which Believers are to take notice of against their fears and troubles Our Father by these words Fear thou not for I am with thee engageth first his Word secondly his Power thirdly his Faithfulness and fourthly his Honour God hath laid all these and much more at stake as I may so express it for every Believer to the removing away fears 1. In his special presence his Word is engaged and this the Text holds forth being the Word of God though penned by this Gospel-Prophet Isaiah There is a twofold Word of God the internal and external but both are engaged against a Believers fears and dismayings The internal word is that voyce within us saying This is the way walk in it And this proceeds from the Eternal word of the Father even Jesus Christ himself for so he is called by that divine Evangelist Joh. 1. 1 2 3. And by this Word we have the Law of the Spirit of life freeing us from the Law of sin and death and this the Word of God engages and Jesus Christ by his Spirit makes good Rom. 8. 2. And then if freedom from sin and death who should once make doubt against fears and sorrowings And in the Scriptures how many gracious promises hath the Father given thee on purpose for thy consolation All the comforting promises all the upholding promises all the present promises all the prccious promises are for the support and comfort of every Child of God So that though no holy things must be cast to Dogs yet all the words of Consolation Comfort Joy and Peace they are all to be dealt forth unto a believing soul And therefore as our Saviours words do invite you so let them abide in you Joh. 14. 1. Let not your hearts be troubled Ye believe in God believe also in me For both agree in words of Consolation against all your fears and troubles 2. God by this special presence engageth not only his Word but his Power also and what will not a man of power do that will engage for a friend But what will not the powerful God accomplish for Jacob his friend In case of temptation he saith to Paul My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12. 9. And all power is in Grace though all Grace be not in power But both these are in this special presence of God engaging for a fearing Christian And I need go no further then the Text to make it appear that the Lord engageth his power to take off Believers fears Observe when God will set forth his power and greatness to the full he saith no more but thus I am that I am Exod. 3. 14. And thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I am hath sent me unto you And thus he engageth himself in the Text for the believing soul Fear not I am Be not dismayed I am And as those expressions with thee and thy God do set forth Gods gracious relations so I am his infinite power but both opposing fears and dismayings 3. God by this his special presence engageth his Faithfulness he will assuredly perform the overcoming all thy fears Had the Lord given us but his word of promise it were enough to master fears considering all the words of grace were written for the Saints comfort and the Scripture saith Not one jot or tittle shall fail till all be fulfilled And the reason is because he is faithful that hath promised And let us take heed by our giving way to fears we make not Gods word of none effect for He is faithful that hath promised yea and he is round about us to effect it saying I am with thee fear not I am thy God that is a God in covenant and I will nor suffer thee to be tempted feared affrighted but as I am with thee so I will strengthen yea I will help yea I will uphold It remains only doubting soul that thou shouldst witness with the Saints Heb. 10. 23. that He is faithful that hath promised and doth engage all for thee Hold fast therefore thy profession without wavering for the Lord thy God he is God the faithful God a God that keepeth Covenant and that with thee against distrust and fears Deut. 7 9. 4. And lastly God engageth not only his word his power and his faithfulness against a Believers fears but his Honour is at stake for them and know Believer he will not suffer himself to be foil'd in this for he is very jealous of it whatsoever suffer his Honour shall not Isa 42. 8. I am the Lord that is my name and my honour will I not give to another But a Believers fears and distrusts carry this in the very front even to ecclipse the honour and glory of God but saith the Lord Fear not for I know the drift of all your dismayings if distrusts did only seek your hurt I would not suffer it 1 Col. 10. 14. God is faithful saith the Apostle and will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able Ah saith the soul but what is my ability I am like a broken reed recling to and fro by every wind of temptation Well grant it what if thou art God saith he is thy God and he is with thee and he will deliver thee from all thy fears thou shalt escape and thou shalt glorifie him Nay he saith his own honour will suffer if slavish fears be suffered For though thou art a doubting Christian yet thou art my Child and so many distrusting fears may quickly make up slavish fears which is a dishonour unto my grace which I have given thee and of which I have said it should be sufficient And come what will come my honour shall not suffer nor my grace be clouded Therefore fear thou not for I am with thee and my honour is engaged in this my presence and Fears shall not be master My honour will not I give to any other much less to fears and dismayings which are so much against my honour And thus much for demonstration of these words I am with thee I am thy God To which I have chiefly spoken as they are directed against a Believers fears and dismayings Give me leave now to call forth some of those usual Doubts and Dismayings that are so incident unto Gods children that so the Express by Gods special presence may be made good even not to fear not to be dismayed I shall not speak any thing of the rise of fears knowing that every experienced Christian knoweth that sin was and is the cause of all servile fears Only thus much the Text implies that such there are in Gods own children and these are they that must be removed that so comfort and consolation may be administred CHAP. VI. Endeavoring the removal of spiritual fears and Objections answered as to the nature of fears THere are many sorts of fears yet they all may be comprehended to be Spiritual or Temporal and these again may be Personal Family and National fears And though
break thy quiet And that this is the mind of God to engage for thee mark but his resolution Yea I will yea I will yea I will strengthen help uphold He speaks it as a vehement undertaker of thy cause and quarrel as if he would in no wise suffer his Child to be so battered and abused by any fears and troubles and temptations Says the Creature I have spent both time and strength and mony and do you think I will suffer this No I will rather spend so much and so much more I will engage all but I le accomplish As the faithful Subject saith in his Countries cause Our father 's bought such and such a priviledge with such and such expence and shall we now be so incroacht on nay my life and fortune shall lie at stake first I will venture all and engage all but I will accomplish such dear-bought priviledges Even thus saith God the Father to a doubting Christian I have not only bought thee with the precious blood of my dear Son but through him I have also priviledged thee with the graces of my holy Spirit whereby thou mayst be comforted against fears and troubles But I see these guests are inmates in my houses still yea these slaves which should be underfoot are oft usurpers lording it over my sons and daughters But children be of good chear I your Father will not suffer this I will stand by you and engage for you Hath my Son redeemed you from your sins and shall you now be overwhelmed by servile fears No believe it drooping spirit Call forth all my strength all my power all my love it s all at stake for you and all engaged for you You know I sent my Son for you and in his low estate he slew the King of fears Death and Hell and led Captivity captive And now I am exalted I in him and he in me and you in both and shall I now suffer you to suffer No I will not suffer you to be tempted to be feared but I will succour you I will relieve you and support you When the offending Child hath got but a friend to stand between it and its offended Father how will it wipe the eyes and cherish hope and creep behind because it knows it hath gotten one to stand between it and home Ah but how much more may the Child of God who hath such a friend as Christ to intercede and such a Father as is so far from being offended with his Child in case of fears that he comes forth himself and engageth all his love all his grace the least drop whereof is enough to remove mountains of sins and why not fears and dismayings specially considering that he by his special presence singles out thee alone as if so be he had no more but thee for so the Text implies and expresses I am with thee poor fearing Christian and and all my mercy power and grace is engaged for thee and what will not the Bow of my power do being bent with resolution and that against all your servile fears I come I shoot I engage all my power mercy love Fear thou not for I am with thee And this is no more then what the Prodigal found at the hands of his Father Luk 16. who leaves all for him and engages all for him although a Prodigal and a Spend thrift yet because a Son the Father 's out to meet him and no cost must be spared the fatted Calf must be kill'd And if our Heavenly Father have such a resolution for a prodigal Son what will he not have for thee who art a Son but yet a fearing one The Children of God may say indeed that the sons of Zerviah have been too hard for them Temptation Sin and Satan had made them slaves The sorrows of death encompassed me and the pains of hell caught hold on me yea I found trouble and sorrow saith David as our President Psal 116. 3. but v. 5 6. Gratious is the Lord for he preserveth the simple I was brought low and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to be thin and poor naked he helped me That 's the fearing soul And upon this he sings this Requiem Return unto thy rest return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee And thus may every doubting Believer not only say but sing from Gods special presence that is round about them Turn out fears and dismayings turn out troubles sighs and sorrowings turn out distrusts and droopings And turn in my love and joy my comfort my consolation For my God hath dealt bountifully with me engaging all by his special presence And who would not subscribe to such an engagement such an engaging Father and such an engaging Son who is about me with all his power and love to oppose all my fears and affrightings How often have our fearing hearts said as David did in his case with Saul 1 Sam. 1 Sam. 27. 27. Surely I shall one day perish by the hands of Saul So says the weak Believer Surely I shall perish Sin doth so assault me and Temptation like the floating Sea daily riseth high and how can I chuse but fear when my life is in jeopardy every houre Ah but consider so oft as thou hast feared perishing who hath delivered thee 'T was not thy faintings and thy fearings for it is not by the best of our might or power why then it must be by the Spirit of God in his special presence which hath been with thee in the time of all thy straits and troubles only it may be thou hast not thought that God was thy assistant that he was so neer at hand by his special presence to comfort thee and sustain thee And if thou hadst known and thought of this thou wouldst have trusted more and doubted less However for the future still keep this in mind That God is with thee yea engaged for thee and that against all thy fears and dismayings And if one Attribute of God may administer a world of comfort and if one Attribute of God is an infinite support what then are all the Attributes of God which are about every Believer to comfort and engage against all their fears and troubles Surely we may all say We will not fear though the earth were removed for the Lord is a present help Yea though I be but as a worm a poor go-by the ground for so the Text expresses v. 14. Fear thou not worm Jacob yea the Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Psal 46. 1. 11. God being with us what need we fear any that are against us And why Because all is engaged for us All his Grace all his Love all his Mercy all his Wisdom all his Strength indeed all in God and God in all I shall in a word or two hint unto you four things which are engaged by this I am with thee
presently believe and draw refreshment against all thy fears And for that end the Lord affords us his special presence which speaks not the least of terror but only comfort and consolation And as Christ saith Joh. 14. 19. so saith the Father by this Text My peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you Not as the world giveth which are ready to grumble and to take it away again but saith v. 18. that it may abide with you for ever And why should your hearts be troubled or afraid I am with you saith the Father and my promise is for thee at the present and see believing souls that you approve it There are three special times of fears but this special presence of God to every believing soul will answer all 1. The hour of Temptation is a time of fear when the soul is as a bird insnared by the fowler but then God by his special presence makes way for the soul to escape so that though the Tempter tempt never so craftily yet God hath so promised to succour and relieve the soul that the soul gets cost and by being thus try'd hath this crown set upon the head of it Jam. 1. 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tryed he shall receive the crown of life A wicked man way-lays Satan as well as Satan way-lays him and being dead in trespasses and sins he is not capable what Temptation means and therefore is it 2 Tim. 2. 20. said the Devil takes them captive at his will But now Gods child he finds it to go very hard sometimes with him through temptation and he wrestles tugs and toyls which is a clear sign by his complainings that his soul is capable But fear not holy soul this Job 5. 19. is the hour God will be seen in the Mount and make way for thee to escape out of six and seven troubles Yea when thou art thus try'd thou shalt be crowned hereafter with glory and life and for the present by Gods special presence thou art pronounced blessed for Blessed is the soul that endures c. Jam. 1. 12. 2. As the hour of temptation so the hour of death this is called the King of fears and may truly be so to an unbeliever But fear not thou their fear for God is with us in this hour And though thou thinkest death to be an enemy to thee and a hard passage for thee to dispute yet if thou believest nothing too hard for God then fear thou not this hour of fear for by this special presence God being with thee thou hast no less then the right hand of the Lords righteousness and this delivers thee from death Pro. 10. 2. which is but a parallel to the Text to let us know we should not fear this hour of fear for God being with us we have the right hand of his righteousness And though treasures of gold and silver will not for that will profit nothing in that day and therefore wicked men may fear but fear not thou God is with thee and righteousness delivers from death 3. Being thus delivered from death there is no fear to thee to come to Judgment which is and will be a time of fearful fear Pro. 13. 21. to all wicked men Ah but to a child of God this is no time of fear but of everlasting refreshment Wicked men in their life time have the powerful presence of God their conscience bearing of them witness that they thus were always in his presence and they could not flie it as David Ps 139. 7. speaks but this is their misery they gave no regard to it And therefore Death and Judgment are times of fear because they have Gods fearful presence Christ appears to them as a fearful Judge and as an Avenger of all those injuries offered to him his Cause and Saints And this is the cause why they call to the rocks and mountains to fall upon them it is to hide them from the presence of the Lord Whereas Rev. 6. 16. the child of God hath the Judge his friend and Christ his Advocate and nothing is brought in against him but he himself is brought in with shouts and with welcome love and kindness And therefore believing soul since Gods special presence will own you at that great day of fears and tremblings Mat. 25. 34. saying Come ye blessed come my children come my servants See that you own this special presence now when God is with you and bids you Fear not yea and is so earnest you should believe him Be couragious doubting soul by answering Gods kindenesse saying Come Lord Jesus come quickly Lastly It may be objected Am not I Obj. bid to fear the Lord yea and is it not a Scripture precious qualification yea and that for Saints Psal 34. 9. O fear the Lord all ye his Saints and so likewise Prov. 14. 27. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life and the Text saith Fear not How standeth these Scriptures and such like against this expresse Prohibition I Answer The Scripture is very plentiful A double fear in scripture a slavish and a filial in a double fear A slavish or a distrustful fear a filial or a depending fear a fear as a Passion and fear as a Grace or a gracious fear The first of these is that of our Saviours warning unto his Disciples Mat. 10. 28. Fear not them that can kill the body but are not able to kill the soul but fear him that can cast both body and soul into hell But now a gracious fear is that of the Prophet Jer. 32. 40. I will put my fear into their hearts Wicked men are often upon this slavish fear and therefore the childe of God is called to fear not their fear Gods children must not have such doubts Prov. 29. 25. and fears and dismayings but rather flie such fears for Gods special presence about believers is perfect love And perfect love casts out fear 1 Iohn 4. 18. perfect love it may take in filial fear but not the least of slavish or distrustful fear And therefore doubting Christian take heed Me thinks I hear thy sighs and see thy tears Let not thy tears be tears of distrust or fearful sorrowing for God is with thee by his special presence forbiding any such tears or sorrows And if tears will needs flow let them be tears of kindnesse let them be like Mary's not onely Luke 7. 37 38. tears of contrition but tears of compassion if thou wilt bedew Christs feet with tears wipe them with the hairs of thy head and kisse them to let all flow from constrained love in the consideration of this special presence that God is with thee Know therefore as thou art a Believer all thy fears should be filial more for love then want and all thy tears should be joyful more from comfort then grief No men laugh louder then wicked men but this is
that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you That is If God dwell in your hearts by faith all the current of your lives will be to dwell in him by love by hope and by obedience Thus Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth his Spirit into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Here is the Spirit of Donation and of Grace sent from the Spirit of Power and Glory God hath sent So Joel 2. 28 I will pour forth my Spirit on all flesh Here is the Spirits pouring forth the Spirit namely the fruits of the Spirit which are love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith c. which Spirit cooperateth in our hearts through which we have communion in our union I shall cast all that I have to speak at this time from these words into these three Considerations 1. How may a Believer and Christ be said to be one Spirit 2. What Evidences may I have that my soul and Christ are thus in union And then 3. What benefit and income have I by being united unto Christ For so the Text imports it by way of triumph benefit and blessing to that soul which is one Spirit with Christ And in all these three Considerations I am not to speak of the Maximum quod sic or the Minimum quod sic Not of the Degrees of believing knowing that the least grain of faith doth as truly unite to Christ as the Plerophoria faith of assurance though not so strongly First How may a believing soul and Christ be said to be one Spirit I shall demonstrate this in some few and brief particulars 1. This will appear in the life of Christ and the life of a Believer Take a Believer in his birth and progress in this world in his first and in his last and still you will find Christ and Believers walking hand in hand and heart in heart they do not only close together in the final close but through Christ their whole life is a harmony joying and joyning and rejoycing in one another True it is as Musitians may have in their Descant some sharp and flats some rests and pauses yet even they set out the harmony So a Believer may have some withdrawings of divine light Christ may seem to stand behind the wall and to be estranged but no sooner doth Christ call but straight saith the holy soul Draw me and I will run after thee Can. 1. 4. And if the Saint cries I am my Welbeloveds Christ saith presently She is his Can. 2. 16. Likewise as Christ and the soul have an union in life so have they also in death and suffering If they suffer he suffers if he suffers they suffer if Christ dies the Saints die yea count reckon your selves so saith Paul Rom. 6. 11. yet with this difference Christ dyeth for sin the Saints to sin Christus non filius fuit irae sub ira Christ was not a Son of wrath though under wrath But we were both and yet what we had done Christ counts himself had done and stands in our stead So that as Luther saith He was the greatest sinner in the world And he bids the Saints believe that all their sins were laid on him and that not only so but that his righteousness is made ours for so saith the Prophet He is the Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23. 6. And if we be afflicted Christ is afflicted he having the same Isa 63. 9 spirit of sympathizing must needs have the same spirit in suffering Out of this sense if Christ be bound and led to Mount Calvary to suffer for his Saints saith the holy Soul I am not only ready to be bound but to die for the name of the Lord Jesus Act. 21. 13. 2. We are one Spirit with Christ by having communion and interest in all the precious graces of Christ This is the Saints testimony 1 Joh. 4. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit which Spirit is the sweet fruit of all the graces dwelling in our hearts and by which we cry Abba Father And if you would know what this Spirit of Grace is the Apostle tels you in opposing it to the worlds envyings Gal. 5. 21 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance Be not proud of this thy Spiritual income but be joyfull and be chearfull for against such there is no law Why no law against such Because Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. So then if we rank up all these graces Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness c. these being one Spirit with Christ we by being in union with Christ have a communion with all the graces of Christ Thus Christ dwels in us by faith and we are in Christ by faith Christ dwels in us by love and we dwell in Christ by love only We love him because he loved us first So that though we be many members and have diversity of gifts and several operations yet but one spirit one body one hope of our calling one Lord one faith one baptism one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Ephes 4. 4 5 6. Thirdly believers are one spirit with Christ in that they leave all other relations in coming to Christ If any thing oppose tribulation peril sword father mother friends a believer will through thick and thin cross or comforts good report or bad report through all to Christ How is man and wife one flesh by leaving all to be joyned to one another Matth. 19. 5. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh Thus is it in the spiritual union between Christ and the soul they leave all for Christ And this is but that which Christ hath done for us for he left Glory Father House and Home Phil 2. 5 6 7. Let this minde be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant yea he was made in the likeness of men and humbled himself and became obedient unto death And what was all this for but that his Saints might be joyned unto him in spirit in righteousness in life in grace in glory Christ left all for us that we might have a union with him so we must leave all other relations and cleave unto Christ alone And therefore let us put the question unto conscience How many of us can part and leave all for Christ if we finde not this resolution within us but we have a cleaving to father and mother to this worlds comforts and enjoyments profess what we will for Christ yet so far
Containing positive perswasions for souls to be strangers and sojourners on the earth 1. From former example 2. From present experience 3. From future expectation 1. Be exhoted from former example Let former example of all the Saints take place in us that we may be like-minded as they were Abraham was so and Jacob was so With this staff saith he came I over this Jordan and so were all the Patriarchs David was one of the Lords worthies and Gen. 32. 10. though a King yet saith he in the Text I am a stranger and Psal 39. 12. I am a stranger and a sojourner as all my fathers were yea Christ himself was so although he was the King of Kings although he was the standard for all Saints yet he was not a stayer but a stranger in this world John 18. 36. Jesus answered my kingdom is not of this world if my Kingdom were of this world c And that Christians should be of the same minde not to be troubled at this worlds losses he tells his Disciples and as them so all believers John 14. 1 2 3. Let not your hearts be troubled I go to prepare a place for you yea in my fathers house are many Mansions and I will come again and fetch you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also What is the import of this but Christ owning of believers as strangers on the earth destitute and afar off from him his father crown and kingdom and to give them a word of comfort amidst this worlds discouragements he tells them that granting they were strangers yet poor hearts saith Christ be not troubled I will call for you and receive you that where I am ye may be there also 2. Be exhorted from present experience to be strangers on the earth This our deceased friend although a standard in his family yet you see but a stranger on the earth a traveller that is now gone to his home the body to the grave the spirit to God that gave it The Cedars are emblematical for greatness yet down they must as well as lesser shrubs But the Saints which are Gods myrtle trees amongst whom the Lord is said to walk and take repast amidst the Rev. 2. 1 golden Candlesticks which are his Church and people yet not onely the Cedars but the Myrtle trees must down it is appointed for all men once to dye yea the Saints Gods Myrtle trees must down as well as others this days experience teaches this our deceased friend was a standard a supporter to his family and a little pillar of his Countrey and Commonwealth witness those several places of trust and esteem he was often called unto so that his enemies being judges this may not be gainsaid Eccles 7. 1. That a good name is better then precious ointment and the day of death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then the day of birth Then the day of generation or childe hood saith the Hebrew hinting that it is better for a childe of God to be gone out of this world then to be begotten again to be cropt off then growing up with a new life in this world when a mans conversation is as becomes the Gospel how sweet is life how welcome is death such a soul may say and all we may say of such a soul Christ is unto thee in life or death advantage Present experience speaks much comfort unto us in this our friends departure he had a good name a conversation not criminal but godly a Myrtle tree standing to and for the truth as it is in Jesus witness his communications and actions in his life and precious brethings of his soul in death and yet friends experience tels us how this flower is cropt what a stranger he was in the earth yea his own body laboring under and in afflictions of his poor tabernacle of clay presents unto me with such a like prospect Methinks I see not onely this but every Christian going up and down the world in this tabernacle of clay with legs and arms like the poor prisoner with his fetters The poor prisoner is clog'd with irons goes in pain waits with patience carries the chain in his hand the iron on his legs and he steps this way and that way but still is straitned his legs are bound his arms pinioned and his heart careful for his deliverance even so is the Christian in this tabernacle of clay he moves up and down the earth like a poor prisoner laden with irons sin straitens him one way and the world another he hath a body of flesh and corruption wherein he is manicled as with fetters of iron with which being shakled he moves here and there still carrying the chain in his hand though fastned on his heels he expects his fetters to be taken off and his clogging cares to be broken and the prisoner the Saint to be relieved and released And you that finde your selves clogg'd and that thus carry your chain in your hand waiting for your deliverance hearkenâ—â— what Christ saith Zec. 9. 12. Turn ye to the strong hold ye prisoners of hope even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee who would be a lingering Saint having such a precious promise and such a gracious call Our friend and prisoner is gone unto his attainment experience at present tells you this And Christians what will you do would you have your Benjamin have a double portion then wait for your return Return O Shunamite return Return O poor soul the prisoner of hope turn from thy shakels and turn to thy Saviour Return unto thy rest Jesus Christ calls thee from this weak hold on earth to his strong hold in heaven You know 2 Pet. 1. 1. stayers are not returners but strangers are returners our friends are gone before let us hasten after like prisoners longing with like precious faith for the same precious experience of the Saints double portion both in grace and glory Thirdly and lastly be exhorted as from former example present experience so from future expectation thou expectest to dye you all know that is the Lords appointment Man must dye and after death the judgement Heb. 9. 27. but what is thy expectation are we like Paul he was a straitned stranger but his expectation and desire was to be with Christ yea he counts his present state a distress in regard of departing and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. I am in a strait saith he desiring to depart Ah but whether what is the Apostles expectation why he tells you it is to be with Christ Now what is yours dye you must but what is it you expect after death what company what place what being and possession speak your expectation as in the presence of the Lord Alas saith a poor soul what do you ask me can I tell what or where but I trust to be with Christ and confess that is best but surely I think
none can say certainly what they expect but I hope the best as well as others would you have me to say certainly that is more then Paul doth or I think any Saint Nay but do not so reckon Mark the Apostle not onely in the behalf of himself but of others also 2 Cor. 5 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens Mark Christians the Christians expectation not that every childe of God doth come up to this faith of certainty and assurance but we are all for to desire it as all strangers they desire home and know their home and travel after it though it be but by steps and strides yet a constant pace goes far so Christians must all keep journeying and going on though not coming to this attainment and thou poor weakling faith though thou canst not say so much yet think the more press hard and follow after though thou canst not go so fast as such whose evidence is sure Though thou canst not say I know and we know yet say I hope and it is best yea happy for that soul whose evidence is clear though we all cannot say We know yet let us not be sad but say We may know In this Pronoune We lies much divinity for the comfort of a Christian for we know we have tabernacles of clay poor bodies of dust and ashes And why should not we know we have a building of God with all such properties as not made with hands eternal in the heavens Methinks every Christian is like a stranger and a traveller that comes into his Inn and takes up his lodging for a night the people bring him meat and drink and gives him bed and board but they know not whence he comes nor whether he goes but now he knows himself where he goes and whether he would so Christians though the world knows not yet they do For we know c. I am a traveller and a stranger but I have a home a house a heaven a building I expect it saith Faith c. I am a stranger saith Patience but I have a building I wait for it saith Patience It is but to day and to morrow and the next day it shall be perfected so saith Patience I must have its perfect work a little to day more to morrow the third day I shall have possession I am a stranger in the earth saith Love but I have a building and O how I long for it Psal 42. 2. My soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God! Now unto such souls that make out after home heaven and happiness with such a triplicity of We We expect it saith Faith wait for it saith Patience long for it saith Love to such gathering of a heart in Grace the Lord doth make a gracious answer Cant. 1. 11. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver Mark poor soul here is a We to answer thy We not a Wo but a We not to dismark thee but to make thee gracious and glorious Thou that hast an I of faith expecting and I of patience waiting and an I of love longing this is a Christians We Now the Lord unto thy soul hath his We We will make thee I will saith God the Father and I will saith Christ the Son and I will saith the blessed Spirit All this makes this We to make the soul graciously glorious and gloriously gracious Now be perswaded O soul upon this thy future expectation here thou art a stranger living in thy houses of clay bedecked onely with furniture of infirmity weakness and crosses and a few broken comforts and crackt enjoyments but in heaven there is brightness and purity there is blessedness and peace there is never broken joys and everlasting comforts there are houses richly furnished with furniture free from all infirmity bordered with gold and set forth with silver all variety interwoven for soul satisfaction Hasten O strangers O strangers hasten without lingring long for this thy expectation But may some say I know every childe of Obj. God shall be well provided for of their heavenly Father Eye hath not seen nor ear heard 1 Cor. 2. 9. neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what the Lord hath prepared for them that love him but there is that to be passed would make one fear the straits of death is not an easie passage it fills my heart with grief and my eyes with tears at the present sence of my deceased friend but what fears and pain and staggering may it be if I should be called to pass the straits of death the Lord knows In Answer unto this and so as pertinent to our present occasion I shall adde but a word of comfort and consolation and so conclude the time and Doctrine CHAP. VII Containing comfort for dejected souls in their loss of Christian friends and encouragements for estranged Saints in this world 3. IF it be so that the Saints are strangers on the earth then Saints be you freed from fear grieve not for the death or departure of the faithful nor being faithful be thou not afraid to dye To all Gods children death is but a messenger of life and a calling from the cross to the crown You know every one will hasten to a father or a friends house and what though there be a plash of water and a few bryers to go through if we do wet our feet or tear our garments so long as we are going home such things are nothing home and the father makes us through all Christians I will not say all your way is paved and smooth to heaven and happiness but some rubs fears sorrows may be in your way but know assuredly Christ hath sweetned the grave for every childe of God what though you do wet your feet by fears and pricks your hearts with sorrow let the hope of home and father and Christ make you be comforted and encouraged Captain Death hath taken away a friend now and he stands in the way to press thee too but may not we be comforted in this My friend was a stranger here and he is now gone home to his dwelling place where father and friends are yea where he shall want for nothing freed from fears and cares aches and pains but fed with favor love and life such dishes that the world never had at their tables The Saints indeed have meat in heart and hand I mean at present that the world knows not of but alas Saints though this be wine and milk yet this is but the first mess in this spiritual banquet Our Master Christ keeps the best wine and the best chear and best welcome until the last After death every thing to a faithful soul is disht out and disht up unto Eternity the longing soul through the straits of death is satisfied and