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
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
the other side death is the desire of true Christians the thoughts of Heaven and that happinesse which is there with Christ takes up the heart rejoyces the spirit and fils them with desire of glory Oh saith a beleeving christian to be with Christ in Heaven is the end of my hopes here I am a stranger and a pilgrim in Heaven I am at home here I am waifairing under troubles wants miseries and biting calamities inward from my self and outward for the world there I shal be in the full fruition of rest and peace and glory that shall never have an end the place is purchased and the way is plained Iesus Christ who hath done all for me and is my onely beloved is gone before why then should I stay behind every houre I live here in sorrow I misse innumerable unspeakable joyes in the life eternall this will be the frame of a christian who hath an interest in Iesus Christ and the last signe I have been faithfull to my poore power in this discovery of a true christians interest in Christ the good Lord make it effectuall for the kindly working upon all our soules and that this main soul-busines may be the more carefully and earnestly endeavored after I shall encourage you to this comfortable work by some affecting motives and so leave you and this word to the power of God's grace Motive 1. First labour to get thy evidences cleered assurance of Christ past unto thy soule and though the full time of the churches deliverance be not yet come thou shalt be sweetly provided for whatever becomes of strangers of enemies God to speak with reverence will and must take care of children and servants it 's God's own rule he that provideth not for his family is worse then an Infidell 1 Tim. 5.8 now the church is God's family the Saints are his children and joyâ—t heiâ—s with Christ Rom. 8.17 we cannot therefore have such hard thoughts of God as to think he will charge that upon man which he will break himself we never yet could accuse God of so much weaknesse and let us take heed of suspecting the lack of love or the lest unkindnesse in God The Saints are Gods and Christs Gods in Christ in all the neerest and sweetest relations that can be name the fulleâ—t and fiâ—mest relations that can be and the Saints are the same to God in Christ God is a Father the Saints his sons and his daughters 2 Cor. 6.18 Christ is the husband the church the wife the spouse Cant. 4.9 10.11 Christ is the head the church his body Eph. 1.22 23. and as if this expression dâ—d not yet fully set out the neer relation betwixt Christ and the Saints the Apostle adds in the same Epistle we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones ch. 5. ver. 30. can you think that now the Saints of God shall not be provided for let what times can come do come I tell you poore Saints upon the matter you have as much as God himself hath you have God you have al that God can doe the wisdom of God is yours the power of God â—s yours all is yours because yee are christ's and christ is God'â— 1 Cor. 3.22 23. the Saints have a protection against the evill of sad times when it goes ill with others it shall go wel with them The young Lyons do lack and suffer hungâ—r the great ones of the world may come to much misery but they that seek the Loâ—d shall not want any good thing Ps. 34.10 see you have God's Word God's promise for what I say and God will break the frame of heaven and earth rather then break promise with his people God is faithfull and therefore the Apostle cals his promise a sure word of promise 2 Pet. 1.19 you may build upon you may venture your salvation upon it God never deceived any who then would not be a christian who would not seek for an interest in Jesus Christ who would not câ—ose with this God and trust this God with all let this fear you from offending and stirre you up to a search after the priviledge let this perswade you all and altogether to become christians and this shall be the first motive Motive 2. Secondly if you have a right or interest in Christ that Christ be yours all the power of the wicked cannot harm you all that the wicked can doe shall not hurt you is not this a comfortable condition is not this a sweet support for Saints in these sad times nay I will tell you more aâ—l the intended evill of the wicked shall work for your good is not this enough to anger Malignants and vex the bloody wretches that are now in armes against Gods Saints yes surely it would if it were not hid from their eyes I know this will hardly goe for truth few will beleeve it and indeed it is such a pitch of faith as few comparatively ever reach too it is I say an infallible truth but hardly beleeved I have already touched upon this but me thinks I could dwell upon this sweet subject it speaks so much comfort to the Saiâ—ts in these sad times of warre woe and misery the Saints have much need of all encouragement to hold up their spirits when persecutions straine out blood give me leave then to cleere up your comforts in particlar cases First let the wicked rage and threat and plot and feed themselves with hopes of the Saints blood yea let them take the devill and hell to help and they shall goe no further they can do no more then what the God of the Saints the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ suffers Now 〈…〉 in it if God suffer it you may be sure it shall not hurt the Saints let 〈…〉 sufferings be what they will let them carry never so black a countenanâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the face be as grim and fearfull as it will God has goâ—d in it to the Saintâ— it shall doe them good I will give a cleere text for it Rom. 8.28 We know saitâ—Paul here is a certainty that all things let them be what they will work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose Is not this a sweet place is not this a strong support for the Saints that all the working plotting and powers of the wicked shall do them good let them goe on as long as they can they doe the Saints good they help on the cause of God let them purpose what they please God still over-reaches them God overplots their plottings and over-powers their strength that all their endeavours takes no effect all they doe proves foolish and vaine they make nothing of all in the end David observed this long agoe Behold saith David take notice of it he the wicked travaileth with iniquity their very plottings are painfull they are carried on with great difficulty and hath conceived mischiefe and brought fâ—rth falâ—hood Pâ— 7.14