seeking by mourning They have the Lord himself not Kingdoms nor Heaven not guard of Angels noâ— pardon nor comfort or Grace only but which is greater and than which there can be no greater the Lord of Glory himself Is there any thing that is good there 't is theirs I doubt not but Angels stand amazed at this What hast thou Thou hast peace and ease and duties and friends but no Christ then poor and cursed thou art SECT VII HEnce leâ—rn to judge of your Faith whether it be of the right make or no whether it be such a Faith as will never fail you but shall in deepest miseries in soreâ—t agonies and most furious temptations nay in greatest sins and desertions be indeed a friend unto you Is it such a Faith as pitcheth on and closeth with the person of Christ himself and him alone So that all the delights in creatures quiet thee not unlesse thou canst find him through them Nay no Ordinances cheer thee unlesse thou canst see him in them Nay Heaven it self will not content thee but him in Heaven Psal. 73. 25. And hence 't is him thou seekest 't is him thou feet 't is him thou approvest thy self unto and servest So that 't is this Rock of ages thou trustest to Isa. 26. 3 4. 'T is his strength thou art strong by 't is his life thou livest by 't is the Lord himself that thy Faith fadoms This is right 1 Pet. 2. 7. For now what good can the Father deny thee when he hath given a Son to thee What hurt can Satan do thee by all his shakings when thou hast the Son himself this corner-stone this horn of salvation to support thee What hurt can the Law do thee when thou hast righteousnesse in a Son What hurt can delusion do thee when thou hast wisdom ever plotting for thy good in such a glorious Head as the Son What hurt can death do thee or sin do thee when thy life is in the Son Oh lead me to the Rock saith David that is higher than I. Oh here is a rock higher than death than grave than sin than Satan Who can hurt thee now But oh Beloved how many fall short of entring into this rest and closing with this person And there are four sorts of them that spin the finest thread of deceit to themselves that think they believe when yet they have not the Son 1. Those that do not close with himself but only come to him for some righteousness out of himself for I shall not speak of them that forsake all and follow Christ for the bagg and for the loaves for 't is with all men living naturally as 't is with men that have been rich shop-keepers but now they are broke and cast into great want steal they will not digg they cannot begg they know not how turn Prentice to another they must not they have not been used to that life hence they resolve to set up their Trade again though they sell but Pins and Points and small Wares and because they cannot set up for themselves they go unto Merchants to help them and run into their Books on trust and desire day and patience and they will pay them all again now 't is not the man that they respect but to make up their markets out of him but alass they cannot pay their Debts and hence to Prison they go so 't is here God set up Adam with a stock in his own hand now he is broken and cast into great want and fears the arrest of Gods displeasure now sin men dare not digg and help themselves they cannot and to begg and live upon the Lord and his Alms they know not how indeed they will not they are not used to this life hence seek to set up their Trade again though in never so small duties and because they cannot help themselves hence they go to Christ not as to an Husband for himself but as to a Merchant to set them up again and truly Christ for many ends and to shew his freenesse to his own gives many Talents to such which they receiving hope to please the Lord by when I can get the Lord to give me some more knowledg brokennesse affections enlargements abilities to do then I hope I shall please him but either they spend all and fall away to nothing before they dye or else Death come and carries them captive to the judgement-seat of God and there they see they are run but the deeper in Debt and not able to pay Thus it is with Papists who profess that none of their own Works save but his works in us and his Blood meriting that thesâ— shall save Hence they trust not to what they do but to what the Lord does against which very Faith the Apostle disputes Rom. 4. 5. Thus it was with the Jews divers despised Christ and sought a righteousness of their own others cryed Lord Lord Lord there be these sins that wring my Conscience ease me of them here be these duties I must do else never saved and my heart is dead Oh affect me and help me to do them there be such works I am to perform and have no strength to Pray to Prophesie Lord assist me Mat. 7. 21 22. Depart I know you not never accepted of you you thought these things would please me you closed not with me Oh now depart from me from my fellowship my bosom my presence for this is ever their frame they think to pacifie God by what they do and though they think his justice cannot yet they hope there is such indulgence in his mercy that he will accept Thus it was Isai. 58. 2. for this is their temper they are not wounded with the want of Christ himself but with some jarrings against the Law for which they fear they must dye Hence not seeing into the spiritual nature of the Law they are wounded not slain by the Law they hope they shall live if they can leave such sins perform such duties feel such abilities Now having made tryal at home they go to Christ and seek him with delight for to work this or that and then they are well now if they do not receive at present then they hope by seeking to find in time if he doth not help them then they shall be well Hence they ever live in some sin and know it not as these did and as the young man Mat. 19. And thus 't is as 't is with two Princes one is in trouble by inroders he sends for aid to another but doth not cast down his Crown and put himself in subjection to the other So men will be Kings and hence send for aid against the inrodes of some sin that stings Conscience but put not themselves under the Lord Jesus Bring those mine enemies hither Luke 19. 27. In one word as the Wound is so is my closing with Christ if one be in outward trouble now to Christ he goes to deliver if pressed with
and yet they do but think so for though they hate sin yet it is unsoundly because they see not how closely their hands are knit to their sin they never did believe because they never felt their unwilling heart to close with Christ they never loved the Saints because they never felt their contempt of Saints never sought Gods glory because they never mourned under that which did stain it they never make work with their own hearts the stony and thorny ground withered because their soil was naught a heart filled with sweet affections which never felt the strength of contrary corruptions lying underneath it is an ill soil and where those affections will never prosper nor prove right and hence 2 Tim. 2. 20 21. he that purgeth himself from these things shall be a vessell of honor ever preserved never broken Do not put it to a venture it may be I may have grace and so put your salvation on the hazard of such hopes but the Lord that hath come to thee knocking open the door that he may come in and feast cry for infinite creating power and mercy to make haste and come and help thee what have you to do else but to get your old lusts purged away what do you labor for else if you have children to bring up if you have any love to them nay if swine or cattel meat you will have to feed them and satisfie them if possible and yet behold thy soul perishing for want of true spiritual refreshings SECT VI. OF Exhortat on to all young beginners and so to all others Take heed you chop not at your comfort too soon take heed you do not perish in the way that whiles seeking after the Lord and rest you fall from the Lord by security and scandal and so you perish but labor for that which will continue and last 1. Mariners when they go a voyage they will trim their vessel and search if there be not something amiss which may sink the ship at last if once out at sea they may dye before they come home and hence at first setting out are careful so do you 2. You will meet with trials enough to exercise all your grace that you will find all little enough in the issue 3. This will be your comfort at death that â—hough it be difficult yet if you have fought a good fight and run a good race there is now a crown this will make you to go out of the world wondering and go up to eternity in your triumphant Chariot of glory when you shall see on the one side here a Demas forsaking there a Iudas betraying here one Chriâ—â—ian withered there another scandalised and offended and yet the Lord hath upheld thee in thy integrity a poor creature that thoughst thou shouâ—dst never have held out at all That you may do thus two things are to be done First Be sure your wound at first for sin be deep enough for all the error in a mans Faith and Sanctification it springs from that first error of his Humiliation if a mans Humiliation be false and weak and little his Faith is light and his Sanctification counterfeit as may be seen in the stony and thorny soil if a mans wound be right and Humiâ—â—ation deep enough that mans Faith is right and his Sanctification is glorious for Christ cannot be exceeding sweet and satisfactory to the soul unless sin be first exceeding bitter and this is the reason why Christ is not sweet nor precious at first nor afterward because sin is not so better to them especially heart sins Christians shall find it the esteem and price of Christ falls whiles sin lies light and is not bitter SECT VII Quest. HOw bitter must it be Answ. So bitter as that nothing contents your heart whiles sin is with you and the Lord is gone from you Lam. 3. 49. Mine eye ceaseth not mourning till the Lord look down from heaven as a man that looks for a Prince to come and live with him he prepares rooms for all his attendants but he reserves the best lodgings for the Prince himself and they are kept empty whiles he comes So the soul entertains Creatures and Ordinances and Saints of God but yet the heart is not content but sits empty desolate whiles the Lord is gone for whiles the heart is delighted with somewhat else beside the Lord that if the Lord comes it is well if not it is merry and jolly see what the Lord there speaks Iam. 4. 8 9 10. Cleanse your hearts and he will draw nigh unto you turn laughter to mourning else you are not humbled Let Gods own people do so it stops up the fountain of Gods love and sweetness of mercy Psal. 30. 7. When carnally confident I was troubled as it is in marriage if a man knows there is familiarity between the woman and another Lover he will have none of her but when sin is thus bitter the Lord hath the garments of joy to give for the spirit of heaviness Isa. 61. 1 2. Oh therefore though it be cross to have limbs cut off and breasts feared bones broken c. yet part with all for life even this life of Christ in you which will give you full content SECT VIII Quest. HOw shall I do thus my heart will be wanton and carnal Answ. 1. Set this down for a conclusion I shall never be comforted by the Lord whiles any thing else comforts my heart i. e. for it self as hath been proved and if this was well thought of this would make a man above all other things detest his carnal content because this indeed keeps the Lord from him 2. Keep the remembrance of the bitterness of your sin and evil in it thus David Plal. 51. 3. set it ever before him for all the sweet of sin comes into the heart by a delusion first begot in the mind of some present good in it which the soul not attending to is drawn away by it â—â—am 1. 14. drawn away and enticed hence fortifie here Three things in sin which if remembred would make it bitter 1. Sentence of condemnation past upon thee by the Law of God for it which may make a soul to mourn Little 〈◊〉 do men take in their Prison-bolts 2. The death and agonies and sorrows of the Lord Jesus to acquit the soul from this condemnation this is that which may work bitterness as for a first born Zach. 12. 10 11. 3. Crossing the will and so grieving the heart of Christ now in glory as when the old world grew sensual it grieved God to the heart keep these in remembrance what pleasure canst thou take in that which makes the Lord sigh 4. The end wâ—ll be bitterness Psal. 73. 17. Secondly Take heed you miss not of that Faith which will bring in supply Heâ— 4. 1 2. Take heed lest a promise being leâ—t any fall short of that rest which comes by the promise by an unbelieving heart for many desire the
thou canst for ought I know there was never drop of blood shed for thee never thought of peace in Christs Breasts to thee a vile wretch that never lamented the loss of his love nor contempt of it to this day Obj. But I care not so long as I have been well without it so I hope I shall do still I will not believe I am out of his love Answ. Yea this is the misery of men as it was of these Virgins but time shall come when you shall see him sit upon his Throne brighter than a Thousand Suns in the glory of his Father a fire burning round about him and the Kings of the earth trembling at his presence and his Saints in his bosome like unto him then you shall wish you had his love and lament Rev. 1. and waile because of him Oh secure world will you sit still in your sinnes and lie in your unbelief till the fire burnes about you and there be no escape Oh that the Lord would pity you many of you that have yet lived with dry eyes and merry hearts and yet have no love from Jesus Christ. Learn hence not to despise or refuse the love of Christ when it is offered to you and propounded to you in the Gospel we can be content to want the love of some men because we can live well enough without them and their love their love lost hurts not us but if the loss of their love may be the loss of our goods and lives then if it may be had men will seek for and long for it thoght it should not be offered but if offered it is gladly accepted So if you could live without the love of Christ you might content your selves but the loss of it is more bitter than ten thousand deaths and therefore refuse it not when it is offered but as they Acts 2. 39 41. when they saw how they had imbrued their hands in the blood of Christ and yet saw grace offered it is said They gladly received the Word of the Lord. The Law is a word of condemnation but that is not the last word the Lord hath spoken then I should spend time in vaine now the Gospel even the whole Gospel is a word of love and Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. wherein the Lord doth beseech men to be reconciled i. e. to accept of Gods love offered therein The Lord knows full well that mens hearts are so full of enmity that they will never seek for Reconciliation first though they have good cause because they have offered the wrong and therefore he stands not upon termes but offers love first without which he knows they are for ever undone Oh therefore receive it accept of it when it is offered to you and lose thy life rather than lose his love For the further opening of this Point I shall shew three things 1. That Christ doth offer his love in the Gospel and how 2. Upon what termes 3. Motives to accept it and answer Objections against accepting of it First That the Lord doth offer and how he doth offer his love in the Gospel and this I shall cleare because nothing can draw the soul to accept of love but this For the better understanding of which you must conceive that the love of Christ in the Gospel is diversly manifested unto men either to men after they be in Christ and are brought home by it and this is a love of delight in them Psalm 45. 10 11. Or it is a love of good will to men not brought home as it is in Husbands before their affections be set upon any they make love as it is 2 Thess. 2. 10. They received not the love of the truth because the truth made love to them Luke 2. 14. Good will towards men and this love I say is offered this love the Lord makes unto you stand amazed at it that after all your sinnes wrongs done him nothing but love is offered even his dearest love for though there is patience power to help wisdome to guide though there is terrour in him yet Take my love saith he Iohn 3. 17. And hence Heb. 2. 3. it is called Great salvation or love 't is offered else how could men be said to reject it or neglect it which he warnes them of A man may as well question whether there be a Gospel as whether love be offered there for as the Law is nothing but the manifestation of sin the hand-writing of death and wrath against all men writ with the Finger of God the Gospel is the manifestation of grace the hand-writing of grace and peace to all men written with the blood of God and hence the Gospel is that which brings life and immortality to light 2 Tim. 1. 10. Not that there is life absolutely for all but there 't is for all that shall by faith accept of it More particularly First It is offered Universally to all wherever it comes and therefore personally to every man the words are plaine Mark 16. 15. Preach the Gospel to every creature and not only to them that do belong to Christ and shall believe for though it be offered with the power of it effectually to these yet offered it is also unto those that never shall have God nor portion in the Son of God and hence Luke 14. The Lord of the Feast invited those that never came in and Christ himself 1 Iohn 11. He came to his own and they received him not he would have gathered them under his wings and they would not not only to them that be humbled though none will care for Gospel but such but to them that be unhumbled Revel 3. 18 20. doth this Gospel come There be many object Yes the Lord offers love to them that are his but not to me yes to thee there is not a man here that can exempt himself And I would make no doubt to go to every man particularly and say The Lord intreats thee to be Reconciled nay if there be one man worse than another though his hands have been imbrued in the blood of the Prophets and his soul stained with the crying guilt of the most hydeous sinnes that ever the earth bore or Sun saw yet the Lord makes love to him the price is paid for him if he will accept of it and that the Lord would have him so to do neither doth this Universal offer inferre an Universal Redemption for the Gospel in the offer of it doth not speak absolutely that Christ hath dyed for all and therefore for thee as the Arminians maintain but it speaks conditionally 'T is for thee if ever the Lord gives thee a heart to receive that grace there therefore consider of it there is not one here present but the Lord would have you receive his love and consider this one reason Thou shalt be condemned for refusing it Hence 't is Gods command and Christs desire you should receive it Ioâ—n 3. 19. If not thy duty to
Evangelical hypocrite in denying his own righteousnesse to establish his sin 't is advancing Christ to advance his Lust. The Epistles of Iames and Iohn are antidotes against this kind of poyson and I look on them as lamps hung up to discover these men not but that these men are indeed under a covenant of Works for there be but two sorts of men and two ends of all men hence but Two Covenants hence those that are not indeed under Grace are under the Law and under the Curse but because the most subtil hypocrites apâ—ear or seem to be under Grace and their external operations are chiefly Evangelical hence I call them Evangelical Hypocrites SECT II. IN regard of the power of the Word and Gospel of life and spirit in such Churches For the Gospel where it comes as it advanceth the glorious and everlasting righteousnesse of Christ so it knocks under-foot all mans as a means subservâ—ent to that end and it coming with power and light it would be too grosse for Hypocrites to maintain life by Works hence Christs is that which they look unto for Christ when he preached not only many believed because of his Miracles but when they heard his Word Iohn 8. 30. Mat. 13. In the Parable of the Sower the Word came with much power that they received it with joy and did believe but fell by their Lusts. And look as 't is with the Sun there comes light and heat with it so there comes 1. Truth to the mind and conquers the judgements of Hypocrites that there is no life good righteousnesse but in Christ nor salvation but by Christ. 2. There comes some gooâ—nesse of the Gospel to the heart that men hearing and seeing Salvation wrapt up there Oh that is sweet and good and hence their affections and hearts are in some measure conquered by the power of the overdazeling truth and hence Hypocrites being thus conquered partly being of this opinion partly tasting some good of it desire it out of self-love expect it out of self-delusion and professe themselves Virgins out of these Principles In regard of power of Evangelical examples in the five wise Virgins for look as 't is with living men when the Sun shines upon their heads they cast their shadows that follow them so when the Lord Jesus shines upon the souls of his own people almost every honest sincere-hearted man will cast his shadow that will be like him hence Hypocrites in those Churches which are commonly rather led by example than by rule will be very like them and imitate them if they should not what communion could they have with them or what love could they receive from them for there is a mighty power in eminent examples to overbear Hypocrites that if they will turn themselves into any form they must into theirs as in Ioash for there are two things in the carriage of the Saints 1. There is a condemning power in it hence men fear to live unlike them 2. There is a winning vertue in it an attractive vertue hence men endeavour to be and live like them to be of the same mind the same heart with them and hence others take them and they take themselves to be sincere and hence they are Evangelical Gospel Hypocrites that lye hid in these Churches Hence Zach. 8. 23. Many shall take hold of a Iews skirt I doubt not but some false ones we have heard God is with you And as Christ when lifted up and risen so Saints draw Hypocrites to them Because the Gospel brings the greatest and sweetest consolations with it Hence a man under the terrour of the Law and sence of curse for his sin will make his last refuge hither and hide himself under the wing of the Gospel not so much out of love to Christ or Gospel but because they serve his turn and give him ease Like men scorched with heaâ— and almost ready to die the shadow of a Tree is now very comfortable and therefore there they sit so these Or as men with scalded arms they put them into wateâ— which gives them ease no cure but because it gives them ease there they keep them so here Men have been scalded with wrath Oh now Gospel is very sweet and so are eâ—sed 〈◊〉 it never cured by it Therefore here you shall find them disclaim all Works and cry up Grace only where the purest Churches are there are usually great awakenings there God is very near men and made most manifest to mens consciences and there are most soul-plagues contempt of the Spirit of Grace and hence most dreadful torments of conscience and fearful lookings for of Judgement Now hence it comes to passe when Christ is offered and general notice given to mens minds that yet there is hope and mercy for great sinners this fills them with joy and peace as Iohns hearers Iohn 5. 35. and hence they beleeve as the stony ground that had some plowing and hence received the Word with joy and believed Psalm 66. 3. It 's a Prophecy of the Kingdom of Christ Antichrist he tormented the consciences of men Rev. 9. Men have no peace within or without Luther is raised up and preacheâ—h the Doctrine of Free Grace which a world of men looking to their ease others in truth receive it for some time before his death he cries to God that he may not live to see the ruines that were coming on Germany for their contempt The Law is the Ministry of Death the Gospel propounds great priviledges with much more sweetnesse to sinners and hence hither men fly 4. Because the Gospel yields the fairest Colours for a mans sloath and strongest props for that Hence you shall see them wâ—lking in this garden For the last sin God conquers in a man is his sloath When the swine have no sâ—ill to eat yet you shall find them in the mire of sloath this slaies the foolish Hence the best Hypocrite will plead the Gospel its troublesom to the flesh to bear a daily sense of the sins and wants of the soul. Hence you shall have Capernaum receive Christ and wonder at his Doctrine and yet Christ upbraids them they repented not Mat. 11. 20. It s troublesom nay impossible for a man to break his chaines and get his soul loosed from his lusts and free for the Lord. The Gospel shews all fulness in Christ that he must do all a sloathful false heart thereâ—â—â—e closeth with Christ as the end but neglects him in the means Why Christ must do all say they and hence if Christ do drop upon their hearts well and good if not 't is Christs fault he is a hard Master that gathers where he did not sow and hence wrap it up A mans false heart is weary of the yoke of Christ and hence would fain be eased of it Now the Gospel promiseth libeâ—ty from the bondage and curse of the Law and a sloathful heart can find out reasons to free himself from the Rule of
it as part of Christian liberty this is our Liberty in Christ Iesus 2 Pet. 2. 19. And they rejoyce exceedingly that the Law is dead as they did Rev. 11. 10. for the death of the witnesses because they tormented them I say again they rejoyce not because the Lord makes them like himself and because of his Image restored by the Gospel and because they feel the power of it but because they are free from the power of it It s an old deceit yet subtil to rejoyce and love and blesse Christ because he will pardon sin though I lie and live in them Or if they do not free themselves from it the Gospel shews the Law within closing with the Law without to be an evidence the Lord will not impute it and that 't is not therefore they but sin in them Hence a sloathful heart will continue in his sloath and to ease himself of trouble for sin and obedience too say 't is not he but sin And hence Arminius makes a strange interpretation of Rom. 7. Because he saw German Professours plead that for themselves The Israelites entred not into Canaan unbelief caused it And why did that shut them out Oh there were walled Towns and difficulties and this was the last shock and hence they fell off so 't is in Hypocrites now The safest place to lie asleep is in Christ Lap. 5. From the mighty cunning of Satan the strength of whose Kingdom is made and continued by peace Luke 11. 41. Hence he will turn himself into an Angel of light and suffer men to go to Christ and Gospel to avoid the search that they may be Christs in appearance and his indeed 2 Cor. 4. 4. He hath a mighty power over men to blind them For there be three things which trouble men usually and make them question their estates and the Gospel quiets and absolves them from all 1. Conscience that cries dolefully sometimes these sins shall have these woes Yes unlesse I believe but I believe and trust to Christ and flee to Gods Mercy 2. Ministry that cries and searcheâ—h into the deepest windings of mens hearts that men cannot but see that Christ hath eyes of flaming fire to see through theâ— Now hence men avoid the stroke and power of all Ministry thus it is with me thus it is will be with me but I believe and trust to Christ. And hence men beaâ— back like Brazen Walls all Blowes 3. Gods judgment-seat What though men see you not yet God seeth Why they have sinned they confesse but Christ hath suffered they have sinned but they trust c. Micah 3. 11. Is not the Lord among us Look as it was with Ioab he runs to the Horns of the Altar yet there he perisheth there he would die there was the last refuge from search and death so here SECT III. HEnce do not think your estates good because you look only for justification by Christ and look only to Gods free Grace and count of Grace in Christ. It s a common errour for men to think being they be of this opinion only to look for Grace in Christ to think that therefore their estates are safe and they are justified by Christ. Why there may be such a power of Word and Spirit to conquer their judgments as those Papists that have been pleading against it have been overcome by it Thou maist receive the Notions of it thy Head but the power of it never into thy Heart Obj. 1. But my heart hath been affected with this to see when my sins deserve death yet there is mercy for the vilest in Christ. Answ. Thou maist tast and joy and yet fall off at last Obj. 2. But I have Fellowship with the Lord Jesus Answ. Thou maist eat and drink in his presence and yet be bid Depart I know you not a worker of iniquity Obj. 3. But I have escaped the pollution of the world 2 Pet. 2. 20. And that through this knowledge of Christ his love hath much moved me to part with my sins Answ. It may be so and it may wash thee from all external pollutions and yet thy swinish nature remain still hidden from thee but seen of an all-seeing God Obj. 4. But I look for Christ and wait for him and desire him and all that are wise think well of me Answ. You may do all this and yet you may be found foolish for all this Evangelical work which is accompanied with Salvation in some it may be Hypocritical in thee And therefore take heed you do not take shews for substance For look as in the Gospel Gods utmost perfection of wisdom and love appears so the most hidden and admirable delusions of Satan are Evangelical There his power is employed to undermine and so to keep his head Oh that we could but imagine and set before our eyes the amazing condition of such a man whose plagues shall be made wonderfull that hath been troubled with sin a long time at last looks to Christ and there rests and so hears all Sermons and there still sleeps and considers often that his waies are evil but never suspects his Faith to be evil then he comes to die and then looks for Christ at last the week or snuff dies and Sun sets and darknesse approacheth and then suddenly slips into Hell where he sees Christ and Saints afar off And what hath deceived them Oh their Faith hath deceived them to see Christ shaking them off as dust Oh they wish Oh that I had known or feared this before and will you not fear now as for you prophane ones that can scoff and drink and break Sabbaths and live idly your judgement is writ upon your foreheads but Oh take heed you that have escaped these pollutions lest you deceive your selves here To shew you that deceit particularly it 's not my time yet but go alone and think sadly of it I may look for justification by Christ and wait for Christ and yet perish Oh let me be sure I get such a Faith as will not deceive me here Should not a man you will say trust to Christ yes when you can in truth but thy Trust may be but Presumption II. Take not up therefore every Opinion and Doctrine from men or Angel that bears a fair shew of advancing Christ for they may be but the fruits of Evangelical Hypocrisie and deceit that being deceived themselves may deceive others too Mat. 7. 15. Beware of them that come in Sheeps clothing in the innocency purity and meeknesse of Christ and his people but inwardly are Wolves proud cruel sensorious speaking evil of what they know not by their fruits you shall know them Do not think Beloved that Satan will not seek to send delusions among us and do you think these delusions will come out of the Popish pack whose inventions sâ—el above ground here No he must come and will come with more Evangelical fine-spun devices It 's a rule observed among Jesuites at this day If
so conscience is at peace with him sin is alive without the Law 4. Keeping a constant course of private duties he thinks God is at peace also and so his peace gives him rest and sloth makes him make a league because he loves rest and hence we finde a Christian most oppressed in times of trouble many times hath most peace and è contra Because as it was with Gideon he had his peace by trouble they had their peace by rest whose flesh he tore with thorns Iudg. 8. 7. oh therefore fear and tremble at their condition SECT VI. HEnce see the reason why many a Christian after he hath seen and felt the work of Gods grace in his heart and soul and hence hath been filled with peace and joy unspeakable that yet after long profession loseth the sight of it and knows not whether there be any dram of grace in his heart or no and consequently hath no assurance but ask him have you not known it yes but 't is a question whether ever it was immortal seed or no for then it would not dye as I see it hath the reason of this is a man falls to a secure condition fast asleep forgets God and himself and hence though there be grace yet it is not exercised Matth. 25. 26. and hence not seen at all 2 Pet. 1. 8 9. and one grace to another and then an open entrance is made this makes calling sure if this they do not they will not see a fat off why because they forget the Lord which is one part of security Hence we shall find in times of persecution never such assurance as then Zach. 13. vlt. because grace is never so exercised as then and hence men much in prayer abound with much assurance when Christ was in his agony he prays more fervently because then a man is watchful and grace most exercised when a man dyes in prayer and grows secure and hath little exercise of grace now it is a question whether there is grace at all or no and hence when men come to Sacraments how oft are they put to it whether the Lord be theirs or no! and hence when men come to the Word they lose all comfort because they know now whether these promises are theirs or no because they are asleep and not waking with the Lord. Oh therefore lay no blame upon the Lord but thy self I have had grace but I have not exercised it I have lived a life of sloth and security had I lived a life of thankfulness prayer watchfulness and been ever awake I should have seen my own heart and what the Lord hath done for my soul Here here lies the security of a Christian not in losing all grace he had but in losing the exercise of it SECT VII Quest. HOw shall I do this Answ. 1. Look that your eye be single that the Lord be your last end and that with an infinite love you cleave to that and then the whole body will be full of light but if your eye be double c. Matth. 6. 24. A ship that hath but one place to go to will get thitherward in open sea with every wind Who is so great as the Lord who minds thee but the Lord doth he provide protect and pity thee when thou seekest thy self will he not do it much more when thou art set for him 2. Consider the sweetness of this life 1. In this life 1 Cor. 15. ult be ever abounding why oh you know your labor shall not be in vain And what will it be when you come to dye Isa. 38. 1 2 3. Remember I have walked with thee And 2. After death Rev. 14. 13. it may be you account them nothing but they shall follow thee do you not find bitterness in the end of another life you will find your pillow hard enough before you dye oh therefore get something to make it easie 3. Take heed of forgetfulness of the Lord for this is the reason why many a man is not ever up in walking with the Lord because he forgets the Lord It is not because he will not or because he cannot but he remembers not the Lords love the glory of his ways what an evil thing and bitter it is to depart from the Lord Psal. 22. 11. They shall remember and turn Jer. 2. 1 6. The Lord complains of Apostacy they said where is the Lord I remember thee c. So I say to you the Lord of glory remembers you thou art written on the palms of his hand and like shew-bread before the Ark so thou dost ever stand before the Lord hence every moment he is pardoning purging preserving and devising how to do thee good nay he remembers thy love prayers seekings after him nay thy house and walls of it where thou dwellest Oh therefore forget not the Lord that so you may be ever seeking after and cleaving to the Lord. SECT VIII HEnce see the reason why men after long profession fall into many slothful opinions because their hearts are surprised with this enemy of sloth first and it is Gods just judgement upon men that seing they love their sleep and laziness they shall be lazy by rule and so be for ever hardned in it Quest. What are those slothful opinions Answ. First What is this but one to make the Law no rule to a Christians life as though a Christian should be like a man at Sea and carried by the wind but he must have no Compass to sail by also In these last times Christ's Kingly Office is chiefly opposed men are glad of Christs righteousness and death to save them but when he comes to plant his Laws as all Conquerors do amongst men they do then shake them off and under a colour of love to their Prince make his Laws no bonds to binde them so these think this is the liberty of a Christian the liberty of a Prince to be lawless 2 Pet. 2. 19. Secondly That there is no activity of Grace received no power to stir till stirred and therefore leave all upon Christ they can do nothing if he gives nothing they cannot help it if he doth then all is well c. It is true till the Lord doth help what can we do But there is an immutable assistance of Spirit whereby the Lord doth enable his to act more or less like himself when stirred up And if you finde none because you fall short of Christ do not think that the Lord will be a cover to such a cap nor a pillow for a slothful heart there is a sickness in the best and must be followed else we dye Thirdly That Ministers must not exhort Why what can men do If servants cannot abide to be spoken unto when there is need from what can it come but idleness What can words make better yes the Lords words have a power to help or ruine when you shall say oh the exhortations oh the inretaties I have had c. one main means
for the elects sake they are willing to spend and to be spent 2 Cor. 1â— 15. Paul wisheth himself anathâ—â—â— amor divinâ—s est exstâ—â—cus â— carries out of self Rom. â— 1 2 3. though it is true the Ministry was not blest to all yet the election obtained it Rom. 11. 7. hence the ministry is from men not Angels that there might be the more pity and so the more help Heb. 4. 2. SECT IV. 2. BUt why by the Ministry of the Gospel Because the Law cannot give life Gal. 3. 21. Now the Lord cannot make him that hath sinned not to have sinned that would be a contradiction and he that hath sinned must dye and hence there is no possibility for the Spirit to give life here hence the Spirit takes another instrument the Gospel can perswade to believe and bring to Christ where life is feared Because there is more of Christs blood here and hence more Spirit for they are all one to be cleansed with Blood and Spirit for the Lord Jesus did not by his blood purchase the unsealing of the Law but the Gospel is a secret and not known but by this means it is the New Testament which ariseth from the death of the Testator to have the neâ—â— of the Gospel printed it is by means of Christ blood but to have men sent to open it there is more of his blood therein and hence more Spirit Because there is more of Christ's love in the Gospel and where most of his love goes there his Spirit goes most it is love to make us know the Law though it be a hand-wrâ—ing against us but now when we see death to bring the Gospel and therein to entreat and wait there is great love and hence it is called the Ministry of Râ—conciliation Oh it is infinite pity to offer to take a dead â—artion up under his wings here he loâ—gs for the salvation of a siâ—ner most if we were fallen Angels he would never send the Ministry of the Gospel to us but so it is now that he hath taken the seed of Abraham SECT V. OF Instruction 1. Hence we may see the glory of the Gospel in that it is the Ministry of the Spirit of God this the Apostle professeth it exceeds in glory glorious light it scatters that which hath been hid from the wise nay from Prophets and Abraham who desired to see this day and saw it but â—â— far off hence it is called marvellous light which brings the foul to the light of that blessed face of Jesus and his glorious love which never shal be sounded to the bottom of it which damps the glory of all other things and although many great and wise despise it yet if they did know they would not despise the Lord of glory nor crucifie him but their eyes shall never see those glorious consolations and comforts promised to the people of God I will send the 〈◊〉 saith Christ which 〈◊〉 can be taken 〈◊〉 from Beleivers which in midst of all miserie comforts it is a great mercy when a man sees his sin else he would never seek for remedy but the Law canot do any thing but arrest and imprison it cannot get sin removed yet the Gospel can set at liberty which 〈…〉 prisoners Ioh 8. 32. You shall know the truth and that shall make you free I can through Christ c. Phil. 4. 13. It is a marvellous mercy to tremble before God and see and know and be affected with Gods wrath but yet if this be all the heart will sink and flye from God now the Gospel reveals Christ and so Ioh. 10. 16. his sheep he ar and follow him and the Gospel comes to hell with the Spirit to a poor sinner when he is blind captive broken mourning never so miserable now the Gospel penetrates thus low and brings the Spirit with it it makes the soul not only to see Christ but gives it him and now it is safe Oh beloved if the Spirit be glorious then is the Gospel glorious if the Ministry of men could bring in and draw with them the Princes of this world and all their wealth to serve you Angels and their Ministry nay bring Christ himself bodily to you how glorious were this but what is this to bring the Spirit into a Sty into thy Soul Oh therefore take heed of a light esteem of the Gospel as those Matth. 22. 3. which were shut out Men must speak something take heed you that have once esteemed it of accounting it a common thing it is next to the unpardonable sin of accounting the Gospel Ministers Truths Justification by Faith c. common things but see them glorious the greatest glory that ever was in the world did once lye hid under the meanest outside viz. Jesus Christ and yet the Apostles beheld his glory so the Gospel is most glorious now as being his glass and this notwithstanding is most mean in the account of many Paul is in the eyes of the Corinthian Doctors a mean man his presence was contemptible his words mean also men despised them Secondly hence see what cause they have to sit and go home to their houses lamenting that never found the Spirit conveyed by the ministry of the Gospel in life and power Lam. 1. 16. Oh the comforter that should refresh my soul is far from me if there be any hope of help it is by the Spirit and if the Spirit it is by the Ministry where the Gospel is published and the Spirit conveyed Oh thinks many a one in himself I find no such good thus long have I heard and thus oft do I hear but I come and go away as I came my heart never shaken my soul never broken my spirit never humbled nor comforted c. and therefore what care I for Ministers or Gospel it is true it is hid 2 Cor. 4. 3. but then it is from them that be lost only whom Satan hath blinded it may be the last medicine is now using as it is with many that have the last remedy applied when they be sick to death truly so it is here Heb. 6. 8. The tree or ground that brings forth bryars is nigh to cursing the condition is sad as it is there exprest it shall never see good when good comes Ier. 17. 6. Oh it was a sad complaint of Saul Oh the Lord answers me not and of the people of God Wee see no vision but you have none and lament it not if men in the old Law did not meet with the Lord in their Tent doors it was no wonder it was not usual so to do but when at the Tabernacle if they met not there with him it was sad then so here if you meet not the Lord there where he dwells it is strange not but that Saints may find the Lord absent but I speak to them that find it not and mourn not for it others shall rejoyce when they mourn for the absence of the Lord.
up before profession as all manner of ignorance and hardness and lasciviousness and vanity now many grow terrified for these and comforted by the Gospel against these and now peace is made Oh but there are some mens natures like some fields which when they are mowen and weeded yet they have a second growth it may be as with other kinde of Weeds you may never fall to those sins you lived in once but other sins more close more spiritual like the House Luke 11. 24. swept and emptied but seven other spirits worse than the former may at last enter in Oh take heed of these for they will make your latter end miserable you know habitations of Satan are not fit mansions for the Spirit of Christ you know Vessels not only of Wood but of Gold if filthy and poysoned are unfit for Princes use till cleansed and look through all the Scriptures on the faces of the best hypocrites you shall finde some filth growing up after their Profession or together with it like blood and sacrifice mixt together Matth. 7. 23. Luke 13. 27. Not those that have iniquity but those that work it not those that work against it and are destroyers of it by little and little but workers of it If you ask me what these sins be I answer These tares and choaking Thornes as they are sown and grown whiles you be asleep so they may be seen when they are grown up if you walk in your fields and meditate on your hearts I 'le only name some 1. Pride affecting some excellency above others and thinking your self some body 2. Spiritual fulness and secret loathing of Ordinances when men are clogged with them 3. Despising known truths which like flowers were notwithstanding sweet at first gathering either concerning your misery or Christ if the Gospel were preacht to the ignorant they would take heaven with violence but thy soul now is not moved and the messengers of God that bring them despised as Galatia and Corinth did Paul 4. A spirit of contention with good people Now you cannot bear unkindnesses and they offend you c. Alexander at first stood for Paul and he opposeth Paul to his face at last 5. Boldness to 〈◊〉 in small matters commonly without sorrow begot by counterfeit assurance of Gods love 6. Seeking of God in Ordinances and working of iniquity out of them fits men have of good affections but healthful constitutions of bad ones 7. Thinking you are indeed what you would be and yet indeed would not be There be other sins but these are some of the most special which I shall now mention take heed of letting these grow or dealing gently with them for Saints may feel these but they put their hook to the roots of these Weeds and would faine pull them quite up but if you deal gently as David with the young Absolom and think God must do all I cannot part with them and hence you give way to them and though there be these sins yet I have many good signes and promises too I shall be saved and so long as they cannot destroy my soule what though they grow in my soul You perish 1 Cor. 9. 26 27. if thus it be with you Take heed you do not run away with such comforts arising from your feeding upon the promise and person of Christ without refrâ—shing the soule also with the good Will and Commands of Christ do not think your selves ready to enjoy Christ when his promise person and love is sweet which is good but his will is bitter and a burden to thy soul even thy whole soul I know 't is so to the â—nregenerate part of godly men for such men there be 1 Iohn 1. 6. To the Saints Christs love is sweet and promise sweet and therefore his Will his Work Iohn 4. 34. Bread you know not of to do the Will of him that sent me and to finish it so it is their food to do the Will of him that loves them and to finish it If a man is to remove from one Countrey to another and he cannot live upon the Bread of the Countrey nor water where he goes he is then unfit for such a Journey because he cannot live upon the bread of it Now what is that which feeds the life of Saints in glory not only Christ but living unto Christ to be perfected under the Government and Kingdom of Christ can you live upon this now in part and the first fruits of it if you can know it is then prepared for thee and thou for it if not but you live as you say upon the present sweet of the promise nay it may be upon the thoughts of old comforts but to do the Will of Christ is death not life to you and it is meerly your task for wages to do his Will not part of your Inheritance you are unfit to be with Christ Acts 21. 13. Why break you my heart saith Paul I am ready to die for the sake of Christ and to do much more So think thus Was Paul ready to die and I not ready to do my heart loaths thy Commands Lord but what the Law makes heavy the Gospel makes sweet for thy sake Lord I love thy will pray Oh thy love is sweet but let thy will be so also Labour to grow poor in spirit that when you cannot honour the Lords Will yet you may be gathering somâ—thing out of all sinnes and weaknesses to honour Gods grace the glory of grace is the last end those that be prepared for it shall enjoy it Who are those The poore who when they see they have lost their lives their soules their comforts in not doing his Will which is bitter to them yet the Lord shall not lose the honour of his grace Psalme 74. 21. The poor will be thankful What doth Paul that Vessel of grace Persecutor Blasphemer but a Saint now say Oh but the least of them but he was an Apostle but I deserve not that name but yet he is received to mercy 't is very true yet never such an example as he thinks and therefore saith he To the King immutable c. when Iacob had seen the Lord Gen. 26. ult if he shall give me food and rayment he shall be my God i. e. I shall then magnifie him he having said he would be so before and he had it in plenty So say If the Lord shall pity pardon I shall then give all to him if I had a thousand hearts tongues truly as Psalme 40. ult The Lord now thinketh on you When a Servant hath spent and lost his Masters estate and he is to give up an Account truly then he may give it with comfort when as he gaines one way abundantly though he loseth another and makes the best gaines so here SECT XV. 2. TO those who are ready but yet not so ready as is meet The Lord hath given you warning to prepare by some sharp afflictions on thy self or by the