the gracious workings of the gospel grace of God upon their hearts and so are in case as having this witness within them to give verdict against those assertions yea moe and many moe than were in several ages before yet Satan should become so bold as to vent these desperate opinions so diametrically opposite to the Grace of God declared in the Gospel and ingraven in the Hearts of many hundereds by the finger of God confirming in the most undoubted manner the truth of the gospel doctrines This would seem to say that there are such clear sun shine dayes of the Gospel and of the Son of man a coming and who can tell how soon this night shall be at an end that all these doctrines of nature shall receive a more conspicuous and shameful dash than they have received for these many ages Hithertil when Satan raised up and sent forth his qualified instruments for this desperat work God alwayes prepared carpenters to fright these horns and thus Gospel truth came forth as gold out of a furnace more clear and shineing And who can tell but there may be a dispensation of the pure grace of God in opposition to these perverting wayes of Satan yet to come that as to the measure of light and power shall excell whatever hath been siace the Apostles dayes Even so come Lord Iesus However Madam the Grace of God will be what it is to all the chosen and ransomed ones They will finde that in it which will make whatever cometh in competition therewith or would darken it contemptible in their eyes And happy they of whom in this day wherein darkness covereth the earth and grosse darkness the people it may be said the Lord hath arisen upon them and his glory hath been seen upon them for whatever others whose understanding is yet darkned and they alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts imagine of the Gospel Grace and however they discerne nothing of the heavenly and spiritual glory of the Grace of God yet they being delivered or cast into the form and mould of the doctrine of the Gospel which they have obeyed from the heart through the powerful and irresistible efficacy of the mighty grace of God have seen such an allureing excellency in 〈◊〉 gracious contrivance of infinite wisdome to set forth the unparallelableness of the pure grace of God and are dayly seeing more and more of the graciousness wisdome of that heavenly invention in its adeqâ—…at sâ—…teablness to all their necessities that as they cannot but admire and commend the riches of that grace that interlineth every sentence of the gospel and the greatness of that love that hath made such a compleatly broad plaster to cover all their sores and wounds so the longer they live and the more they drink of this pure fountain of heavenly nectar and the more their necessities presse them to a taking on of new obligations because of new supplies from this ocean of grace the more they are made to admire the Wisdom Goodness of the Author and the more they are made to fall in love with to delightâ—… and lose themselves in the thoughts of this incomprehensible grace of God yea and to longe to be there where they shall be in better case to contemplate and have more wit to wonder at and better dexterity to prize a stronger head to muse upon and a more enlarged heart to praise for this boundless and endless treasure of the Grace of God with which they are enriched through Jesus Christ. Sure if we be not thus enamoured ravished with it it is because we are yet standing without or at most upon the threshold border of this Grace were we once goto within the jurisdiction of grace and had yeelded up ourselves unto the power thereof and were living and breathing in this aire O! how sweet a life might we have What a kindly â—…lement would Grace be to us As sin had reigned unto death even so grace should reigne through righteousness unto eternal life by Iesus Christ our Lord Rom. 5 21. Grace reigning within us thâ—…ough righteousness would frame fit our souls for that eternal life that is ensured to all who come once under the commanding enlivening strengthening confirming corroborating and perfecting power of Grace and seeking grace for grace and so living and walking and spending upon Grace's cost and charges O how lively and thriveing proficients might we be The more we spent of grace if it could be spent the richer should we be in grace O what an enriching trade must it be to trade with free Grace where there is no losse and all is gaine the stock and gaine and all is ensured yea more labouring in Grace's field would bring us in Isaack's blessing an hundered fold But Alas it is one thing to talk of Grace but a far other thing to trade with Grace When we are so great strangers unto the life of grace through not breathing in the aire of grace how can the name of the Lord Iesus Christ be glorifyed in us and we in Him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Iesus Christ 2 Thes. 1 12 Consider we what an affront and indignity it is unto the Lord dispenfator of Grace that we look so leane and ill favoured as if there were not enough of the fatning bread of the grace of God in our Fathers house or as if the great Steward who is full of grace and truth were unwilling to bestow it upon us or grudged us of our allowance when the fault is in ourselves we will not follow the course that Wise Grace and Gracious Wisdome hath prescribed we will not open our mouth wide that He might fill us nor goe to Him with our narrowed or closed mouthes that Grace might make way for grace and widen the mouth for receiving of more grace but lye by in our leanness and weakness and alas we love too will to be so O but grace be ill wared on us who cary so unworthily with it as we do yet it is well with the gracious soul that he is under grace's Tutory and care for Grace will care for him when he careth not much for it nor yet seeth well to his owne welfare Grace can will prevent yea must prevent afterward as well as at the first that Grace may be Grace and appear to be Grace and continue unchangeably to be Grace and so free Grace Well is it with the Beleever whom grace hath once taken by the heart and brought within the bond of the Covenant of Grace its deadest condition is not desperat when corruption prevaileth to such an hight that the man is given over for dead there being no sense no motion no warmth no breath almost to be observed yet Grace when violently constrained by that strong distemper to retire to a secret corner of the soul there to lurk and
where they must continually fight the souldier is here under command and therefore must be quiet and take his lot so must the Christian reverence the Lords dispensaâ—…tions in ordering matters so as they shall never â—…ave one houres quietnesse whileas others have more rest and peace and stand at their post figâ—…ting resolving never to yeeld but rather to cover the ground with their dead bodyes till the Commander in chief think good to relieve them Suâ—…â—… am as the only wise God hath distributed to eveâ—…y member of the body as He hath thought good so it is the duty of every member to endeavour this holy submission to Him as to the measure of graâ—… considered as His free gift bestowâ—…d on them â—…nd to be humbled for the grudgings of his heart 〈◊〉 God hath not given him moe talents 〈◊〉 sure I am though this submission make no 〈◊〉 â—…oise in thâ—… world yet really this is one of 〈◊〉 â—…ghest degrees of grace attaineable here and 〈◊〉 aâ—… ornament of a mâ—…ek and quiet Spirit 〈◊〉 it in 〈◊〉 sight of God of great price So that who ever hath 〈◊〉 to this have the very grace they seem to 〈◊〉 and more Yet leâ—…t this should be 〈◊〉 lâ—… me adde a word or two of câ—…ution to 〈◊〉 this submission 1. There must be with it an 〈◊〉 priâ—…ing even of that degree of grace which they want 2. There must be a panting after grace as it is God's image and a conformity to Him and that with so much singlness as they may be in â—…ase to say without the reproachings of their heart they do not so much love holiness for heaven aâ—… heaven for holiness 3. There must be an uncessantness in useing all meanes whereby the grouth oâ—… grace may be promoved to this end that they may be comformed to His image rather than that they may be comforted 4. There must be also a deep humiliation for the want of that degree of grace they would have as it importetâ—… the want of so much conformity to Him to whose image they are praedestinated to be conforme which will very well consist with this submission we are speaking ofâ—… 13. It would be remembered that there may be a great progress even when it is not observed when 1. Hereby the man is made to ly in the dust to loath himself and cry behold I am vile 2. Hereby his indignation against the body of death is the more increased 3. Hereby his esteem of a Saviouâ—… anâ—… of the blessed contrivance of Salvation is the 〈◊〉 hiâ—…ghtned that he seeth he is thereby broughâ—… to make mention of His righteousness even oâ—… 〈◊〉 only 4. Hereby his longing after 〈◊〉 frâ—…ition is increased where all these complainâ—… shall cease 5. And hereby he is put to 〈◊〉 that much slighted duty of holding fast the rejoyâ—…ing of his hope firme unto the end looking 〈◊〉 longing for the grace that shall be brought unto him at the revelation of Iesus Christ when he shall be presented without spot and made meet to be â—… partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light CHAP. VI. How Christ is to be made use of in reference to thâ—… kâ—…lling and crucifying of the old man HAving thus shortly pointed out somethingâ—… in generall serving to the clearing and opening up the way of our usemaking of Christ for sanctification we come now more particularly to the clearing up of this business In sanctification we must consider First the renewing and changeing of our nature and frame and next the washing and purging away of our dayly contracted spots The first of these is commonly divided into two parts viz. 1. The mortification killing and crucifying of the old man of sin and corruption which iâ—… within and 2. The vivification renewing quickening and strengthening of the new man of grace and this is a grouth in grace and in fruitfulnesse holinesse As to the first of these viz the mortification 〈◊〉 crucifying of the old man we would know thâ—… there is such a principle of wickednesse and enmiâ—… against God in man by nature now since the fall whereby the man is inclined to evil and only to evil This is called the old man as being like the body made up of so many parts joynts and members that is so many lusts corruptions and evill inclinations which together make up a corpus and they are fâ—…st joyned and compacted together as the members of the body each usefull and serviceable to another and all of them concurring and contributing their utmost to the carrying on of the work of sin and so it is the man of sin and it is also called the old man as haâ—…ing first possession of the soul before it is by grace renewed and is â—… dying more and more dayly Thus it is called the old man and the body of sin Rom. 6 6. This old man hath his members in our members faâ—…cultyes so that none of them are free understanding will affections and the members of our body are all servants of unrighteousnesse to this body of sin and old man So we read of the motions of sin Rom 7 5. which work in our members to bring forâ—… fruit unto death and of the lusts of the flesh Rom. 13 14. Gal. 5 16 24. and the lusts of sin Rom. 6 12. So we hear of the desires of the flesh and of the minde Ephes. 2 3. and of affections and lusts Gal. 5 24. And the old man is said to be corrupt according to the deceitfull lustâ—… Ephes. 4 22. all which lusts and affections are as so many members of this body of sin and of this old man And further there is herein considerable a power force and efficacy which this old man hath in us to carry us away and as it were command us oâ—… constraine us as by a forcible law Hence we read of the law of sin and death Rom. 8 2 which only the law of the Spirit of life in Christ doth make 〈◊〉 free from It is also called a law in our memâ—…rs warring against the law of our minde Rom. 7 23. and bringing us into captivity to the law of sin which is in our members So it is said to lust against the Spirit and to warre Gal. 5 17 All which point out the strength activity and dominion of sin in the soul so that it is as the husband over the wife Rom. 7 1. yea it hath a domineering and constraineing power where its horns are not held in by grâ—…e And as its power is great so its nature is wicked malicious for it is pure enmity against God Rom. â—… 7. so that it neither is nor can be reconciled 〈◊〉 therefore must be put off and abolished Ephes. 2 15. killed crucified Rom. 6 6. Now herein lyeth the work of a beleever to be killing mortifying and crucifying this enemy or rather enmity and delivering himself from under this bondage and slavery that he may be Christ's free man and that
and death And beside this slight and cunning it hath strength and power to draw by lusts into destruction and perdition 1 Tim. 4 9. and to carry the soul headlong So that it makes the mans case miserable Rom. 7 24. All which would say that the beleever should call in other help than his owne and remember that through the Spirit he must mortifie the deeds of the body Rom. 8 13. 7. And therefore the beleever must lay aside all his carnall weapons in dealing with this adversary and look out for divine help assistance even for the promised Spirit through which alone he can be instructed inabled for this great work for of himself he can do nothing not so much as think a good thought as of himself 2 Cor. 3 5. faâ—… lesse will he be able to oppose such a mightie adversary that hath so great many advantages and therefore all his carnall meanes purposes vowes fightings in himself will but render himself weaker a readyer prey unto this adversary which gaineth ground while he is so opposed It is Christ alone and his Spirit that can destroy the works of the devil and kill or crucify this enmity 8. So that the beleever must have his recourse for help and succour here unto Iesus the Captaine of salvation and must follow Him and fight under his bâ—…nner make use of his weapons which are spirituâ—…ll fight according to his counsell and conduct taking Him as a leader commander lying open for his orders instructions waiting for the motions of his Spirit following them and thâ—…s oppose fight against this deadly enemie with an eye alwayes on Christ by â—…aith depending on Him for light to the minde resolution to the will and grace to the whole soul to stand in the battel and to withstand all assaults and never engadge in a disput with this enemie or any lust or member of this body without Christ the Principall that is the soul would dispaire in it self and be strong in Him and in the power of his might by faith gripping to Him as Head Captaine and Commander in chiefe resolving to fight in his strength and to oppose through the helpe of his Spirit 9. And for this cause the beleever would eye the covenant of Redemption the basis of all our hope and consolation wherein finall and full victory is promised to Christ as head of the elect viz that He shall bruise the serpents head and so that in Him all his followers and members of his mysticall body shall lift up the head and get full victory at length over both sin and death Now it is God thâ—…t giveth us the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15 57. The bâ—…leever would also eye by faith the covenant of Grace where in particularly this same victory is promiâ—…ed to the beleever in and through Jesus Rom. 16 20 the God of peace shall brâ—…ise Satan under your feet shortly and Sin shall not have dominion over you for yee are not under the law but under grace Rom. 6 14. The beleever I say would look out by faith unto and lay hold on these and the like promises and thereby get strength conveyed to him self whereby he may strive lawfully and fight valiently and oppose with courage and resolution 10. Further the beleever would eye Christ as a fountaine of Furniture as a full and compleat magazine standing open ready for every one of his honest souldiers to run to for new supply of what they want so that whatever they finde wanting in their Christian armour they must run away to the open magazine Christs fulnesse that standeth ready for them and by faith take put on what they want stand in need of in their warfare If their girdle of truth be slacked loosed or weakened and they be meeting with temptations anent their hypocrisie and Satan objecting to them their double dealing of purpose to discourage them and to make them fainte give over the fight they must away to Him who is the Truth that He may binde on that girdle better and make their hearts more upright before God in all they do And if their breast plate of righteousnesse be weakened Satan there seem to get advantage by casting up to them their unrighteous dealings towards God or Men they must flee to Him who only can help here and beg pardon through his blood for 〈◊〉 failings and set to againe a fresh to the battel If their resolution which is understood by the preparation of the gospell of peace grow weak it must be renewed in Christs armory and the feet of new be shode therewith If their shield of faith beginne to fail theâ—… away must they get to Him who is the Author finisher of faith Heb 12 2. And if their helmet of hope beginne to fail them In this armory alone can that be supplied And if their sword be blunted in their hand or they unable to weild it aright the Spirit of Jesus can only teach their hands to fight and instruct them how to mannage that usefull weapon with advantage Thus must the beleever be strong in Him and in the power of his might Ephes. 6 10. He is their God that girdeth them with strength and maketh their way perfect He maketh their feet like hindes feet setteth them upon their high places He teacheth their hands to war so that a bow of steal is brocken by their armes He giveth them the shield of Salvation His right hand upholdeth them He girdeth with strength unto the battell c. Psal. 18 vers 32 33 34 35 39. c. 11. For the further strengthening of their Hope Faith Confidence beleevers would eye Christ as hanging on the crosse and overcomeing by death Death and him that had the power of death the Devill so as meritoriously purchaseing this redemtion from the slavery of sin and Satan and particulary from the slavery of that body of death and of the law of sin death for the Apostle tells us Rom. 8 2 that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus doth make us free from the law of sin and death and that because as he sayeth further vers 3 4. what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his owne son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh That the rigâ—… teousnesse of the law might be fulfilled in us So that the beleever may now look upon that enemy how fearfull so ever it appear as condemned and killed in the death of Christ. He having laid downe the price of Redemption hath bought this freedom from the chaines fetters with which he was held in captivity faith then on the death of Jesus satifying justice for the poor captive may should support and strengthen the hope confidence of the beleever that he shall obtaine victory at length 12. And it will
what benefites pardons favours and other things they need from all which they have strong ground of comfort and of hope yea and assurance of pardon would acquiesce in this way and having laid those particular sins under the burden whereof they now groan on Christ the mediator dying on the crosse to make satisfaction and ariseing to make application of what was purchased and having put them in his hand who is a faithfull High priest and a noble Intercessour would remember that Christ is a Prince exalted to give Repentance and Remission of sins and so exspect the sentence even from Him as a Prince now exalted and as having obtained that of the Father even a power to forgive sins justice being now sufficiently satisfied through his death yea as having all power in heaven and in earth as being Lord both of the dead and of the living Sure a right thought of this would much quiet the soul in hope of obtaining pardon through Him seing now the pardon is in his owne hand to give out who loved them so dearly that he gave himself to the death for them and shed his heart blood to satisfie justice for their transgressions Since he who hath procured their pardon at so dear a rate and is their atturnay to agent their businesse at the throne of grace hath now obtained the prayed-for looked-for pardon and hath it in his ownehand they will not question but He will give it and so absolve them from their guilt 12. The beleever having taken this course with his dayly provocations and laid them all on Him would acquiâ—…sce in this way and not seek after another that he may obtaine pardon Here he would rest committing the matter by faith in prayer to Christ leaving his guilt and sins on Him expect the pardon yea conclude that they are already pardoned and that for these sins he shall never be brought unto condemnation whatever Satan and a misbeleeving heart may say or suggest afterward Thus should a beleever make use of Christ for the taking away of the Guilt of his dayly transgressions and for further clearing of it I shall adde a few cautions Cautions 1. However the beleever is to be much moved at affâ—…cted with his sins and provocations which he committeth after God hath visited his soul with salvation and brought him into a covenant with himself yet he must not suppose that his sins after justification do marre his state as if thereby he were brought into a Non-justified state or to a Non reconciled state It is true such sins especially if grosse whether in themselves or by reason of circumstances will darken a mans state and put him to search and try his condition over againe But yet we dar not say that they make any alteration in the state of a beleever for once in a justified state alwayes in a justified state It is true likewise that as to those sins which now he hath committed he cannot be said to be acquited or justified till this pardon be got out by faith and repentance as is said yet his State remaineth fixed and unchanged so that though God should seem to deal with such in his dispensations as with enemies yet really his affections change not he never accounteth them real enemies nay love lieth at the bottom of all his sharp st dispenâ—…ations If they for sake his law and walk not in his judgements if they break his statutes and keep not his commandements he will visite their transgression with the rod and their iniquitâ—… with stripes neverthelesse his loving kindnesse will he not utterly take from them nor suffer his faithfulnesse to â—…ail his covenant will he not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of his lips Psal. 89 30 31 32 33 34. And againe though after-transgressions may waken challenges for former sins which have been pardoned and blotted out and give occasion to Satan to raise a storme in the soul and put all in confusion yet really sins once pardoned cannot become againe unpardoned sins The Lord doth not revoke his sentence nor alter the thing that is gone out of his mouth It is true likewise that a beleever by committing of grosse sins may come to misse the effects of God's favour and good will and the intimations of his love and kindnesse and so be made to cry with David Psal. 51 8. make me to heare joy and gladnesse and vers 12. restore unto me the joy of thy salvation c. Yet that really holdeth true that whom he loveth he loveth to the end and He is a God that changeth not and his gifts are without repentance Yea though grieving of the Spirit may bring souls under sharp throwes and pangs of the Spirit of bondage and the terrors of God and His sharpe arrowes the poyson where of may drink up their spirits and so be far from the actuall witnessings of the Spirit of Adoption yet the Spirte will never be againe really a Spirit of bondage unto fear nor deny his his owne work in the soul or the souls real right to or possession of that fundamentall privilege of Adoption or say that the soul is no more a Son noâ—… within the covenant 2. The course before mentioned is to be taken with all sins though 1. They be never so haiâ—…ous and grosse 2. Though they be accompanyed with never such aggravating and crying aggravations 3. Though they be sins frequently fallen into and. 4. Though they be sins many and heaped together Davids transgression was a hainous sin and had hainous aggravations yea there was an heap and a complication of sins together in that one yet he followed this course We finde none of those kinde of sins excepted in the new covenant and where the law doth not distinguish we ought not to distinguish where God's law doth not expressely exclude us we should not exclude our selves Christs death is able enough to take away all sin If through it a beleeveâ—… be justified from all his transgressions committed before conversion why may not also a beleever be through vertue of it justified from his grosse and multiplied sins committed after conversion The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sinâ—… Christ hath taught his followers to pray forgive us our sins as we forgive them that sinne against us and he hath told us also that we must forgive our brother seventy times seven times Mat. 18 22. We would not be discouraged then from taking this course because our sins are such and such nay rather we would look on this as an argument to presse us more unto this way because the greater our sins be the greater need have we of pardon and to say with David Ps. 25 11. Pardon mine iniquity for it is great 3. We would not think that upon our taking of this course we shall be instantly freed from challenges because of those sins for pardoning whereof we take this course nor should we think that because challenges remaine
And through Him the sting of death which is sin is taken away 1 Cor. 15 56 57. 3. He reconcileth to God taking away that distance and enmity 2 Cor. 5 20. and so He is our peace and peace-maker purchaseing accesse to us to the Father Ephes. 2 14 16. 3 12. 4. He also delivereth from the power of sin and corruption Rom. 7 24. 5. And from all those spiritual stroakes such as blindnesse hardness of heart c for He is our light and hath procured a new heart for us even â—…n heart of flesh 6. So delivereth He from hell fire having satisfied justice and having brought life and immortality to light And He giveth life eternal as â—…e see Rev. 2. 3. Oh! it is sad that Christ is so little made use 〈◊〉 and that so many will forsake the fountaine of â—…wing waters and dig to themselves brocken cisteâ—…s that can hold no water and slight despise â—…d undervalue the gospel of Christ which bringeth life and immortality to light Oh! if the consideration of this could move â—…ch as never found any change in themselves to â—…to and make use of Jesus Christ for life and would for this end 1. Cry to Him that He would make them â—…ensible of their deadnesse and waken them out of their deep sleep 2. Cry to Him to set them a work to renunce â—…ll other helpe beside his as being utterly unable â—…o quicken and put life in them 3. Cry to Him that He would draw and determine their souls to a closeing with Him by faith â—…lone to a hearing of his voice to an obeying â—…f his call to a following of his direction to a giving up of themselves to Him leaning to Him â—…d waiting for all from Him alone in a word to â—…ake Him for their life in all points and to leane â—…o Him for life and to expect it from Him through â—…th in the promises of the gospel Next This being spoken to the disciples whom â—…e suppose to have been beleevers it will give us â—…round to speak of it in reference to beleevers and 〈◊〉 yeeld three points of truth which we shall briefly â—…ch and then come to speak of use-making of â—…hrist as the Life in some particular cases First It is here clearly presupposed that even beleevers have need of Christ to be life unto them so have their fits of deadnesse If it were not so why would Christ have said to beleevers that He was life And daylie experience doth abundantly confirme it For 1. They are oft so weak and unable to resist temptation or to go about any commanded duty as if they were quite dead 2. They are oft so borne down with discouragement because of the strength of opposition which they meet with on all hands and because of the manifold disappointments which they meet with that they have neither heart nor hand and they faint and sit up in the wayes of the Lord and cannot go thorow difficulties but oftimâ—… lye by 3. Through daylie fighting and seeing no victory they become weary and faint hearted so that they lie by as dead Esai 40 29. 4. They oft fall sick and decay and have need of restauration and quickning 5. The want of the sense of God's favour and 〈◊〉 the comforts of the holy ghost maketh them 〈◊〉 dwine and droup and look out as dead 6. While under soul desertions upon one account or other they look upon themselves as fâ—… among the dead that is as dead men of the society of the dead with Heman Psal. 88. 7. Yea many times they are as dead men â—…d captive in chaines of unbeleef and corrupâ—…ons as we see David was when his heaâ—… panted and his strength failed him and 〈◊〉 light of his eyes was gone from him Psal. 38 10. 8. Many times the frequent changes and ups and downs they meet with take all courage and heart from them that they become like men tossed at sea so as they have no more strength And many such things befall them which make them look as dead and to stand in need of quickening reviveing and strengthening cordialls from Him who is the Life And thus the Lord thinketh good to dispense with his owne people 1. That they may be keeped humble and know themselves to be indigent creatures needing influences of life daylie 2. That they may have many errands to Him who is the Life and have much to do with Him and depend upon Him continually 3. That He may shew himself wonderful in and about them giving proof of His skill in quickening the dead and in bringing such thorow unto everlasting life who were daylie as it were giving up the ghost and at the point of death 4. That heaven may be heaven that is a place where the weary are at rest Iob. 3 17. and the troubled rest 2 Thes. 1 7. And where the inhabitants shall not say they are sick Esai 33 vers 24. 5. That they may be taught more the life of faith and of dependence on Him and trained up in that way 6. That He may be owned acknowledged and submitted unto as a Soveraigne God doing what He will in heaven and in earth For all this there is no cause that any should take up any prejudice at christianity for for all this their life is sure and the outgate is sure and saife Nor would they think it strange to see beleevers oft mourning and drouping seing their case will oft call for new supplies of life Their fits are not known to every one nor doth every one know what lyeth sometime at their heart Nor would they think it such an easie matter to win to heaven as they imagine and so deceive themselves The righteous are saved through many deaths And as for beleevers They would not think it strange to meet with such fits of deadnesse nor thence conclude that all their former work was but delusion and that they are still into the state of nature But rather observe the wisdome faithfulnesse and power of God in bringing their brocken shipe thorow so much brocken water yea and ship wracks and his goodnesse in ordering matters so as they shall be keeped humble watchful diligent and constant in dependence upon Him who is and must be their life first and last And hence learne a necessitie of living alwayes neare to Christ and depending constantly upon Him by faith for he being their life they cannot be without Him but they must die and decay Secondly We hence learne That under all these fits of deadnesse to which his people are subject nothing without Christ will helpe Not 1. All their paines in and about ordinary meanes prayer reading hearing meditation conference c. They will all cry out that help is not in them for He is the Life 2. Nor extraordinary duties Such as fasting and prayer and vowes these will never revive quicken a drouping or fainting sickly soul for they are not Christ nor the Life 3. Nor will
69 6. Esai 30 18. CHAP. XXII How Christ is to be made use of for life in case of heartlesnesse and fainting through discouragements THere is another evil and distemper which beleevers are subject to and that is a case of fainting through manifold discouragements which make them so heartless that they can do nothing yea and to sit up as if they were dead The question then is How such a soul shall make use of Christ to the end it may be freed from that fit of fainting and win over those discouragments for satisfaction to which we shall 1. Name some of those discouragements which occasione this 2. Show what Christ hath done to remove all those discouragements 3. Show how the soul should make use of Christ for life in this case and 4. Adde a few words of caution As to the first There are several things which may give occasion to this distemper we shall name those few 1. The sense of a strong active lively and continually stirring body of death and that not withstanding of meanes used to beare it down and to kill it This is very discourageing for it made Paul cry out woes me miserable man who shall deliver me from this body of death Rom. 7 24. It is a most discouraging thing to be still fighting and yet getting no ease let be victory to have to do with an enemie that abides alwayes alike strong fight and oppose as we will yea not only is not weakned far lesse overcome but that groweth in power and prevaileth And this many times affecteth the heart of God's children and causeth them to faint 2. It may be the case of some that they are assaulted with strange temptations of Satan his buffettings that are not usual This made Paul cry out thrice 2 Cor. 12. and if the Lord had not told him that His grace was sufficient for him what would he have done Hence some of his cry out in their complaint was there ever any so tempted so assaulted with the devil as I am Sure this dispensation cannot but be much afflicting sadning and discourageing 3. The sense of the real weakness of grace under lively meanes and notwithstanding of their serious and earnest desires and endeavours after grouth in grace cannot but disquiet and discourage them for they may readily conclude that all their paines and labour shall be in vaine for any thing they can observe 4. The want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort is another fainting and discourageing dispensation as the feeling of these is a heart-strengthening and most encourageing thing which made David so earnestly cry for it Psal. 51 8 12. when a poor soul that hath the testimony of its own conscience that it hath been in some measure of singleness of heart and honesty seeking the face of God for a good many yeers and yet cannot say that ever it knew what those incomes of joy and comfort meane which some have tasted largely of it cannot choose but be discouraged and much cast down as not knowing what to say of it self or how to judge of its owne case 5. The want of access in their addresses to God is another heart-discouraging thing They go about the duty of prayer with that measure of earnestness and uprightness of heart that they can win at at least this is their aime and endeavour and yet they meet with a fast-closed door when they cry shout he shooteth out their prayer as the Church complaineth Lament 3 8. This sure will affect them deeply and cause their hearts sometimes to fainte 6. The want of freedom and liberty in their addreses to God is another thing which causeth sorrow and fainting They go to pray but their tongue cleaveth to the roof of their mouth they are straitned and cannot get their hearts vented 7. Outward persecution that attendeth the way of godliness and afflictions that accompany such as live godly is another discourageing thing both to themselves who are under afflictions and to others who heare it and see it wherefore the Apostle desired earnestly that the Ephesians should not faint at his tribulation Cap. 3 13. 8. The Lords sharpe and sore dispensations for sin as toward David Psal. 51. or out of his Soveraignity for tryal and other ends as toward Iob is likewise a discourageing heart-breaking thing and that which will make strong gyants to roare and fainte and look upon themselves as dead men as we see in these two eminent men of God As to the second thing Christ is life to the beleever in this case in having done that which in reason may support under all these discouragements and having done so much for removing or weakening of these yea and for carrying them over them all which may be in a word cleared as to each 1. As for the body of death Let it stirre in the beleever as fast as it will or can it is already killed all that strugling is but like the strugling of a man in the pangs of death for our old man is crucified with Christ Rom. 6 6. and the beleever is dead to sin and risen legally with him Col. 2 11 12. 3 3. But of this we spoke abundance above 2. As to Satans troubling the poor beleever Through Christ also he is a vanquished enemy He hath overcome him that had the power of death even the devil Heb. 2 14. 3. As for that felt weakness of grace That is no ground of discouragement so long as he liveth who can make the lame to leep as an hart and can make waters break out in the wildernesse and streames in the desert Esai 35 6 7. and giveth power to the fainte and to them that have no might increaseth strength so that such as waite upon the Lord shall renew their strength and they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint Esai 40 29 31. For in Hâ—…m are all the promises yea amen 2 Cor. 1 20. So that they need not faint upon this account nor be discouraged for the work He hath begun He will finish it and He will quicken in the way Psal. 119 37. 4. As for the want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort He hath promised to send the comforter in his own good time Iohn 14 26. 15 26. as one whom his mother comforteth so will he comfort his Esai 66. 13. Joy and gladnesse is promised in the covenant Ier. 31 13. But further though He keep up those influences of joy and comfort He supporteth another way The lively hope of heaven may bear up the heart under all this want for there shall the soul have fulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more no teares nor sorrow there Psal. 16 11. Esa. 35 10. 51 11. 5. As for the want of accesse in their prayers They may possibly blame themselvs for He hath by his merites opened the door and is become to speak so
might compend the account to be given shortly and give it most exactly yet trueln in these few words As the most undoubted deviation from and perfect opposition unto the whole contriveance of salvation and the conveyance of it unto the souls of men as revealed in this gospel which brings life and immortality to light that fighters against the grace of God in its value and vertue can forge stretching their blind reason to the overthrow of true religion and ruine of the souls of men for to this height these Masters of reason have in their blind rage risen up against the Lord and against his Anointed this is the dreadful period of that path wherein we are perswaded to walk yea Hectored if we would not forfeit the repute of men by these grand Sophies who arrogat to themselves the name and thing of knowledge as if wisdome were to dy with them The deep mysteries of salvation which Angels desire to look into and onely satisfy themselves with admiration at must appeare as respondents at their bar and if they decline the judge and court as incompetent they flee out and flout at subjecting this blinde mole mans reason to the revelation of faith in a mystery The manifold wisdome of God and the manifold grace of God must either condescend to their unfoldings and be content to speak in their dialect or else these wits these Athenian dictators will give the deep things of God because beyond their diveings the same entertainment which that great gospel preacher Paul met with from men of the same mould kidney and complexion because he preached unto them Jesus what would this babler say said they The Spirit of wisdom and revelation they know not they have not they acknowledge not nay they despise him in his saveing and soul ascertaining illuminations and the workings of that mighty power to them ward who beleeve is to the men of this new mould because they have not found it an insufferable fansy to be exploded with a disdain and indignation which discovers what Spirit acts them in this opposition But what do they say that will found this charge and free us from casting iniquity upon them They are of age and can speake for themselves when they have vomit out their gall against the imputed righteousnesse of Christ and the new birth and that holinesse which is imparted to the real members of Christ with a scoffeing petulancy they then make a great noise of holinesse as who but tâ—…ey the thing they plead for and perswade unto is a kinde of holinesse educed out of natural abilities wherein Christ the Spirit and the Gospel of the grace of God is permitted no greater interest nor allowed a more effectual adjuvancy then to concurre by way of precept motive and example Thiâ—… is now that admired and applauded Diana morality It is true they will sometime chirt thorow their teeth for what ever Christ the Spirit and Gospel gets of our Moralists it is against the hair and they are hard put to it ere they give it a tepid acknowledgement that the gospel doth afford men some special help and is of singular use and advantage in shewing the way and rule with greater clearnesse and guiding and directing how to walk in it with a plain perspicuity and exciting by noble examples and some do also adde some faint and frigid motions of the holy ghost in the dispensation of this truth put forth to make men more foreward but all this salvo jure of the great Diana so much and no more is yeelded to the gospel then to shew men with clearnesse how they may exert and put forth their proper and innat power it affords them some special help in holding the candle or rather snufing it that so they may with more promptitud see how to operat and by the motives it adduceth and examples it brings have a special provocation to the exercise of these vertues commanded the gospel with all it brings and doth does no more but hold the candle till these artists weave their web shape and shew their garment and then let them see how to put it on and being put on perswade them to weare it as the highest beauty and chief ornament of the soul this is all the provision they lay up for eternity and in this dresse and garb of guilded morality they mind to addresse themselves to God and appeare before his tribunal with confidence of acceptation they will beare their own charges to heaven and carry a summe with them to purchase the possession of the saints in light with a little abatement which a mercy of their own moulding for God mercy it is not must make and thus they make all sure But what is all this noise that these vain talkers make about holinesse they heap up words which weep to be so abused about vertue love to God mortification c. But they have really taken away our Lord Jesus Christ and will not tell us where they have laid him for feare we should go seek him and foresake them What are these rotten and loathsome raggs where with they would cloath us that the shame of our nakednesse may not appeare to that holinesse whereto we are predestinat before the foundation of the world and whereto in order to the obtaining of that salvation even the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ to which we are chosen we are created againe in Christ Jesus and made meet to be possessed of by sanctification of the Spirit and beleife of the truth What is all this tattle of theirs to the new birth the saveing work of regeneration without which a man cannot enter into the kingdome of God the new creature the new heart haveing the law written in it the Spirit which he puts within us causeing us to walk in his wayes that noble principle of spiritual life whereby we are quickened raised from the dead made alive unto God through Christ Jesus disposed enclined and enabled to live to God and walk before him to all pleasing Nay according to the imposeings of these new dogmatists beware of dogs says the Apostle of the same size and sort of men in stead of that principle implanted and that power produced in us by the effectual operation of the H. G. working in us mightily according to the workings of that mighty power which was wrought in Christ when raised from the dead we must be content with some what which was liveing though lazie and dormant in the natural powers of our own soul now awakened out of its sopor and educed into act by the meer application of external means in a word in stead of all that which is purchased and procured unto us by the death of Jesus Christ wrought in us by his Spirit who takes of his and shews it unto us whereby our conformity to Jesus Christ is begun and carried on we must be content with this morality good Lord prevent such madnesse whose Principle is natural
them that are out of the way and can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4 15. 5 2. Which truth as upon the one hand it should encourage all to choose him for their leader give up themselves to Him who is so tender of his followers so upon the other hand it should rebuke such as are ready to intertaine evill and hard thoughts of Him as if he were an hard Master and ill to be followed and put all from interteaning the least thought of his untendernesse and want of compassion But moreover Secondly WE see That weaknesses and corruptions breaking out in beleevers when they are honestly and ingenuously laid open before the Lord will not scarre Him away But rather engadge Him the more to helpe and succour Much of Thomas his weaknesse and corruption appeared in what he said yet the same being honestly and ingenuously laid open to Christ not out of a spirit of contradiction but out of a desire to learne Christ is so far from thrusting him away that He rather condescendeth the more out of love and tendernesse to instruct him better and to cleare the way more fully And that because 1. He knoweth our mould and fashion how fecklesse and frail we are and that if he should deal with us according to our folly we should quickly be destroyed 2. He is not as Man hasty rash Proud but gentle loving tender and full of compassion 2. It is his office and proper work to be an instructer to the ignorant and a helper of our infirmities and weaknesses a phisitian to binde up and cure our sores wounds Who would not then willingly give up themselves to such a teacher that will not thrust them to the door nor give them up to themselves alwayes when their corruptions would provoke Him thereunto And what a madnesse is this in many to stand aback from Christ because of their infirmities and to scarre at Him because of their weaknesse when the more corruption we finde the more should we run to him and it is soon enough to depart from Christ when he thrusts us away sayeth he will have no more to doe with us yea he will allow us to stay after we are as it were thrice thrust away only let us take heed that we approve not ourselves in our evils that we hide them not as unwilling to part with them that we obstinatly maintaine them not nor ourselves in them but that we lie open before him and deal with him with honesty ingenuity and plainnesse Thirdly WE see further That ignorance ingenuously acknowledged and laid open before Christ puts the soul in a faire way to get more instruction Thomas having candidely according as he thought in the simplicity of his heart professed his ignorance is in a faire way now to get instruction for this is Christs work to instruct the ignorant to open the eyes of the blinde Why then are we so foolish as to conceale our ignorance from him and to hide our case and condition from him and why doth not this commend Christ's School to us so much the more why do we not carry as ingenuous schollars really desireous to learnâ—… But. Fourthly WE may learne That our ill condition and distempers put into Christs hand will have remarkable ouâ—…gates and an advantagious issue seeing Christ taketh occasion here from Thomas his laying open his condition not without some mixture of corruption to cleare up the truth more fully and plainely than it was before for hereby 1. Christ giveth an open declaration of the glory of his power mercy goodnesse wisdome c. 2. He hath occasion to give a proof of his divine art and glorious skill of healing diseased souls and of making brocken bones stronger than ever they were 3. Thus he effectually accomplisheth his noble designes and perfecteth his work in a way tending to abase Man by discovering his infirmities and failings and to glorifie Himself in his goodnesse and love 4 Thus he triumpheth more over Satan and in a more remarkable and glorious manner destroyeth his works 5. Thus he declareth how wonderfully he can make all things work together for good to his chosen ones that love him and follow him 6 Yea thus he engadgeth souls to wonder more at his divine wisdome and power to despaire lesse in time comeing when cases would seem hard to acknowledge his great and wonderfull grace and his infinite power and wisdome that can bring death out of life and also to be more sensible of the mercy and thankfull for it O beleever what matter of joy is here how happy art thou that hath given up thy self to him Thy worst condition can turne to thy advantage He can make thy ignorance vented with a mixture of corruption turne to the increase of thy knowledge Blesse him for this and with joy and satisfaction abide thou under his tutory at his school And withall be not discouraged be thy â—…ase of ignorance and corruption what it will lay it out before him with sincerity and singlenesse of heart and then thou mayest glory in thine infirmities that the power of Christ may rest on thee 2 Cor. 12 9. for thou shalt see in due time what advantage infinite love and wisdome can bring to thy soul thereby May not this be a strong motive to induce strangers to give up themselves to him who will sweetly take occasion at their failings and short comeings to helpe them forward in the way and what excuse can they have who sit the call of the gospell and say in effect they will not goe to Christ because their case is not good And oh that beleevers were not sometimes led away with this errour of scarring at Christ because of Infirmities seen and discovered Fiftly IT is remarkeable that as the disciples did ofttimes vent much of their carnall conceptions of the kingdome of Christ as apprehending it to be some carnall outward pompous stately and upon that account desireable condition so there might be much of this carnall apprehension lurking under this acknowledgment and question of Thomas And the Lord who knew their thoughts doth here wisely draw them off those notions and 〈◊〉 them about another study To tell us That it is â—…est and most usefull and profitable for us to be much taken up in the study searâ—… of necessary and fundamentall truths and particularly of the way to the father for 1. Here is the substantiall food of the soul other notions are but vaine and oftentimes they make the case of the soul worse but the study of this is alwayes edifying 2 The right understanding of this other fundamentall truthes will not puff up but keep the soul humble and will make the soul active and diligent in duty 3 The fruite of this study is profitable and lasting 4 And the right uptaking of these truthes will discover the vanity of other sciences falsly so called and the folly of spending our time about other
returne to the great God upon him Let all the creation of God wonder at this wonderfull condescending love of God that appointed such a way and of Christ that was content to louâ—… so low as to become this way to us this new and living way and that for this end he should have taken on flesh and become Emmanuel God with us and taberrackled with us that through this vaile of his flesh he might consecrate a way to us Let angels wonder at this condescendency 2. Hence we may see ground of being convinced of those things 1 That naturally we are out of the way to peace and favour with God and in a way that leadeth to death and so that our miserie and wreatchednesse so long as it is so cannot be expressed 2. That we can do nothing for ourselves set all our wits a work we cannot fall upon a way that will bring us home 3. That it is madnesse for us to seek out another way and to vex ourselves in vaine to run to this and to that meane or invention of owr owne and be found fools in end 4. That our madnesse is so much the greater in this that we will turne to our owne wayes that will fail us when there is such a noble and excellent every way satisfying way prepared to our hand 5. That our wickednesse is so desperat that the way which is pointed out to us doth not please us and that we will not enter into it not walk in it 6. That this Way which is also the Truth and the Life is only worth the Imbraceing and is only saife and sure we should be convinced and perswaded of the worth sufficiency and desireablenesse of this way Reason with ordinary light from the word may teach these things But grace can only cary them into the heart and make them take rooting there 3. We may read here our obligation unto those particulars 1. To turne our bak upon all other false and deceitfull wayes and not rest there 2. To enter into this way though the gate be narrow straite Mat. 7 13. Luk. 13 24. yet to strive to enter in 3. To resolve to abide in that way as acquiesceing in it resting satisfied with it and this is to be rooted in him Col. 2 7. to dwel in him 1 Iohn 3 24. to live in him or through him 1. Iohn 4 9. 4. To walk in this way Col. 2 6. that is to make constant use of him and to make progresse in the way in through him to goe from strength to strength in him drawing all our furniture from him by faith according to the covenant And this sayeth that the soul should guaird against 1 stepping aside out of this good pleasant way 2. backslideing 3. sitting up fainting by the way In a word This pointeth out our duty to make use of Christ as our way to the father and only of Christ and this leads us to the particulars we shall speak a little to There are two maine things which stand in our way and hinder us from approaching to the Father 1. Unrighteousnesse and guilt whereby we are legally banished because of the broken covenant and the righteous sentence of God according to that covenant 2. Wickednesse impurity unholinesse which is as a physicall bar lying in our way because nothing that is uncleane can dwell and abide with him who is of purer eyes then he can behold inquitie and nothing that is uncleane can enter in there where He is So then there must be an usemaking of Christ as a way through both these impediments We need justification pardon for the one and sanctification cleansing for the other Now Christ being the way to the Father both as to justification in taking away the enmitie in changeing our state removing our unrighteousnesse guilt whereby we were lying under the sentence of the law adjudging such sinners as we are to hell and as to sanctification in cleansing us from all our pollutions renewing our souls washing away our spots defilements c. He must be made use of in reference to both In speaking to the first we shall be the shorter because through God's great mercy the gospell pure way of justification by faith in Christ is richly and aboundantly cleared up by many worthy authors of late both as concearning the theoreticall and practicall part CHAP. IV. How Christ is made use of for justification as a Way WHat Christ hath done to purchase procure to bring about our justification before God is mentioned already viz. That He stood in the room of sinners engadging for them as their cautioner undertaking at length paying down the ransome becoming sin or a sacrifice for sin a curse for them and so laying downe his life a ransome to satisfie divine justice and this he hath made known in the gospell calling sinners to an accepting of him as their only Mediator and to a resting upon him for life salvation and withall working up such as belong to the election of grace to an actuall closeing with him upon the conditions of the covenant to an accepting of him beleeving in him resting upon him as satisfied with and acquiesceing in that soveraigne way of salvation justification through a crucified mediator Now for such as would make use of Christ as the way to the Father in the point of justification those things are requisite to which we shall only premit this word of caution That we Judge not the want of these requisites a ground to exeem any that heareth the gospell from the obligation to believe rest upon Christ as He is offered in the gospell First There must be a conviction of sin miserâ—… a conviction of originall guilt whereby we are banished out of God's presence favour are in a state of enmity death are come short of the glory of God Rom. 3 23. becomeing dead or under the sentence of death through the offence of one Rom. 5 15. being made sinners by one Mans disobedience vers 19. and therefore under the reigneing power of death vers 17. and under that judgement which came upon all men to condemnation vers 18. And of originall innate wickednesse whereby the heart is filled with enmity against God and is a hater of Him of all his wayes standing in full opposition to him to his holy lawes loving to contradict and resist him in all his actings despiseing and undervalueing all his condescensious of love obstinately refuseing his goodnesse offers of mercy peremptoâ—…ily persisting in rebellion heart opposition not only not accepting his kindnesses offers of mercy but contemning them trampling them underfoot as imbittered against him As also there must be a conviction of our actuall transgressions whereby we have corrupted our wayes yet more run further away from God brought on more wrath upon our souls according to that sentence of the law
rebelliousnesse in the will irregularity disorder in the affections whereby the soul is unfit for any thing that is good prone to every thing that is evil Rom. 3 10 20. Ephes. 2 1 2 3. Rom. 5 6. 8 7 8 whence proceedeth all our actual transgressions Iam 1 14 15. And moreover sometimes the soul is given up to a reprobat minde Rom. 1 28. to strong delusions 2 Thes. 2 2. to hardnesse of heart Rom. 2 5. horror of conscience Esa. 33 14. to vile affections Rom. 1 26 and the like spiritual plagues which though the Lord inflict on some only yet all are obnoxious to the same by nature can exspect no lesse if the Lord should enter with them into judgment And finally as to what is future of this kinde they are being fuel for Tophet obnoxious to that malignant sinful blasphemous and desperat rebellion against God in hell for ever more O how lamentable upon this consideration must the condition of such be as are yet in the state of nature Oh if it were but seen and felt But alas there is this addition to all that people know noâ—… this they consider it not they beleeve it not they feel it not they see it not and hence it cometh to passe that 1. They cannot bewail and lament their condition nor be humbled therefore 2. They cannot nor will not seek after a remedie for the whole will not trouble themselves to seek after a physician And sure upon this account their case calleth for pity and compassion from all that know what a dreadful thing it is to be in such a condition and should stirre up all to pray for them and to do all they can to helpe them out of that state of sin and misery which is dreadful to think upon Should not the thoughts and consideration of this put us all to try and search if we be yet translated from death to life and delivered out of that terrible and dreadful state and made partakers of the first resurrection It not being my purpose to handle this point at large I shall not here insist in giving marks whereby this may be known and which are obvious in Paul's Epistles to be found handled at large in several practical pieces chiefly in Mr. Guthries Great interest I shall only desire every one to consider and examine 1. Whether or not the voice of Christ which quickeneth the dead hath been heard and welcomed in their soul This is effectual calling 2. Whether or not there be a through change wrought in their soul a change in the whole Man so as all things are become new 2 Cor. 5 vers 17 3. Whether or not there be a Principle of life within And they be led by the Spirit 4. Whether or not there be a living to the glory of the Lord Redeemer And when by impartial tryal a discovery is made of the badness of our condition should we not be alarmed to look about us and to laboure by all meanes for an outgate considering 1. How doâ—…lful and lamentable this condition is 2. How sad and dreadful the consequents of it are 3. How happy a thing itis to be delivered from this miserable and sinful condition and. 4. How there is a possibility of outgate Finally It may break a heart of stone to think how people that are in such a condition are so unwilling to come out of it for 1. How unwilling are they once to suspect their condition or to suppose that it may be bad and that they may be yet unconverted 2. How unwilling are they to sit down seriously to try and 〈◊〉 the matter and to lay their case to the touch-stone of the word 3. Yea how unwilling are they to heare any thing that may tend to awaken them or to discover unto them the badness of their condition 4. How ready to stiffle challenges of conscience or any common motion of the Spirit which tendeth to alarme their soul 5. How great enemies are they to such ordinances as serve to awaken sleeping consciences 6. And how do they hate such ministers as preach such doctrine as may serve to rouz thâ—…m up and set them a work about their own salvation Secondly We learne hence That without Christ there is no imaginable way of delivery out of this natural state of death No other name is given under heaven whereby we can be saved Act. 4 12. and angels can make no help here nor can one of us deliver another the redemption of the soul is more precious then so Psal. 49 7 8. Not is there any thing we can do for ourselves that will availe here all our prayers teares whipeings fastings voâ—…es almes deeds purposes promises resolutions abstenance from some evils outward amendements good morality and civility outward religiousnesse yea and if it were possible our keeping of the whole law will not helpe us out of this pit And we may weary ourselves in such exercises in vaine for they will prove but bodylie exercises that profite little And when in this way we have spent all our time parts spirits and labour we shall at length see and say that we have spent our money for that which is not bread This should put all of us to try what itis which we leane to for life and what it is the consideration whereof giveth us peace and quietnesse when the thoughts of death judgment hell and the wrath of God come upon us and trouble us for if it be any thing beside Christ that our soul leaneth to and that we are comforted by and found all our hopes upon we will meet with a lamentable oh for ever lamentable disappointment Be sure then that our hearts renunce all other wayes and meanes of outgate out of this death beside Jesus the Resurrection and the Life else it will not be well with us Thirdly We see here That delivery out of this natural state of death is only had by Christ for He alone is the Life and the life that is in Him is suiteable and excellent Hence he is called the bread of life Iohn 6 35 48. The resurrection and the life Iohn 11 25. The water of life Revel 21 6. 22 17. The tree of life Revel 22 2 14. The Prince of life Act. 3 15. our life Col. 3 4. The word of life and life it self 1 Iohn 1 1 2. And as He is a suitable and excellent life so is He an alsufficient and perfect life able every way to helpe us and to deliver us from all the parts of our death For 1. He delivereth from the sentence of the law Rom. 5 17 18. undergoing the curse of the law and becomeing a curse for us 2 Cor. 5. last 2. He taketh away the curse and sting of all temporal plagues yea and of death it self causeing all work together for good to such as love Him Rom. 8 28. He hath killed Him that had the power of death that is the devil Heb. 2 14.
the evil of their former wayes and courses He worketh up the heart to godly sorrow and remorse for what is done making their bowels move for grief and sorrow that they should have so dishonoured and grieved Him 7. By setting the soul thus on work to do what formerly it neither could nor would do and thus He maketh the soul strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Epes 6 10. and able to run and not be weary and to walk and not be faint Esai 40. 8. By discovering the great recompence of reward that is comeing and the great help they have at hand in the Covenant and promises thereof and in Christ their Head and Lord He maketh the burden light and the duty easie As to the Last particular viz. How a beleever in such a case should make use of Christ as the Life that he may be delivered therefrom When the poor beleever is any way sensible of this decay and earnestly desireing to be from under that power of death and in case to go about commanded duties he would 1. Look to Christ for enlightened eyes that he may get a more through discovery of the hazard wreatchednesse of such a condition that hereby being awakened and alarmed he may more willingly use the meanes of recovery and be more willing to be at some paines to be delivered 2. He would run to the blood of Jesus to get the guilt of his by gone sinful wayes washen away and bloted out to the end he may obtaine the favour of God and get his reconciled face shineing upon him againe 3. He would eye Christ as a Prince exalted to give repentance that so his sorrow for his former sinful courses may be kindely spiritual through and affecting the heart He would cry to Christ that He would put in his hand by the hole of the door that his bowels may become moved for Him 4. He would also look to Him as that good Shepherd who will strengthen that which is sick Ezech. 34 16. And take notice also of his other Relations and of his Obligations thereby and by the Covenant of Redemption and this will strengthen his hope 5. He would lay hold on Christ as his Strength whereby his feet may be made like hindes feet and he may be made to walk upon his high places Habb 3 19. and he would grippe to that promise Esai 41 10 I will strengthen thee and lay hold on Christ in it 6. Having done thus he would set about every commanded duty in the strength of Jesus looking to Him for help and supply from whom cometh all his strength and though he should not finde that help and assistance which he expected yet he would not be discouraged but continue and when he can do no more offer himself as ready and willing to go about the duty as if he had strength 7. He would lye open to and be ready to receive the influences of strength which He who is the Head shall think good to give in his own time manner and measure and this taketh in those duties 1. That they would carefully guaird against the evils formerly mentioned which brought on this distemper such as Carelesnesse Untendernesse Unwatchfulnesse Lazynesse carnal Security Formality and want of Seriousnesse c. 2. That they would beware of giving way to despondency or of concludeing the matter hopelesse and remedilesse for that is both discourageing to the soul and a tempting provocation of God 3. That they should be exerciseing the grace of patient Waiting 4. That they should be waiting in the use of the appointed meanes and thereby as it were rubbing the dead and cold member before the fire till it gather warmth 5. That they should be keeping all their sails â—…p waiting for the gaile of the Spirit that should make their shipe sail 6. That they should be looking to Him alone who hath promised that quickening Spirit and patiently waiting his leasure not limiting Him to any definite time 7. That they should be cherishing and stirring up any small beginnings that are 8. That they should be welcoming most cheerfully every motion of the Spirit and improveing every advantage of that kinde and stricking the yron when it is hote and hold the wheels of the soul a going when they are once put in motion and so be loath to grieve the good and holy Spirit of God Ephes. 4 vers 30. or to quench his motions 1 Thes. 5 vers 19. If these duties were honestly minded and gone about in Him and in His strength none can tell how soon there might be a change wrought in the soul. But of it be asked what such can do to whom the very thoughts of the duty and aimeing at it is matter of terrour Ans. It may be something if not much of that may flow from such a bodyly distemper as occasioneth the alteration of the body upon the through apprehension of any thing that is weighty and of moment so as they cannot endure to be much affected with any thing But leaving this to others I would advise such a soul to those duties 1. To be frequently seting to the duty as for example of prayer though that should raise the distemper of their body for through time that may weare away or at least grow lesse while as their giving way thereto will still make the duty the more and more terrible and so render themselves the more unfit for it and thus they shall gratifie Satan who it may be may have a hand in that bodyly distemper too when the poor soul is thus accustomed or habituated to the attempting of the duty it will at length appeare not so terrible as it did so the body may become not so soon altered thereby as it was 2. When such an one can do no more He would keep his love to the duty and his desires after â—…t fresh and lively and would not suffer these quite to die out 3. He would be much in the use of frequent ejaculations and of short supplications darted up to God for these will not make such an impression on the body and so will not so occasion the raiseing and wakening of the bodyly distemper as more solemne addresses to God in prayer would possibly do 4. If he cannot go to Christ with confidence to draw out of Him life and strength according to his need yet he may give a look to Him though it were from a farre and he may think of Him and speak of Him frequently and would narrowly observe every thing that pointeth Him out or bringeth any thing of Him to remembrance 5. Such souls would not give way to despairing thoughts as if their case were wholly helpelesse and hopelesse for that is a reflecting upon the power skill of Christ and therefore is provoking and dishonourable to Him 6. Let Christ and all that is His be precious alwayes and lovely unto them And thus they would keep some room in their heart open for