so adventures his Eternal state upon the merits thereof resolving however Christ deal with him in his strength to keep fast his hold there and to live and dye adhering unto and depending upon him This Righteousness is upon every such a believing Soul This Faith though it may be more then a believing Soul knows hath put on this righteousness therefore it is called The righteousness of faith Phil. 3.9 The sins of a Believer are put upon Christ's account and Christ's righteousness upon his 2 Cor. 5.21 Faith being the only grace that receives it as being peculiarly fitted for it for no Man was ever accepted as righteous before God for that which he did himself but by receiving that which Christ did for him And Faith is the only receiving grace Love lays out but Faith receives Joh. 1.12 To as many as received him c. 4. The clothing of the Soul with this Righteousness hath a great influence into Soul prosperity For consider 1. This is that Righteousness alone that answers all doubts and fears for want of such a righteousness as might give acceptance with God as to Eternal Life so as to that how vile soever they have judged themselves yet being clothed with it they stand without blame before God Col. 1.22 In the Body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight This alone satisfies Conscience and well it may for it satisfies God himself In this all the Scripture-Saints in all Ages have rested being clothed with it Abraham before the Law Rom. 4. David under the Law Psal 32. And Paul under the Gospel Phil. 3.9 2. This is that garment alone in which there may be access with boldness into the presence of God even at the last day 1 Joh. 2.28 And now little Children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming Therefore much more in this day Eph. 3.12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him For this is a Righteousness wherewith we may warrantably say so God is more highly pleased and which of the two finds more acceptance in Heaven then the righteousness of the blessed Angels that never sinned For their's is but the righteousness of a Creature This is the Righteousness of God Jer. 23.6 This is his Name whereby he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness 3. This is Everlasting righteousness Dan. 9.24 In this Christ ever hath appeared and ever will appear in Heaven in behalf of all those that come to God by him and remains still of the same Eternal efficacy for the applying and forth-giving of all the price of his Blood all that thereby is purchased for the health well-fare perfect and Eternal prosperity of the Soul 1 Joh. 2.2 And he is the propitiation for our sins c. Now lay all these together and let them be well weighed and it will be granted because it will be found that when once the Soul comes to have any degree of good hope through grace of its interest in it and that it is clothed with it that Soul will experimentally find
away without any observation from under the power of all obligations to the contrary Relapses of this nature though they do not presently make any great noise in the World yet it will not be long before they will be seen in sad effects and be discerned in more visible miscarriages If they be indulged they are great enemies to Soul-prosperity and will prove the very bane and break-neck of that thriving and prosperous frame the Soul was grown or growing into This is then seriously to be considered of by all those whose Souls begin to prosper and when it begins to be better with them then it hath been in respect of their inward frame and temper of the hidden man of the heart as ever they desire they may continue so and lose the things which they have wrought to beware of relapses Ye have heard that ye are not exempted from them nor exempted from a possibility Heb. 3.12 Take heed Brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the Living God As if the Apostle had said That which I speak to one I speak to another I speak to all therefore let every one take heed Now that which I find in Scripture pressed upon us for preventing such relapses is to have a watchful eye over and a constant hand upon all the inward workings and stirrings of the inward Man for from thence they have their rise as ye may observe in several sorts of Trees their decay is first observed in the withering of the boughs but it begins in the root which fails in sending up sap into them as formerly Even so it is here which way soever relapses are discover'd they begin from within Psal 44.18 Our heart is not turned back neither have our steps declined from thy way Professours first fall from their apprehensions of the necessity of circumspect walking their convictions of the goodness of the ways of God wear off and their affections decay and the works of the flesh break forth and manifest themselves by degrees Therefore as ever we desire to hold fast what we have received be sure to keep the heart with all diligence as Prov. 4.23 Where 1. Our personal care is required Keep thy heart 2. Our principal care Keep it with or above all keeping As it is with the heart naturally considered if that begin to tremble or be in fear or apprehension of danger the blood and spirits as it is observed will forsake the outward parts and run to that to guard and succour it the least wound therein being mortal if it be but with the pricking of a Pin. Thus the heart is kept in its natural capacity but the matter we are speaking of is touching the keeping of the heart in its spiritual capacity and keep it we ought with all diligence watch it by night and by day at home and abroad when we are in company and when we are alone at all times and in all places yea as the Apostle presseth it on Timothy Watch in all things 2 Tim. 4.5 Now this keeping this watching the heart hath special reference to the inward workings and stirrings of corruption 1. To prevent in the strength of Christ so far as may be prevented in this state of imperfection the first risings of them of any one kind whatsoever however to prevent if possible and possible it is that the Corruption and the Temptation may be kept asunder Matth. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Otherwise there will be sad work and the prosperity of the Soul will begin to fade and that upon the sudden Though Hezekiah as holy a Man as he was and how much soever his Soul did prosper and prosper it did exceedingly yet he had always a root of pride in him which though it did not stir him to shew his Treasures to every body yet when he fell into the temptation by occasion of the visit he had from the King of Babylon by his Ambassadours then the Corruption and the Temptation did meet and ye may read in the history how much the well-fare of his Soul was prejudiced by it So it was with David he had though a Man after God's own heart the same root of the same corruption in him yet it did not break forth so as to abate any thing of his Souls prosperity till the temptation met with it To have his subjects numbred neither had it then if he had watched as Peter did to keep the temptation and the corruption asunder See Act. 8.20 Thy money perish with thee said Peter to Simon Magus The temptation was suitable for Peter was out of money Act. 3.6 Silver and gold have I none And Peter was not so perfect as to be beyond the power of the temptation but he kept the temptation from mingling with what corruption soever was in his heart and so the gracious frame of his heart continued untoucht by it So David 2 Sam. 16.10 And the King said what have I to do with you ye Sons of Zerviah so let him curse c. He was subject to the same passions with other Men but by the assistance no doubt of the Spirit of God he kept the temptation and the corruption asunder and so his Soul prospered the better for that tryal 2. If there should be as there is great danger there may be a sad meeting so it is and so it will be found betwixt the corruption and the temptation then endeavour by the assistance of the spirit that your own spirits may immediately rise up in indignation against it and after some hearty ejaculations for the present with the first opportunity with hearty loathing and inward self abhorrency bring forth the temptation and the corruption to the law of God and see them there condemned and to the blood of Christ and see them there pardoned and to the spirit of Christ that thereby all may be subdued and mortified Really a Soul that desires to prosper and to continue to prosper should as kindly work in a heart-melting and a heart-humbling way for these sinful stirrings of the heart before God as for sinful words and sinful actions before Men Psal 73.22 So foolish was I and ignorant even as a beast before thee It is or should be with the Soul that prospers as it is with the eye if a small dust get into it it will never leave twinkling and watering till it be out 2 Chron. 32.26 Hezekiah humbled himself greatly for the pride of his heart Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death He speaks of the law in his members warring against the law of his mind vers 23. This is the way to prevent relapses into sin which is the Soul's sickness and if not prevented or timely healed will overthrow the prosperity of prospering Souls SERMON XIII 2ly AS Souls that begin to prosper and have any desire to continue so ought to keep themselves