thus the Apostle goes on but saith he the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnes faith meeknesse temperance ver. 22 23. Here is a Saint-like frame indeed but how comes this thinke you surely all this is but the effect of obedience for it presently followes and they that are Christ's that have an interest in him have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts ver. 24. that is they that are in Christ that have an interest in him have given up themselves wholly to him and by the guidance of the Spirit and the power of Christ's death the power of sinne in their nature is subdued the sinfull affections and lusts arising thence are kept in and kild I beseech you be faithfull to your souls in examining your selves by this Signe of all other actions cannot be covered they will tell you whose you are you are not to doe any thing nor speak any thing nay if once you be Christ's you dare not transgresse the command of Jesus Christ let it be what it will in never so small a thing if a christian discerne it to be against Jesus Christ he will rather dye then doe it when once a christian gives up himselfe to Christ to be married to Christ he is no longer his own he is now under the command of Jesus Christ if now the devill or a lust bid such a christian doe this or that the christian will presently say did Jesus Châ—ist command me did he bid me doe it if Jesus Christ give me but a word I am ready or else I dare not this is the third signe whereby a christian may know he hath a right to Christ Signe 4. A fourth signe whereby a christian may know he haâ—h an interest in Christ is when he he will own Christ own his cause and people in the worst of times it is not much to own Christ own Religion and associate with christians when all these are countenanced and in credit but here 's the tryall of love the faith and obediance of a christian when he will take up the Crosse and follow Christ when he will yet keep on after Christ through wet and dry as the Proverb is it 's a signe a christian hath much of Christ when he will yet own Christ though others forsake him when he keeps his walking with Christ though he goe alone as Paul did 2 Tim. 1.15 chap. 4.16 when he will follow his profession though he must let goe his life as the three children did Dan. 3. and many precious Saints have done and now doe it would but take up time to urge insâ—ances doe you but make good use of this little and it will doe you much good the Lord hath now brought us unto trying times and Jesus Christ doth now say who is on my side who what now will you venture for Christ â—nd his cause and his people doth your hearts tell you that Religion is dearer to you then esiates then life then the best blood in your bodies doe you pray for the prosperity of Christ's cause will you stand for it and owne it what condition soever it 's in doth not the ebbings and flowings of Christs cause bring you to it and cast you from it the Lord knowes there it more of this latter sort then the former abundance follow Christ's Cause for their owne ends and these will fall off when their ends faile but let me tell you none but christians can suck to Christ under difficulties the spirits and hearts of others are up and down as their objects are the principles by which they are carried it 's onely the christian who lives by faith that stands to Christ his cause and people at all times this is the fourth signe Signe 5. The fift and last signe whereby a christian may rest assured of his interest in Christ is his desire to be with Christ in his glory when a soul hath once got a relish a taste an earnest of the inheritance in Heaven it 's full of longings and desirings after glory take such a soule nothing takes it up nothing takes it off Jesus Christ alone is all in all you may offer such a one the gold of Ophir the treasures of India the wealth of the world the Crownâ— of Kings but all this takes not it affect not no saith the soule Christ is my treasure Christ is my crown of rejoycing you may proffer what you please but still the soule will say as once Paul did I count all things but losse for the excellency to be comâ—ared to the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord Phil. 3.8 talk what you will of parts and prililedges yet when all is done this was Pauls conclusion but Christ is all in all Col. 3.11 of al the things in the world Paul found but one case wherein it was disputable whether he might desire â—o live in the flesh and that 's such a one as many would not imagine they would think it almost the lest matter of all but it 's this here was Pauls case he was at a stand whether it was better for him to live in the flesh to promote the Gospell or to dye and goe to Christ in his glory Paul was in a sweet condition come life come death and that made the difficulty the greater for to me to live is Christ and to dye is gain Phil. 1.21 that is if I live I shall be comforted in the work of Christ and if I dye I shall reigne with Christ yet what I shall chuse I wot not for I am in a streight betwixt two ver. 22 23. Paul was now between doing the work of Christ and going home for his wage to Christ it put faithfull Paul hard to it to satisfie the scruple of his own conscience and when all is done he answers with a distinction for his own part this is his resolution for himselfe he holds for Heaven having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is farre better ver. 23. the latter part But then on the other side as Paul had a respect unto the worke he was in the preaching o the Gospell unto the flock of Christ his life was better and more necessary for them neverthelesse to abide in the flesh is more needfull for you ver. 24. here then is an example for you to try your hearts by truly when this is seriously considered it 's no wonder to see so many loath and so few willing to dye alas the reason is easily given they have no interest in Christ they have no acquaintance with God they know not what shall become of their souls when they dye againe the feares and terrours of death strike deep and speaks terrible things to them Jesus Christ hath not taken away the sting of death for them it bites deep it amazes them death being but the gate of hell to let them now feele those torments which in life and prosperity they would not feare but on
Ierusalem At the first victory or at the first taking of Ierusalem Nebuchadnezzar tooke the King prisoner and put the City to a fine 2 Chron. 36.6 7. But when he layd Siege the second time and tooke Ierusalem observe what a fearfull desolation he made of that glorious City He slew their young men with the sword in the house of their Sanctuary where there lives should have beene saved and had no compassion on the young man or maiden old man or him that stooped for age And they burnt he house of God and brake downe the wall of Ierusalem and burnt all the pallaces thereof with fire and abundance of the like inhumaine cruelty as you may read at large in this very chapter Againe victories fill the mouths of the wicked with blasphemy against God cause them eiâ—her wholly to deny the power and essence of God or at least to vilifie the Lord Almighty This was the very ground of Rabshakehs blasphemy when he would have drawne the people from Hezekiah and this was his blasphemie Let not Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord saying The Lord will surely deliver us and this City shall not be delivered into the hand of the King of Assyria 2 King 18.30 Whence fetches he this From the many victories his master had got which he instances in Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad and the like Who are they among all the Gods of the Countries that have delivered their Country out of mine hand That the Lâ—â—d should deliver Ierusalem out of my hand 2 King 18.34 35. And then lastly power and pride fires on the wicked to their owne destruction because they prevaile once they thinke to prosper alwayes this was the destruction of the King of Ai and his City because Israel was routed in one assault at Ai when they had an Achan amongst them the men of Ai thinke Israel must alwayes have the worst This was discovered to Israel by Ioshuah when he made his second attempt and gave order for the laying of his Ambush They will sayth he come out after us till we have drawne them from the City for they will say They flee before us as at the first Josh. 8.5 6. And so accordingly they did even to their utter ruine at that very time as you may read in the sequell of the chapper Thus I have given you undenyable testimony of this truth but indeed I needed not to have gone so â—ar for proofe one dayes conference with the Kings caves would give you full assurance of what I said This is one of the wayes in which the King loses by getting a word of the second and I will proceed I said in the second place the King loses by that which he calls getting by the victories he gets over his Subjects but Gods Saints In all this the people of God are more fitted for deliverance and the cause is extreamely forwarded What earnest prayers are now put up What deep groanes and pleading-blood goes daily to God by this meanes The King had better to have a whole Army of men against him then the blood of one Saint These Saints which the King hath slaine fight with him night and day They are now with God in heaven and they are continually hastening and moving God to fulfill his promises and avenge their blood I pray you see how the Text is to prove this Rev. 6.9 10. I saw under the Altar the Soules of them who were slaine for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held And they cryed yea with a loud with voice saying How long O Lord holy and true doâ—st thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell in the earth You may see all this doth but helpe on the cause of God and bring iâ— the Saints faster to the Lord The harder the stroak the lowder they cry the sharper it is the more it humbles the more it fits and then is deliverance the neerer Tell me now doth not this tremble your Malignants spirits â—s not this a strange cause which the enemies themselves helpe forward and doe the Saints most good where they intend the greatest hurt Thus much for matter of reproofe 2. Vse of Admon My second use shall be for Admonition To admonish all to take heed for the time to come of so much as having an ill thought of the Cause of God or the people of God for what ever you intend for them shall befall your selves as I have already delivered and further all that ever you are ablâ— to doe cannot hinder God for going on with the worke You may counsell encourage fight and sometimes prevail too as I have shewed yet all shall come to nought and you will be found but to fight against God and therefore it was your wisest course to sit still and let Gods businesse goe on let this Church-worke we are now about goe freely on and be done This is not only my counsell for it was the advice of a great Statist in the like case When the Apostles were about Church-Worke preaching up a Reformation the Jewes made strong opposition They imprisoned God delivered This would not doe and then they thought to silence them by death they had determined to kill the Apostles But now steps in Gamaliel and tells them it was far better for them to let them alone and he gives them very good reason for this his admonition And now saith he I say vnto you refraine from these men and let them alone for if their counsell or their work be of men it will come to nought But if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest happily ye be found even to fight against God Acts 5.38 39. The Devill may delude you that you may think you do God great service in killing these Round-heads and destroying this factious generation Yea Christ himself said as much when he was alive he then foretold what since is come to passe John 16.2 Yet woe be to them that doe it you may thinke iâ— a strange speech but 't is true It was better for a man to have his tongue pull'd out of his head then to speake against the Saints of God It was better for one to dye then to have a hand in the death of one poor Christian And Jesus Christ makes good what I affirme for I raise my speecheâ— from his words Who so shall offend one of these little ones which beleeve in 〈◊〉 it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his necke and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Math. 18.6 Now do you beleeve that this is the Word of God and that there is any truth in it Then you must conclude it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God by hurting the Saints or hinâ—ering Gods Cause if they could Object But how shall I know that the Parliaments Cause is Gods Cause thoâ—e which joyn with them are more Gods people then on
twofold estate under these Notions First thy nothing thy worse then nothing and these explaine thus first learne to know thy nothing the frailty of thy ourward man thy body thy mortall body look back upon the matter and composition whereof thou art made and this will help discover to thee the need of Christ The very first and perfectest man that ever was in the world except God-man the man Christ Jesus was at best in his body but Adam red earth he was but a little foulded dust that was the matter whereof he was made and into that he must againe be dissolved dust thou art and to dust shalt thou returne Gen. 3.19 Hare 's a small businesse to be proud on here 's a poore matter to glory in here 's a weake foundation to build upon for a long life and after repentance what is a dust-heap you know well a shoure of raine will dissolve it a blast of wind will scatter it and such is the matter of all our bodies a very nothing if there had not been a word more in all the Bible this had been enough to manifest the bodies mortality but the al-wisâ— God which knowes best the deceitfulnesse of our hearts to beleeve such truth against our selves would not leave it without a full discovery Hence it is that in all the course of the Scriptures the nothing of mans life the naturall being of the body here upon earth is so frequently compared to nothings that you may the better know the certainty of what I say I will pick up some here and there Iob compares man but to a flower nay not to a Flower in his full groth and in lhe time it would last but to a flower that is cut down and as if in this expression mans mortality was not yet sufficiently discribed Iob likens mans life to another nothing to a more meere nothing a shadow and as though the nothing were not yet fully cleered he adds this epethite of this nothing fleeting he sleeth also like a shadow and continueth not Iob 14.2 Here you see how sensible Iob was of all mens mortality and so of hâ—s own with the rest but mark I pray you what use he makes of this All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change come ver. 14. that is I find the nothing the frailty of uncertaine and yet un-regainable life there 's no living againe to live better when a man is once dead and dissolved I will therefore take the present time I will prepare and make my self ready for the Lord that when the time which God hath determined is come I may have nothing to doe but dye David also hath many the like expressions to the same purpose but I will not insist upon them onely give a touch upon one or two and so passe Psal. 102. David equals his life but to a shadow and a shadow declining to grasse and that not greene but withered My dayes are like a shadow that declineth and I am withered like grasse ver. 11. Againe David Psal. 39. is computing the length of his life by measure and then drawes his conclusion upon it if you know not the place you will wonder much at Davids Geomatry and more at the strangenesse of his conclusion he sets all at a low rate he measures his life but at a hands bredth and cals it a nothing a vanity Behold thou hast made my dayes as an hand bredth and mine age is aâ— nothing before thee Verely not I but every man not at some low ebbe at the worst but at his best estate is altogether vanity ver. 5. But what effect did this worke upon the heart of David you shall see it put him to lay out unto the Lord for help it brings him to his prayers and now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee ver. 7. And againe Heare my prayer O Lord and give eare unto my cry hold not thy peace at my teares for I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner as all my Fathers were O spare me a little that I may recover my strength befâ—re I goe hence and be no more seen ver. 12 13. Thus in the first place study thy nothing Secondly learne to know thy worse then nothing study to know the dangerous estate and condition of thy soule in respect of sinne recollect thy thoughts and call to mind what shall become of thy soule if thou hast not a Saviour looke to it as well as you can thou hast two weights hanging up thy soule the least of which will drag thee to hell if there be not help Thou hast the burden of originall sinne and that 's death In Adam all dye 1 Cor. 15.22 that is as we by nature come from Adam so by nature we lye guilty of his sinne and by the sinne derived from Adam we lye liable to eternall death this is one heavy weight Then againe there is yet another weight lyes upon the soule which without support will also presse it to hell and that is the burden of innumerable actuall transgressions they are given to us in Scripture under various expressions sometimes they are called sinnes sometimes iniqâ—ities sometimes transgressions but all grievous soul burdens I will but give of each an instance and so passe Thit we call sinne is a soule procuring destruction it captivates the soule leads it from Christ and Salvation and presseth it downe to hell hence is that complaint taken up by Paul Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death that is as if Paul should have said I find the power of naturall lusts corruptions working so contrary to the will of God and the rule of his spirit that were it not for the hopes of a Saviour I was in a sad condition I was in a wretched estate for who is it or what is it in all the world that could help my soule out of hel who shall deliver me from the death and damnation which the sinne of my nature my flesh the body hath brought me to Alas the Creature cannot comfort me nothing in the world can save me but onely Iesus Christ who dyed for me and here is the hope help joy cause of rejoycing I thank God â—horow Jesus Christ our Lord ver. 25. this is sin Again these sinnes and evils which we commit are called iniquities and these are also soule-weights If you dare beleeve David he will tell you he found iniquities to be a weight yea an unsupportable weight they let him have no quiet night or day they got above him and pressed him downe he could not beare the sense of them Psalme 38.3 And hereupon David addresseth himselfe to God in prayer and urgeth this complaint as a motive to move God vvith mercy to looke upon him and novv to help for minâ— iniquities are gone over mine head they are above my strength as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me to
can doe all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Phil. 4.13 Object But if all courage strength and comfort comes from God in Christ what a sad condition am I in I never sought God in any action or owned the hand of God in any deliverance from danger doe you thinke that God would now heare me if I should henceforth seek to him Answ. Yes let me tell thee if thou in thy heart art grieved for thy neglects of God if the contempts thou hast offered to the face of God doe prick and wound thy heart with sorrow and thou be willing to walke with God if he would now receive thee feare it not there is hope enough in Christ to infavour thee with God here and bring thee to the fulnesse of glory hereafter God looks not so much at former sinnes as future obedience if now thou hast a desire to give up thy selfe to Christ thou must count with thy selfe to live as a Christian thou must determine to cast off all thy unwarranted courses and as neere as thou canst endeavour to walke and act according to the rule of Christ The Apostle puts it downe for a Maxim Let who every one that nameth the Name of Christ that will challenge the profession of a Christian depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Jesus Christ looks not so much what you are as what you would be God is willing to quit scores for all that 's past whatever it is and that for his owne sake that shall never be questioned againe You may thinke this is much but I have Scripture for what I say God charges Iâ—rael with their unkindnesse and miscarriâ—ges towards him Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money neitheâ— hast thou filled me with the fat of thy Sacrifices but thou hast made me to serve with thy sinnes thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities Isa. 43.24 This was Israels misery yet the object of Gods unspeakable mercy I even I am he that blotteth out thy traâ—sgressions for my owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes ver. 25. Here 's engagement enough for poore sinners and if I had named no more I had said enough for the full answer the Objection Obiect But saith the poore soule againe I have been an open enemy to God I have taken up Armes against God I have broken his Sabbaths I have mocked at Religion yea I have persecuted the Saints and can there yet be hope for me Answ. I answer yes there is yet hope for thee this degree of sinne is not ordinary in one elect by God yet all this cannot keâ—p off Christ from saving thy soule if thou findest in thy selfe a sorrow for thy sinnes and an earnest desire to walke in new obedience He against whom thou hast sinned puts this sorrow into thy heart and will save thy soule Remorse for sinne and thoughts of obedience are gifts and graces wrought by the Spirit of God in thee these are not the fruits of nature comming from thee present paine may worke and stirre up a griefe for thy misery and sorrow but never procures a sorrow for sinne I might give you divers presidents but I will take up with this cleere precept It is God who worketh in us both to will and to doe of his good pleasure Phil. 2.13 that is all our good thoughts of turning unto God and the strength of all our abilities according to the rule of Christ is all from God God puts them into every one before they have them This might be sufficient for some but if thou beest not yet fully satisfied I will endeavour to find thee out some taking comfort If once thou commest to have earnest breathings and longings after Christ in love to Christ it is not former sinnes that can keep off Christ from thee Christ lookes not to have us perfect but comes to make us perfect Christ found Paul a persectour but makes him a Preacher of the Gospell Acts 26. to ver. 18. Paul doth not from his former sinnes so much question as magnifie the free Grace of God Onely this use he makes of it that the more God had done for him he endeavoured the more in the exercises of his Graces bestowed upon him to publish and advance the glory of God 1 Cor. 15.9 10. If thou beest not a sinner thou hast no need of a Saviour but if thou findest thy selfe in a perishing condition and canst say a God or I am gone a Jesus a Saviour or I am lost for ever thou art such a one as Jesus Christ lookes for they are Jesus Christ's owne words I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Marke 2.17 that is I came not for those who are holy and righteous in their owne eyes but to make rigâ—teous and save poore sinners who lye even in hell to their owne apprehension unworthinesse is no warrant to keep thee from Christ Jesus Christ will make thee worthy it 's the businesse for which God sent Jesus Christ into the world and it was Jesus Christs onely desire to doe the will of his Father and that yet a poore sinner may be further encouraged to seeke after Christ I will lay downe some speciall priviledges which comes into the soule by Christ First by Christ thou shalt have all these soul-destroying sinnes in themselves these heart-trembling sinnes these conscience-biting sinnes as cleerly taken away by Jesus Christ as if thou never hadst committed any such Thy conscience shall be at quiet and the devill himselfe shall not have any thing to say to thee for them God hath laid all thy sinnes and the sinnes of all the Elect upon Christ Isa. 53.6 Christ hath suffered and satisfied the wrath of his Father for them it is finished John 19.30 Jesus Christ hath done this for them and hence is that challenge which the Apostle takes up against the devill the world yea conscience who is it shall lay any thing any manner of sinne to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth Rom. 8.33 34. all is put to Christ Christ doth all Secondly Iesus Christ doth not onely justifie a soule before God but he reconciles God to the soule he makes a sweet peace and friendship betweene them who were at enmity and the Apostle makes this worke of reconciliation an argument of eternall salvation from which we may draw the certainty of both For saith Paul if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Sonne much more we being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Rom. 5.10 Thirdly and lastly because I will hasten Iesus Christ will send the holy Ghost the Spirit to direct and sanctifie all those who have an interest in him If once Christ be thine Christ will have a care of thee thou shalt have a guide to lead thee in all the wayes of truths or God Iesus Christ knowes well the failings of the Saints He therefore promisâ—â— them a guide which his