his grace and love towards her She lived much in Communion with God there was an unspeakable intercourse between God and her Soul every day She would do nothing till she had spread it before the Lord and knew his mind and in things not only small but weighty She had such intimations from the Lord of his will and his secret was so with her as she before hand knew the mind of God because God had told hereby his Spirit for she gave not over till he had signified by his â—pirit upon her Spirit what was his pleasure what he would do or what he would have done and God did marvelously herein condescend to her not once but frequently or from time to time she was far from Euthusiasme but had such intimacy with the Lord that she went daily to him for some word some manifestation of himself to bear up her Spirit that day and he gave in either a word of promise or let out something of his attributes to her discovered of his Wisdom Power Faithfulness Allsufficiency Unchangableness and the like wherewith her inward man was fed and strengthned and when her Family concerns were more she arose the earlier and though attended with the greatest weakness yet always began the day with God and would not omit the seasons for private Communion with the Lord neither indeed could she live without them they being the life of her Spirit She lived in an eminent exercise of many graces of the Spirit She was well instructed in the mystery of the life of Faith lived in a daily dependance upon God for all in her greatest fulness she lived not upon the creature but upon God and recieved all from him in the way of Faith and Prayer in every strait she had recourse to the Al-sufficiency of God and would often say the creature runs into emptiness and the streams they dried up but the Fountain was ever full and flowing and in all losses and changes blessed her self in God her portion who was a faithful Covenant keeping God for ever she went to the Wisdom of God to be directed and waited there for Counsel every day her faith advanced into assurance of the love of God which she enjoyed most part of her days and thence issued spiritual and unmixed comforts as she walked circumspectly being careful not to provoke the Lord so he witnessed his love to her and filled her Soul with strong Consolation that she had a Heaven out of it's place even hereupon Earth she was in the Banquetting house of Jesus Christ in his Wine Cellar where his Banner over her was Love In a Letter of her own she said I have not only heard that God is good but I have had many experiences of his Love and Faithfulness to me in all my streights and Widdow-hood condition I may say the Life of Faith is the sweetest Life in the World as it is a Life that bringeth much glory to God so much comfort to our selves How full of Love she was to Jesus Christ is already manifested in her carefulness to keep his Commandments and also in her love to the Members of Christ both that and also her Humility and self-denyal appeared in that in her highest actings and best frame she disowned her self and leaned only upon Jesus Christ trusted only in him gloried in nothing but in Christ in the Cross of Christ in the Righteousness of Christ in the Love of Christ not in what she did for Christ though she did much and delighted in so doing but she gloried in the Grace of Christ that did much for her he and his Righteousness were all her life and comfort she had an eye upon the Incense the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ in all her approaches to God being ashamed of the mixture of sin those weaknesses and imperfections that were in her best performances notwithstanding all her strictness and exactness she lay as low before the Lord in the sense of her own vileness emptiness nothingness as if there were nothing in her She was much in exalting of Jesus Christ his merits and grace admiring what he had done for sinners touching their reconciliation to God the remission of sin their standing and priviledges in grace here and the glory that is to be revealed relying on the freeness and fulness of his grace alone as if she had done or were able to do nothing she did set the Crown on his head in all always saw that in her self which kept her low and humble before the Lord and nothing in her own eyes She excelled in and was a pattern of Patience under all her troubles her afflictions were many and long often at the very mouth of the Grave in the latter part of her time seldom enjoyed a well day yet never murmured thought her afflictions small bore them with a chearful Spirit was always submissive to the will of God always thought and spoke well of God and justified him in all her Tryals She was wonderfully melted into the will of God and lived always out of her own will resigned up to God to be disposed of as he pleased and was greatly satisfied in what he chose for her she hath said the will of God is sweet to her in every condition and under much bodily weakness if the Lord would have her live to be sick she was content yet latter ward was mostly tryed in the Fire of affliction when her Husband laid down his living upon the accompt of Non-conformity in stead of repining she said she was glad they had such a house and accommodations to leave for Christ and with all freeness and readiness resigned up all to him She was sorely tryed in the loss of her dearest Relations and choicest comforts in this World but she was prepared to be any thing that God would have her be and that with all alacrity and cheerfulness of Spirit She had a lively hope of future mercy of the life to come shee said she scarce knew how to live out of Heaven from Jesus Christ always groaning in the body to be delivered from the body of sin and death and to be with Jesus As she set out at first so she continued in the vigorous and constant exercise of all grace not loosing the life nor abating or impairing the strength thereof in old age under the decays of nature but in the 73 of her age she slept or dyed in Jesus and her Soul was gathered to the Spirits of just men made perfect FINIS Books to be Sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Hundred select Sermons on several Texts by Tho. Horton D. D. Sermons on 4 select Psalms viz. 4th 42 51 63. by Tho. Horton D. D. Mr. Baxters Christian Directory Sermons on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Collossians by Mr. J. Daille translated into English by F. S. with Dr. Tho. Goodwins and Dr. John Owens Epistles Recommendatory An Exposition of Christs Temptation on Matth.
removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee And as God will not of himself take away his loving kindness so neither can any creature in Hell or on Earth separate us from the love of God Rom. 8.38 39. I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Now our reconciliation to God by Jesus Christ is a ground of joy and strong consolation against the terrours of Death and troubles of Life Rom. 5.11 We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now recieved an atonement When we understand that our Lord Jesus Christ hath made an atonement for us this may fill our hearts with joy when death looks us in the face when other men tremble at the thoughts of God they that are reconciled to him may joy in God both while they live and when they dye In the next verse the Apostle speaks of death entring into the world by sin and passing upon all men for that all have sinned ver 12. And in the 3d. and 4th verses he speaks of the tribulations we are liable to in this life We glory in Tribulations Yet in all our tribulations and when we see death approaching and passing upon us we may joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received an atonement The knowledge of Gods love to our Souls may cause us to glory and rejoyce in the Lord in times of greatest mortality when Death is coming in at our Windows and entred into our houses and cuts off both young and old and there such a multitude of dead corpses that there are none to bury them Jer. 9.21 22.24 Death is come up into our Windows and is entered into our Palaces to cut off the children from without and the young men from the streets speak thus saith the Lord even the Carcasses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field and as the handful after the harvest man and none shall gather them But let him that glorieth glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me We see here that a man may attain to glory in dismal and dark days in times of greatest mortality when death is cutting down multitudes in all places our houses the streets the fields and we may see in what a man may glory at such a time and that is in the knowledge of Gods love Let him glory in this that he knoweth and understandeth me that I am the Lord that exerciseth loving kindness It was a great comfort to Jacob when he understood that Esau was reconciled to him while he apprehended his brother to be offended and that he came to meet in displeasure he was greatly afraid and distressed Gen. 32.7 But when he saw his Brother was pleased with him that made him exceeding joyful even as if he had a sight of the face of God Gen 33.10 I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God and thou wast pleased with me If reconciliation with an offended brother be such a ground of comfort what is reconciliation with an offended God Solomon speaks highly of the favour of a King that is like life to a dying man and like the Rain to the thirsty ground very grateful and refreshing Prov. 16.15 In the light of the Kings Countenance is Life and his favour is as a Cloud of the latter Rain If there be such joy in the favour of an Earthly King what joy is there in the favour of the King of Kings Reconciliation with God affords strong Consolation against the Fears and Terrors of Death several ways 1. Because such as are reconciled to God by the death of Christ shall assuredly be saved by Christ Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life 2. Because when God is reconciled to us and his wrath turned away from us we may trust in him for Salvation and all other good things without being afraid of what death or men or devils or any creatures can do unto us Isa 12.1 2. O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou hast comforted me Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid When God is reconciled to us we need not fear what man can do to us Psal 118.7 The Lord is on my side I will not fear What can man do unto me Man can kill the body and man can torture the body but death can't hurt a man reconciled to God VVhen God is reconciled we may triumph over all our enemies not only over man but over death and the grave and the devils and Hell it self Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things if God be for us who can be against us II. Jesus Christ by his death hath obtained for all that are his a free full perpetual pardon of all their sins and this is a ground of strong consolation under the troubles of the world and all the fears and terrors of death The great end of Christs death was to expiate our sins and to obtain for us forgiveness of sins 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins 1 Joh. 3.5 And ye know that he was manifest to take away our sins Joh. 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Heb. 9.26 Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Now concerning this pardon which our Lord Jesus hath obtained by his offering up himself a Sacrifice for us let us observe these four things 1. It is a full and general pardon of all and every one of our sins 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin All sorts of sins sins of Omission and Commission sins of Ignorance and sins against light original and actual sins are cleansed away by the Blood of Christ and every particular sin great and small is cleansed by the Blood of Christ Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity He did not design our Redemption from some one sin or from many but to redeem us from all iniquity by his giving himself to death for us This was typified by the scape goat over him Aaron laid his hands and confessed all the sins and all the aggravations that were in the sins of the Children of Israel and the goat bore away all their iniquities into the land of forgetfulness Lev. 16.21 22. Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live
CONSOLATION IN LIFE and DEATH Wherein is shewed That Interest in Christ is a ground of Comfort under all the Troubles of Life and Terrors of death How they that have an Interest in Christ may retain the same Begun in A Funeral Sermon occasioned by the death of Mrs. Ellen Asty and since much enlarged By Owen Stockton late Minister of the Gospel at Colchester in Essex TOGETHER With the Life of the said Mrs. Ellen Asty Rom. 8. v. 38. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come Rom. 8. v. 39. Nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. London Printed by J. R. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside 1681. To the Worthily Honoured John Clark of Bury in Suffolk Esquire SIR IT is your seriousness in Religion together with your intimate Acquaintance with and respect for Reverend Mr. Owen Stockton that occasioneth the prefixing your name to the ensuing Treatise of which he was the Author He was one mighty in the Scriptures whose Life was much desired and his Death much lamented As you delighted to hear him Preach when he was alive So I doubt not but he being dead you are willing to hear him yet speaking especially in a word of Consolation against the troubles of Life and the fears and terrours of Death I hope the Lord hath delivered your self from the Sting of Death but yet you may need some help against the fear of it Take a survey of your Mercy that you are not under the unhappiness of Christless Souls who through the fear of Death are all their life time subject to Bondage It is said that the Indians being alarum'd with the Approaches of Death by its Arrestment so as all hope of recovery is past then to behold and hear their throbbing sobs and deep-fetched sighs their grief-wrung hands and tear-bedewed cheeks their doleful cries would draw tears from Adamantine Eyes that be but Spectators of their mournful Obsequies Indeed it is unexpressibly sad to be under a Conviction as many are of the immortality of a never dying Soul and yet to be Strangers to the promise of Eternal Life Such must needs be Mourners without hope All the Cordials in the World in this case will not afford the least drop of refreshment to such disconsolate Souls nor will a Righteousness of our own be a sure bottom for Comfort against that last Enemy Death But behold here is a way deciphered whereby we may not only be helped to leave Riches Friends Wife Children Houses Lands and depart in peace but also with exceeding joy Interest in Christ will be a means to turn Death the King of Terrors into the King of Comforts it will make it of a bitter Enemy a familiar Friend an Out-let to Affliction and a Portal to Glory How that Interest conduceth to the fitting a Soul with Consolation is discovered here by this eminent Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Owen Stockton in a Funeral Sermon upon the Death of Mrs. Ellen Asty the Relict of that Reverend Mr. Asty late of Stratford in Suffolk which afterwards he much enlarged and so left it under his own hand It was intended that the said Mr. Stockton should have printed it together with her Life but Death arresting him before he had Accomplished that work Providence hath cast it upon my hands to draw her Portraiture out of the papers which were in his hands to that end which I have done accordingly and here present it to your self and to publick view I must say further that this is a Branch or part of a Treatise of his on the same Text entituled the best Interest which probably will follow speedily This and that together compleat the Subject yet either of them might have appeared to the Reader as a perfect and distinct Treatise had I not hinted thus much I shall only add that my ardent desire is that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may bless you with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places in Christ so prayeth September 1. 1681. Honoured Sir Your Servant in the Gospel Sam. Petto Errata PAge 3. l. 25. dele for p. 23. l. 26. r. there are p. 29. l. 12. r. grace p. 37. l. 29. dele should p. 42. l. 16. for ready r. really p. 44. l. 3. for upon r. yea p. 59. l. 10. for sight r. fight p. 60. l. 28. r. carried on p. 70. l. 13. r. trusting p. 88. l. 13 for here r. how p. 96. l. 17. for preserving r. preferring In Mrs. Astys Life Page 8. l. 26. dele never p. 9. l. 15. r. uprightness p. 10. l. 16. r. never seemed CONSOLATION IN LIFE and DEATH Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine and I am his he feedeth among the Lilies THis Book containeth a Discourse concerning Jesus Christ and his Church Sometimes Christ is brought in speaking of his Church and sometimes to his Church And at other times the Church is brought in speaking of Christ and sometimes to Christ In this Text the Spouse of Christ is brought in speaking concerning Christ and expressing her grounds of Consolation that she had both under the troubles of Life and the danger of Death The troubles of the Church are set out Chap. 1.6 She was black because the Sun had looked upon her which signifieth the scorching persecutions that the Lord suffereth to come upon the Church to try the Faith and Patience of his Servants And she met with much anger and hard usage from her Mothers Children that is those that professed the same Faith with her self my Mothers Children were angry with me and made me the Keepers of their Vineyards and would not suffer her to keep her own Vineyard Her troubles are further set out Chap. 2. v. 2. As a Lilie among Thorns so is my Love among the Daughters that is compassed about on every side with sharp and sore troubles that did prick and grieve like Thorns or that her lot and habitation was in the midst of evil Men who were like Thornes in her side Her inward troubles are touched on which did proceed from her abundant love to Christ v. 5. I am sick of love Sickness makes a man restless such was her condition a restless condition Her troubles are also set out v. 15. There were Foxes abroad that made spoil of the Vines And these Foxes were of two sorts 1. False Teachers that did by false Doctrine corrupt and spoil the Vines Ezek. 13.4 Israel thy Prophets are like the Foxes that is the false Prophets for the true Prophets support and cherish the Vines they are the false Prophets that spoil the Vines 2 Subtle and cruel Persecutors that seek after the lives of the Saints are these Foxes Luk. 13.31 32. Sect. 1. The Division of the Words with the Doctrines In the words
actual right to all the saving benefits of Christ Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ They that are thus Interested in Christ are said to be in Christ and by vertue of their Union with him they have a right to all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.30 Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption To be thus interested in Christ is not common to all men but it is a special priviledge belonging to a peculiar people Tit. 2.14 who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and parifie unto himself a peculiar people As concerning this saving interest in Christ we find some men are Christ owned by him for his own 1 Cor. 3.23 ye are Christs Joh. 13.1 Jesus having loved his own loved them unto the end Some men are none of Christs Rom. 8.9 Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his but are without any part or portion in Christ Eph. 2.12 At that time ye were without Christ some men have a part with Christ some have no part at all in him or with him Joh. 13.8 If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me To open the nature of this saving Interest in Christ more fully I shall resolve these two questions 1. How Christ becometh ours 2. How we become his How doth Christ become ours A. 1. By the Fathers giving him to be a propitiation for our sins and Christs giving himself to die for our sins God the Father gave Christ to be the propitiation for our sins Joh. 16.8 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life 1 Joh. 4.10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins And as God gave Christ so Christ gave himself to be a Sacrifice and ransom for us There was his own consent to this Gift the giving himself to die for our sins Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us 1 Tim. 2.6 Who gave himself for a ransom for all 2. Christ becomes ours by effectual calling for when God calls us effectually he calls us to fellowship with Christ that is to be partakers of Christ and all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful by whom ye were called to the Fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. When Christ dyed he gave himself for us when we are effectually called he giveth himself to us By the death of Christ there was an impetration or purchase of all things that were necessary to our Salvation In our effectual calling there is an application of Christ and all the benefits purchased by Christ to our own Souls As soon as we are effectually called Christ becomes ours and all his benefits become ours we have an actual right to an interest and propriety in Christ and in all his saving benefits 1 Cor. 1.26 Ye see your calling brethren All are yours and ye are Christs 1 Cor. 3.22.23 They that are effectually called Christ is theirs and all the benefits of Christ are theirs I add this word effectual because many are outwardly called by the Gospel who are not inwardly and effectually called to Fellowship with Christ now this effectual calling whereby we are made partakers of Christ and his saving benefits consists of these three Branches 1. Illumination when God calls us effectually he brings us out of our ignorance and darkness and gives us the knowledge of himself and his Son Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.9 Who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light The knowledge of Christ and God in Christ is a great furtherance of our being partakers of Christ and his saving benefits for through the knowledge of Christ are communicated to us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his divine power hath given us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2. The loosening and taking off the heart from all things that hinder the Soul from coming to and following after Jesus Christ A man is called off from all that hinders his closeing with Christ whether they be worldly lusts or fleshly lusts or relying upon our own Righteousness or any other impediments A man is made to leave all to enjoy Christ when Christ called Levi he left all for to go after Christ Luk. 5.27 28. He said unto him follow me and he left all rose up and followed him When Christ called James and John they left their Father their Servants their Ship and there Nets and all to follow Christ Mark 1.20 He called them and they left their Father Zebedee in the Ship with the hired Servants and went after him When the Lord had called the Apostle Paul he was willing to suffer the loss of all things that came in competition with Christ so that he might win Christ Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ 3. VVhen God calls a man effectually he calls him to believe in Christ he calls him to come to Christ and to accept of Christ as offered in the Gospel and to rely upon him alone for his Salvation Joh. 6.45 Every man that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me The Father calls us to come to his Son and every one that heareth this call effectually cometh to Jesus Christ Now they that are thus called to the knowledge and faith of Christ are made partakers of Christ and all his saving benefits for by Faith Christ dwells in our hearts Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith And they that are thus called shall have remission of sins and eternal life Rom. 8.30 Whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified 3. Christ becometh ours by our recieving him The Spirit of God maketh a free offer of Christ to every one that is willing to have him Rev. 22.17 The Spirit saith come And let him that is a thirst come And whoever will let him take the Water of Life freely VVhen we recieve Jesus Christ thus offered to us he becometh ours and we become his Joh. 1.12 To as many as recieved him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name VVhen we recieve Christ he becomes our Saviour and God becomes our Father and we become his Sons Now this recieving Christ implyeth these 3 things 1. Our recieving that Testimony which is given of Christ in the Gospel concerning the person offices death and sufferings of Christ and the benefits that we
goat and confess over him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities into a Land not inhabited This did signifie Gods laying all our sins upon Christ Isa 53.6 And Christ making satisfaction for them all bearing them all away by his death 1 Pet. 2.24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body upon the tree The discharge that Christ by his death hath obtained for us is a full discharge VVhatever sin may be charged upon us by the Law by Conscience by Satan who is our accuser by the justice of God all is discharged and quitted and answered by the death of Christ Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect. It is God that justifieth It is Christ that dyed Out of respect to the Death of Christ God will forgive us all our trespasses how many or how great soever they have been Col. 2.13 Having forgiven you all trespasses Ps 103.3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities Ps 85.2 Thou hast forgiven all the iniquities of thy people thou hast covered all our sin And that we may be the more fully assured that the pardon which our Lord Jesus hath obtained for us is a full and general pardon of all offences the Lord hath obliged himself by many promises for Christs sake to pardon all and every one of our sins Jer. 33.8 I will cleanse them from all their Iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their Iniquities whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me Ezek. 36.25 From all your filthiness and all your Idols I will cleanse you 2. Our Lord Jesus hath obtained of God that this general pardon shall be for ever that all our sins should be forgiven for ever and never be remembred against us to Eternity Heb. 8.12 I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more And this is implyed in such promises as these Mich. 7.19 Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the Sea that is as Drusius observ's aeternâ oblivione delebit memoriam peccatorum nostrorum He will blot out the remembrance of our sins for ever Those things that are cast into the depths of the Sea are wholly and for ever taken out of our sight Psal 103.12 As far as the East is from the West so far hath he removed our transgressious from us That is so far as they shall never be laid to our charge any more For the East and VVest are at that great distance that they shall never come together Ezek. 33.16 None of the sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned to him 3. The Lord Jesus hath obtained a general and perpetual pardon of all offences upon terms of free grace without any respect to merit or worthiness in us that are partakers of it Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace It is from grace free-graces the riches of grace that we have pardon of our Sins through the blood of Christ It is not for our sakes but for his own sake and his Sons sake that the Lord pardons our sins Isa 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember tâ—y sin Eph. 4.32 God for Christs sake hath forgiven you 4. This free this everlasting this general pardon of all offences our Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased for all that are his that is for all that do and all that shall believe in him in all places and all ages of the world Act. 13.39 By him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Acts 10.43 To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Now this free this everlasting this full and general pardon which our Lord Jesus Christ hath obtained for all that are his by shedding his blood for them is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of life and all fears and terrours of death Rom. 5.1 3. Being therefore justified by Faith We glory in Tribulations Justified persons whose sins are remitted through the blood of Christ may glory not only when they are got out of their troubles but when they are in the midst of all their tribulations Isa 33.24 The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquities It is not said the Inhabitant shall be without sickness The greatest of Gods favourites are liable to sickness as well as other men Daniel was a man greatly beloved yet he was sick and faint many days Dan. 8.27 I Daniel fainted and was sick certain dayes And it is said of Lazarus John 11.3 Lord he whom thou lovest is sick Justified persons are oft times sick as well as other men but the pardon of sin doth so sweeten their affliction that they shall not say I am sick that is they shall not say by way of complaint and discontent Sin unpardoned makes afflictions like gall and wormwood that is exceeding bitter Lam. 3.5 15 42. He bath compassed me with gall He hath filled me with bitterness he hath made me drunken with worm wood We have transgressed and rebelled and thou hast not pardoned But pardon of sin doth so sweeten the bitterest afflictions that it takes away all causes of complaint under the rod of God The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick and why is it because there is no sickness No but because the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquitie VVhen a man is taken sick and his sickness for ought he knoweth may be his death sickness when he is so sick that he can't go or stand or set up but is confined to his Bed if his sins be forgiven him he may be of good cheer Math. 9.2 Son be of good cheer thy sins be forgiven thee Here is a sick man his sickness was very uncomfortable he was sick of the Palsie he was brought very low he kept his Bed there was no way for his recovery but a miracle yet before Christ gave him any intimation of his purpose to heal him he bid him be of good cheer and why because his sins were forgiven him This pardon of all our sins which is obtained for us by our Lord Jesus Christ may comfort us against all the fears and terrours of Death on several accounts 1. VVhen our sins are pardoned the sting of Death is taken away For the sting of Death is sin 1 Cor. 15.56 And when Sin is forgiven Death hath lost its sting and when the sting of Death is taken away we need not be afraid of Death
sooner you shall come to the knowledge of your interest in God Psal 16.1 2. In thee do I put my trust O my Soul thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my Lord Psal 31.14 But I trusted in thee O Lord I said thou art my God 4. Learn to deny your selves for Christ for the more you are exercifed in self-denial the sooner you shall attain to know your interest in Christ After Abraham had denyed himself of taking a reward from the King of Sodom God came to him with a promise to assure him of his interest in God Gen. 15.1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abraham in a Vision saying Fear not Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward 5. Set your love upon Christ The Spouse finding in her heart an ardent love to Christ could say Cant. 2.16 My Beloved is mine To such as love Christ there is a promise that he will manifest himself to their Souls John 14.21 6. Labour to order your Conversation aright and to live righteously and holily Psal 50.23 Isa 32.17 7. Attend frequently that sealing ordinance of the Lords upper the neglect or careless use whereof is the reason so few Christians attain to assurance of their interest in Christ Exhort 3. Learn how to fetch comfort from Christ in all troubles How to retain the knowledge of your interest in Christ VVhat you should do that can't make out your interest in Christ in a day of trouble and at an hour of death I have shewn that there is comfort to be had in Christ for such as have an interest in him not only under outward but also under Soul troubles Now I shall conclude this discourse with the resolution of three questions 1. How may we fetch comfort from Christ in all our troubles 2. How may such as have attained the knowlede of their interest in Christ retain the same 3. VVhat shall they do that want the knowledge of their interest in Christ Sect. 1. How may we fetch comfort from Christ in all our troubles both inward and outward 1. Get Acquaintance with Christ and those benefits we have by Christ The more we have of the knowledge of Christ the more peace and comfort we shall have in our Souls 2 Pet. 1.2 Grace and peace be multiplyed unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord. As grace so peace also is multiplyed given abundantly through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ And as the knowledge of Christ tends much to the multiplying of peace and comfort so also doth the knowledge of the benefits that we have by Christ very much promote our comfort under all our troubles as I might shew by instancing in the several benefits we have by Christ I will mention three or four 1. By Christ we are reconciled to God and have an attonement made for our Souls God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself The knowledge of this attonement which Christ hath made for us will fill our hearts with joy and gladness Rom. 5.11 We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now received the attonement 2. By Christ we have remission of all our sins Act. 13.38 39. And the knowledge of remission of sins is a ground of joy in all troubles Matth. 9.2 Son be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee 3. By Christ our persons and services are accepted of God Eph. 1.6 And the acceptation of our persons and services may put great joy and gladness into our hearts Eccl. 9.7 Go thy way eat thy bread with joy and drink thy Wine with a merry heart for God now accepteth thy works 4. By Jesus Christ we have a perfect and compleat righteousness Rom. 10.4 And this is matter of great joy Isa 61.10 I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my Soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness 5. By Christ we have boldness to hope for eternal life Heb. 10.19 And hope of eternal life is a ground of great joy in all our troubles Rom. 5.2 We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God 6. By Christ there is a new Covenant established full of precious promises And the knowledge of the Covenant layeth a foundation for peace and comfort in all troubles Psal 25.13 14. His Soul shall dwell at ease He wil shew them his Covenant To be at ease intimates a relief against all sorts of Malidies for if there be any thing that disquiets the Soul it is not at ease Dwelling at ease implyeth a permanency of Spiritual comforts Now here comes the Soul to dwell at ease when the outward man is exposed to variety of troubles It is by being acquainted with the Covenant II. If you would fetch comfort from Christ under all troubles get and keep clear apprehensions of your interest in Christ and in those benefits which he hath purchased with his blood Darkness and doubts about our interest hinder our comfort but when we know Christ to be ours our Saviour and our Redeemer this will make our Souls greatly to rejoyce under all our troubles Luk. 1.47 My Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour 1 Sam. 30.6 David was greatly distressed for the people spake of stoning him But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God Ps 27. 1. The Lord is my light and my Salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my Life of whom shall I be afraid III. Keep in remembrance and meditate on the benefits you have by Christ as Reconciliation with God Remission of sins Adoption Sanctification Eternal life c. For those things that are forgotten and out of mind yield no comfort to us It is the remembrance and meditating on Christ and the benefits of Christ that brings in sweetness and Soul-satisfying comforts Ps 104.34 My meditation of him shall be sweet Ps 63.5 6. My Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness when I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches Ps 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my Soul IV. In all your troubles both inward and outward keep up your Faith in Christ and in God through Christ Trust in God that for Christs sake he will give you all the blessings purchased with the blood of Christ and promised in the new Covenant For this is the way to keep your hearts from being troubled and to fill your Souls with peace and joy Rom. 15.13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee 1 Pet. 1.8 In whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory John 14.1 Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me
days to shew our love in our diligence in Ministring to the Saints as we have ability and as their necessity requireth Heb. 6.10 11. Another Grace that will much further our Assurance as trusting in God in all distresses and dangers and living by Faith on Gods promises Psal 31.14 I trusted in thee I said thou art my God The more we accustom our selves to trust in God the more confidently we shall be enabled to call God our God Another grace that will further our assurance is Uprightness when we walk in our Integrity that will scatter and dispel fears and bring in comfort Psal 112.4 Vnto the Vpright there ariseth Light in Darkness But I shall add no more upon this question Sect. 3. What they should do that can't make out their interest in Christ in a time of trouble and at the hour of Death Obj. It may be some will say it is true they that have an interest in Christ and know it may be of good chear under all the troubles of this Life and when they are to pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death but what shall I do in an evil day and at the hour of Death that cannot to this day nor ever could make it out that I have a saving interest in Christ § Prayer a means to clear interest Encouragements to pray for this mercy A. 1. Pray to God to make clear to your Souls your interest in himself and his Son Jesus Christ Psal 35.3 Say unto my Soul I am thy Salvation That which David asks is not be thou my Salvation but 't is the satisfying his Soul with the knowledge that God was his Saviour and would give him Salvation Say unto my Soul That is Lord perswade my Soul Lord give my Soul satisfaction in this great case that thou art my Saviour and wilt confer Salvation upon me And what David prayed for in this kind that may we pray for also And for our encouragement to pray for the knowledge of your interest in Christ consider these things 1. Prayer is a means of Gods own appointing not only for the obtaining of the favour of God but also for the obtaining of the comfortable apprehensions of Gods love in Christ Job 33.26 He shall pray unto God and he shall be favourable unto him and he shall see his face with joy Here is a double blessing promised unto the man that prayeth unto God he shall obtain the favour of God and he shall see his face with joy that is he shall obtain the knowledge of Gods love to his Soul which shall put great joy and gladness into his heart 2. The knowledge of our interest in God as our Father and in Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer is promised in the new Covenant and what the Lord hath promised we may pray in Faith and Hope that we shall attain it See promises to this purpose Isa 60.16 Thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer That which is here promised is not I will be thy Saviour and thy Redeemer but the knowledge of our interest in Christ as our Saviour and our Redeemer It is not said thou shalt know that I am the Saviour of my people or the Saviour of those that trust in me Thon shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer Another promise of clearing our interest in Christ we have Joh. 14.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you At that day what day is here meant some understand it of the future life when we shall live with Christ in Glory spoken of in the foregoing verse because I live ye shall live also at that day ye shall know And doubtless the full accomplishment of this promise is the priviledge of the other life to have a perfect understanding of the mystical Union between the Father and the Son and between Christ and Believers But it hath also a respect to clearing our Union with Christ in this life at that day that is after I am risen from the dead and gone to the Father and at that day that you set your love upon me and keep my Commandments and I shall pray the Father and he shall send you another comforter even the Spirit of truth he shall make it known to you that I am in you and you in me It may also relate to ver 13 14. When you shall earnestly pray to the Father in my name to have your union cleared in that day you shall know that I am in you and you in me If any say I have prayed to God to clear my Union with and my Interest in Christ and still I am in the dark about this matter I answer You must continue to seek this mercy the knowledge of your interest in God and Christ and that is the way to obtain it Hos 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord § Such as can't make out their Interest in Christ should close with Christ that they may have an Interest in him 2. If you cant nor ever could make out your Interest in Christ yea suppose it be so that you have no interest in him come in now and close with him The door of Hope still stands open to your Souls It is yet an accepted time and a day of Salvation God still continueth to offer Christ to your Souls and prays you to accept of him 2 Cor. 5.20 VVe pray you in Christs stead be you reconciled to God If at length after a long neglecting of Christ you will come in and close with him you shall be saved by him Heb. 4.7 To day after so long a time as it is said to day if you will bear his voice harden not your hearts Those that had stood all the day idle even to the last hour were invited to go into the Vineyard and going upon the invitation had their reward Matth. 20.6 7 9. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle and saith unto them why stand ye here all the day idle Go ye also into the Vineyard and whatever is right that shall ye receive And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour they received every man a penny This penny is by the generality of Interpreters agreed to be eternal life and this eternal life shall be given to those that come into Christ at the last hour of the day though the former part of their time hath been spent in ideleness But some may say if a man hath reflected and lived without God in the day of his prosperity is there hope if such a man turn to God in the day of trouble that God will be found of him and be gracious unto him I answer There is hope for such as have neglected God along time if they turn to him in the day of their tròuble that he will be gracious unto them 2 Chron. 15.3 4.
it can do us no harm 2. VVhen our sins are pardoned we may be assured our Souls shall be saved for God glorifieth all whom he justifieth Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he also glorified Tit. 3.7 That being justified by his grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of eternal life 3. Jesus Christ by his death and sufferings hath obtained for all that are his freedom from eternal condemnation and this is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death There is not any one person that belongeth to Christ that hath an interest in Christ that shall come into condemnation Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus That our Lord Jesus Christ hath redeemed all that are his from eternal condemnation is evident several wayes 1. Because Christ dyed for us Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed The Death of Christ is our security from Eternal Death He laid down his life on purpose to ransome us from Eternal condemnation Math. 20.28 The Son of man came to give his life a ransome for many out of respect to and for the sake of this ransome God will deliver all that are Christs from going down into the bottomless pit Job 33.24 Deliver him from going down into the pit for I have found a ransom 2. The ground and cause of our Condemnation is taken away by the Death of Christ which is sin For God condemneth no man but for sin and therefore Christ having by his Death taken away our sins hath taken away condemnation from us 3. God out of respect to the death and sufferings of Christ hath promised that none that believe in Christ shall come into condemnation Joh. 3.16 18. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but should have everlasting life He that believeth on him is not condemned Job 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from Death unto Life 4. The Keys of Hell are in the hands of Jesus Christ he hath power to cast into Hell and to keep out of Hell whom he pleaseth Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the Keys of Hell and of Death And if the Keys of Hell be in the hands of Christ then all they that are Christs are upon sure grounds that they shall not come into condemnation for he will not in any wife cast any of his Members into eternal torments Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out And seeing all they that are Christs are redeemed from eternal condemnation this may comfort them under all the troubles of this world and against the fears and terrors of Death It may scatter and dispel all our sorrows and fill our hearts with joy and gladness when we understand and believe that we are ransomed and delivered from eternal torments Isa 35.10 The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away This hath relation to the deliverance of the Jews out of the Babylonian Captivity which was a type of our deliverance from eternal misery when God brought them out of their captivity they were filled with joy and singing Psal 126.1 2. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing Now if there were such joy and singing by the ransomed of the Lord that were delivered from Babylon what joy and gladness may arise to the ransomed of the Lord from their deliverance from Hell torments Hell is a worse place than Babylon the captivity of Babylon was but for 70 years but Hell torments are for Eternity David speaks of his deliverance from Hell as an unexpressible Mercy and that he would praise God with all his heart and glorifie him for evermore for such a great mercy Psal 86.12 13. I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy name for evermore for great is thy mercy toward me and thou hast delivered my Soul from the lowest Hell And this his deliverance from the lowest Hell was a comfort to him when the proud rose up against him and the assemblies of violent men sought after his Soul ver 14.17 When we know and believe that we are freed from condemnation by the death of Christ this may cause us to triumph over death when we are killed all the day long and counted as Sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8.34 36 37. Who shall condemn It is Christ that dyed For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as Sheep for the slaughter Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us When we are freed from condemnation we may triumph over Death though we walk in danger of Death all the day long more than Conquerours triumph over their conquered enemies IV. They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to eternal life and that sure hope which they have of eternal life is a ground of strong consolation under all the troubles of this life and against the fears and terrours of Death They that are Christs have a sure and undoubted right to Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life It is not said he shall have Life but he hath Life that is he may be as sure of it as if he had it already He hath an undoubted right an unquestionable Title to eternal life He hath it in the purpose and decree of God he hath it in the promise of God And that by life here is meant eternal life is evident from the following words they that have Christ dwelling in their hearts by Faith have a sure ground and foundation for their hope of eternal glory Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory That all that are Christs have an undoubted right to and sure grounds to hope for eternal Life may be demonstrated several wayes 1. Our Lord Jesus Christ dyed on purpose that he might purchase and procure eternal life for all that should believe on him Joh. 3.14 15. As Moses listed up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life By the lifting up of the Son of man is meant his suffering death upon the Cross Joh. 12.32 33. And this death he suffered that he might purchase eternal life for all that should believe on him 1 Thes 5.9 10. God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ