in thy estimation doe now seeme lesse and lesse dangerous if sometimes thou couldest not be comforted in the sence of sinne and the same sinne now move thee nothing at all thou couldst not abide cursed speaking in others now thou fallest to it thy selfe thou couldst not away with idle and gracelesse companions now thou canst now hast thou quenched the spirit 2. If thou be apt to rush into sinne once conquered thy strength is abated 3. If thou be unwilling to heare any of thy sinnes reproved the spirit is quenced because he rebuketh sinne 4. If the word and rodde preserve thee not from sinne the spirit is not present in thee 5. If after sinne committed thou doest not more hate it and sorrow for it than before thou lovedst it and rejoycedst in it if thou hast not a more constant care to avoid sinne than before yea if thou hast not a greater zeale in doing good know for a certaine that some sinne in thee or other is as water cast upon the spirit Fifthly and lastly examine thy selfe concerning the worke of Gods Spirit on thy affections thus If thy love of heavenly things be abated or be more to earth than to heaven if thy joy be troubled if thy conscience be perplexed with accusations if there be in thee an excessive feare of death or the like certainly the spirit is now quenched looke well unto it Object Alas I have found my affections more fiery than now they be I have had a great measure of zeale for God much indignation against sinne fervent affection in Gods service joy in God comfort in my selfe and in good duties but now it is not so with me I could never attaine the like affections as at first what may I thinke of my selfe Answ. We must wisely distinguish of the diffusing of grace from the decaying of it In earthly marriage love will be more vehement at first because lesse diffused but afterward is rather more extended than languishing so it is in the heate of grace But how may I know it thus 1. If thou be displeased that thou canst not get thy heart to the highest pitch of delight in grace 2. If thou still hungrest after grace and a further measure as one that hath tasted hony desireth more so having tasted of the spirit doest earnestly desire a greater measure of it 3. Stickest thou to the meanes in publicke and in private and wilt not be driven off still lying at the Poole where the spirit mooveth then discourage not thy selfe but goe on comfortably this small affection toward the Lord and his grace be it but as a graine of mustard seed it shall outgrow all choke weedes and master and kill whatsoever affections would overtop it So much for the second use Thirdly seeing negative precepts include the affirmative every Christian must hence be stirred up to stirre up the gift of God that is in him and not suffer it to decay 2 Tim. 1.6 A fit lesson even for Timothy himselfe For first the Spirit is ever working something in Gods children worthy the stirring up he is no where idle but still beautifying perfecting his own dwelling 2. Every Christian hath some graces to stirre up else were there no difference betweene him and a naturall man who wants the Spirit 3. No Christian hath any grace so perfect but it needes stirring up where growth is there is no perfection 4. Without stirring the fire dies so the Spirit for which cause the Apostle useth the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blow up Quest. What meanes may wee use to blow up the Spirit Answ. 1. The word of God in the publicke and private use of it First the preaching of the word as it begets so it nourisheth grace The Ministry is instituted and gifts given to men not onely to lay to foundation of our happinesse but to build us up till we meet together in a perfect body Ephes. 4.11 12 13. Naturall food strengthens the body by the daily use of it spiritual food strengthens the soule by the continuall use of it Those that say they know as much as they neede or as much as the Preacher can tell thē never truly saw their great weaknesse for let any good conscience say if it neede not the word continually David a man of singular grace yet lay fouly in his sinnes till Nathan came and stirred him saying Thou art the man Despise Prophecy and quench the Spirit where vision faileth grace perisheth Secondly the word must be privately read and conversed in for such is the excellency and power of it that it transformes the minde conversant in it unto it selfe and to be affected as the pen-men were holily and graciously Besides it begets and furthers found judgement whereas others erre not knowing the Scriptures and it stirres up good affections and gracious desires Againe the word must be meditated on in private without which hearing and reading are to little purpose Psal. 1.1 Blessed is the man that meditates in the law of the Lord continually And here is mutuall helpe for hearing and reading doe feede meditation and meditation doth fasten them Why else hath God given man a reasonable soule but to meditate upon his word and workes Or why else hath he set apart a whole day in seaven especially for meditation if it were not a notable meanes to excite grace Or why else did our Lord take all occasions from the workes of God to teach and instruct us but for our example that we should tread in his holy steppes We see the first meanes 2. The Sacraments were instituted to strengthen our faith which in it selfe is weake and to keepe in continuall memory the covenant betweene God and us with the meanes thereof yea the very preparation to them includeth a speciall meanes of stirring up our graces of repentance of renewing our faith of obedience thankfulnesse and all the meanes of growth in the covenant And much more strength doth a good heart finde in the celebration of them Therefore to forbeare them of contempt argues no member of Christ and of negligence to forbeare is to cast ones selfe into the judgement of God 3. Prayer sets all graces on worke as faith in Gods promises charity toward our brethren hope which lookes for the performance of that we pray for humility in confession of sinnes and sense of wants thankfulnesse for supplies and leave to pray and by exercise in prayer wee get the spirit of prayer Luke 11.13 Our Father will not deny his Spirit to them that aske him 4. Company or commerce with the godly doth exceedingly sharpen our graces One candle lights another and one sticke of fire kindles another A lesser sticke may kindle a billet so the strongest Christian may receive furtherance from the weakest Paul himselfe might be comforted by the Romanes chap. 1.12 And when Silas came Paul burned in the Spirit But how can one coale alone by it selfe keepe it selfe glowing Yea evill men
to grow up in holinesse as plants and children naturally grow so also doe the children of God being planted in his courts To helpe us herein we will somewhat at large consider three things 1. Meanes of obtaining a full measure of holinesse 2. Markes of one that hath attained it 3. Motives to provoke us thereunto The meanes are five I. Meditation and sound consideration concerning 1. God 2. thy selfe 3. grace it selfe First in God thinke 1. of his will 1 Thess. 4.3 This is the will of God even your sanctification We ought to follow God if he should call us through hell it selfe much more in the sweete practise of sanctification which hath a happy fruite 2. Of his promises 2 Cor. 7.1 Seeing we have these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit and grow up unto full holinesse All the promises are made to the practisers of holinesse Matth. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart 3. Of his glory which thou oughtest by all thy endeavour to promote being the end of thy life and of thy selfe but herein especially is our heavenly Father glorified when our light shines before men Matth. 5.16 Secondly in thy selfe consider these things 1. In thy creation thou receivedst a soule a body faculties and sences with parts and members from him and in him thou now livest movest and hast thy being and canst thou doe him too much service in them Doth any man build an house but he will looke to dwell in it Doth any plant an orchard or vineyard and not looke for usefull fruites to himselfe Thy selfe art Gods house thy soule Gods garden and doth not hee expect not onely fruite of holinesse but much fruite 2. In thy redemption the end of which was not onely to deliver thee from the condemnation of sinne but from thy vaine conversation 1 Pet. 1.18 redemption is not onely from the guilt and punishment but from the service and corruption of sinne and sanctification is an inseperable companion of justification 3. In thy life and present estate thou art a Christian and professest Christian religion which onely prescribes the rule of holy life whereby thou must walke thou must life like a Christian that hast communion with Christ that walkest in the light as hee is in the light 1 Iohn 1.5 that hast the Spirit of Christ which perfecteth daily his owne worke and beautifieth his owne dwelling 4. In thy death and future estate remember thou must die and onely holinesse of heart and life shall attend thy soule when all things else shall leave it and without holinesse thou shalt never see God Heb. 12.14 If death shall leave thee unholy the last judgement shall so find thee So therefore live now as thou maist ever live hereafter Thirdly meditate on the grace and worke of holinesse it selfe 1. what a difficult worke it is and therefore thou must goe seriously about it oh the worke of mortification is a painefull work a man cannot die without paine no more can the olde man sinne hath a strong heart and is loath to die and therefore as to die is no dallying matter so he that meanes to dally in this businesse shall never happily proceede in the degrees of holinesse 2. What an excellent worke it is for hereby we shall be daily partakers of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1.3 which is not in respect of the nature and essence of God which is incommunicable but in respect of the most excellent and precious qualities and gifts bestowed by the Spirit of God on those that are regenerate wherein we shall be like unto our heavenly Father and grow up to the similitude of Iesus Christ till he shall be all in all unto us II. Meanes of growing to a full measure of holinesse is in our Text Prayer First for the grace it selfe Psal. 51.10 Create in me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Secondly for the increase of the grace Phil. 1.9 And this I pray that yee may abound yet more and more in knowledge and judgement verse 11. being filled with the fruites of righteousnesse 1 Thess. 3.13 The Lord make your hearts stable and unblameable in holinesse Thirdly for continuance and confirmation in grace as in the Text. Ephes. 3.14 I bow the knee that yee may be strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man Psal. 51.12 Oh stablish me with thy free Spirit Let it be thy daily prayer as Davids Psal. 86.11 O Lord knit my heart unto thee let thy good Spirit leade mee even to the land of the living Fourthly for a blessing on the meanes of grace Psal. 119.18 Open mine eyes that I may see the wonders of thy Law III. Meanes An holy use of the word and Sacraments For the word in generall Iohn 15.3 Now you are cleane by the word which I have spoken unto you and chap. 17.17 Father sanctifie them in thy truth thy word is truth Rom. 1.15 by preaching the Gospell the righteousnesse of God is revealed from faith to faith Now there be in the word foure things which specially helpe forward our sanctification 1. The commandements and precepts Psal. 119.4 Thou hast commanded that wee should keepe thy precepts diligently These let us see what wee ought to ayme at and how farre we are off from our duty 2. The promises and comforts of it Psal. 19.11 In keeping of them there is great reward Revel 20.6 Blessed and happy is hee that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power 3. The threats and denunciations of judgement that are in it Revel 22.15 Without shall be dogges and enchanters and whoremongers and murtherers and idolaters and whosoever loveth or maketh lyes 2 Pet. 3.11 Seeing all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in holy conversation and godlinesse 4. The examples that are in it Heb. 12.1 Seeing we are compassed with such a cloud of witnesses let us cast off every thing that presseth downe and the sinne that hangeth fast on us Examples of holy men will make us trust in God Psal. 22.4 Our forefathers trusted in thee and thou didst deliver them this confirmeth our confidence Godly women must shew the holy and hidden man of the heart as Sarah did 1 Pet. 3.5 Observe in the reading or hearing of the word these particulars for the decay of corruption and the increase of sanctification The Sacraments or visible words helpe forward sanctification because by baptisme we are borne into the Church and notably it both representeth and sealeth our mortification and quickning Rom. 6.4 and by the Lords Supper wee are fed and nourished in the grace of the covenant in faith love and comfortable assurance IV. Meanes Godly company That man goes apace in the grace of sanctification who is a companion as David of all them that feare God Psal. 119.63 Now godly company furthereth sanctification 3 wayes 1.
we have a faithfull high Priest in things concerning God Heb. 2.17 who faithfully performes all his office both in expiating of our sinnes by one perfect sacrifice in earth and now interceding before God in heaven In the great worke of our justification we behold him just and faithfull to forgive our sinnes if wee acknowledge them 1 Iohn 19. for God is so faithfull that he cannot but justifie beleevers having said that hee that confesseth his sinnes and forsaketh them shall finde mercie Prov. 28. In the great worke of protection and preservation of his Church in earth He is faithfull and true that judgeth and fighteth righteously Revel 19.11 Yea and in heaven his faithfulnesse upholds their eternall happinesse 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have beleeved and hee is able to keepe what I have committed to him against that day 4. Hee is faithfull in all his words and speeches because 1. They be the issue of a most faithfull and righteous will void of all insincerity and unfaithfulnesse 2. Never was word uttered by him but it declared both the thing in it self and as it was in the minde of him the speaker 3. Every word of his resembles his faithfulnesse As first his commandements are all just holy true and pure as hee is yea the rule of truth and faithfulnesse to us Psal. 19.9 Secondly his predictions all of them are faithfully accomplished many thousand yeares after as Christs incarnation in the fulnesse of time The Scepter departing from Iudah thousands of yeeres after the prediction Gen. 49.10 Thirdly his menaces and threatnings are most faithfull and true The olde world found them so after an hundred and twenty yeares warning Ierusalem overthrowne 40. yeares after our Saviour foretolde that not a stone should be left on a stone Fourthly his promises are most sure of accomplishment and his faithfulnesse shines in them all Abraham had a sonne promised in his youth God accomplished it in his age Israel had a promise of departing out of Egypt after 400 yeares and the same night went out with all his armies Exod. 12.41 Hebr. 10.23 Hee is faithfull that hath promised God is most faithfull and true 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithfull by whom ye are called 2 Cor. 1.18 God is true and his word is not yea and nay Revel 19.11 He that sits upon the white horse is called faithfull and true First because of his most just and righteous nature whose most righteous will is the rule of all his wayes Psal 145.17 And because himselfe is absolutely holy yea holinesse it selfe hee must be holy in all his workes as a light in whom is no darknesse from which image of God so soone as the Angels themselves fell they delighted in lies falshood and all unfaithfulnesse Secondly because hee is most perfect and unchangeable in perfection a nature most simple in which can be no composition much lesse contrariety Now if the Lord should be unfaithfull he must be changed from himselfe and so denie himselfe which the Apostle saith he cannot doe and be God Thirdly his most pure and holy affection makes him most faithfull his love to his children suffers him not to disappoint them in any of his promises his just conceived displeasure against sinne and sinners suffers not one word of threatning to fall to the ground his zeale to his owne glory makes him magnifie his truth and faithfulnesse above all things Fourthly all imperfection is removed from him which makes the creature often faile in his purposes and promises as 1. Want of wisedome to foresee something which if it come to passe doth disappoint us lay all our plots in the dust But he is wisdome it selfe foreseeing all things and forecasting all things and ordering them so as nothing shall crosse his purpose or promise 2. Weaknesse or impotency may hinder us in effecting that wee verily purposed or promised But strength is his nothing can resist him Is any thing impossible to God Luke 1.47 no though he say a Virgin shall conceive and beare a childe it must be so if all created nature say contrary 3. Distance of place may make us faile of our purpose and promise wee cannot be present alwayes where we would and have purposed But hee is omnipotent fills both heaven and earth Whither shall I flie from thy presence If I ascend into heaven thou art there if I goe downe into hell thou art there c. 4. Discontinuance in time may hinder our projects and purposes wee may die before wee can performe our promises But hee is for ever and of his yeares there is no end his owne eternall being gives an everlasting being and truth to his promises Is God faithfull 1. Imitate our heavenly Father herein in all our words workes and wayes expresse faithfulnesse and truth seeing wee professe our selves children of him who is faithfull and just in all his wayes Let not us by contrary courses disclaime and disgrace him But First see that all our words be faithfull as his are agreeing with the truth of the thing whereof we speake and with the truth in our mindes Beware of all lies and falshood in earnest or in jest Consider 1. It is a property of Satans broode to love lies whereof he is the authour whose first sinne was not to stand in the truth if wee would be like unto God wee must hate the Divells qualities especially wherein hee is most contrary to God 2. God hates lying so as hee rangeth it among most monstrous sinnes that wee also should so hate it Revel 21.8 and 22.11 and fly it as a most hatefull and enormious offence 3. The stile of a Christian is to be of the truth being sanctified by the spirit of truth And a marke of the remnant of Israel that they speake no lies Eph. 3.13 4. The danger God will destroy all them that speake lies Psal. 5.6 and not onely keepes them out of the gates of the great Citty but provides a lake of fire and brimstone for them for being most unlike God of all men they shall be cast furthest from him Secondly bâ—ware of slipperinesse in our promises and covenants All the promises of God are in Christ yea and amen 2 Cor. 1.20 our promises also must be yea and amen firme and faithfull Alas that in the dayes of such light men should be so light and false in promises so unfaithfull in contracts and covenants that words and bands almost are but winde as if mens honest words should be as sure as bands onely in dayes of darknesse and superstition or as if the word of truth had chased away true and faithfull dealing among the professours of it or as if Christian faith and fidelity could not live together in the same world nor in the same age Doth nature teach a man to be ashamed of a verball lie and doth not grace much more of an actuall Thirdly we must be faithfull in our actions and wayes and in both
truth according to Chrysostomes rule Haereticorum haereticissimi qui claudunt januas veritati Chrysost. Secondly on this ground wee must lay all our practise and obedience of faith Both in respect of the object of faith and the manner of mans o-obedience 1. For the object We must therefore beleeve the whole word of God contained in the Law and Gospell because it is of the nature of God himselfe immediatly flowing from that eternall truth and faithfulnesse conceived in the minde of God who is unchangeable This is the argument of the Scripture Because by faith we give him the honour of truth and we set our seale to God that he is faithfull Ioh. 3.33 And thus he also honours us to give witnesse to his faithfulnesse and contrary not mingling the word with faith we make him a lyer namely so farre as wee can because we beleeve not the record that the Father witnesseth of his Sonne and this is the ground why we must beleeve the Scripture to be the word of God because wee doe beleeve it to be true and faithfull as he is faithfull 2. For the act because Satan himselfe beleeves historically the Scripture and acknowledgeth Gods faithfulnesse in it we must specially apply the parts of the word to our selves First the promises all which because he is faithfull he will performe to a thousand generations not onely beleeving them true in themselves but even to us else wee deprive our selves of them seeing he promiseth nothing to unbeleevers Yea not onely beleeving and applying them but on the same faithfulnesse of God grounding the hope and expectation of all those promises which thy faith hath already apprehended For what is it else but this faithfulnesse in God that makes our hope never leave us ashamed Where had Sarah strength to conceive and bring forth a sonne being past age but because shee counted him faithfull that had promised Hebr. 11.11 That is she knew that whatsoever God had promised he would faithfully performe and Heb. 10.23 Let us keepe fast the profession of our hope for faithfull is he that hath promised Secondly we must also beleeve his threats for though he use sometimes lenity and patience to vessels of wrath yet his faithfulnesse suffers not the least jote of them to be unaccomplished Zeph. 3.5 The just Lord is in the middest of her early even early will he bring forth judgement and will not faile Hath the faithfull Lord covenanted wrath with the sinner Hearest thou his word let fly plagues as thicke as haile against the transgressours and thinkest thou to escape Was his faithfulnesse never yet impeached and shall it be so for thee Hearest thou that a large booke of curses comes flying into the house of the swearer and darest thou sweare and into the house of the thiefe and darest thou be unjust Surely if God have not lost all his faithfulnesse thou shalt certainly finde it this is the act of faith 3. For the manner of obedience of faith when the eye of the soule is once lifted up to behold this faithfulnesse of God it will bestirre it selfe with diligence in well-doing By this argument the Apostle inciteth the Iewes Hebr. 6.10 God is not unfaithfull to forget the labour of your love and Matth. 10.42 The giving of a cup of colde water hath promise of a recompence and his faithfulnesse will make it good No just Prince can forget the faithfull service of his subject Ahashuerosh at length remembred Mordecai his good service much more will our God who is faithfull Eccles. 9.15 Wee reade of a poore man who by his wisdome delivered the Citty but hee was forgotten in that Citty But God because hee is faithfull is never so forgetfull of him that doth good in the world Vpon this ground we must lay all our prayers of faith so our Apostle here in the Text for Gods faithfulnesse onely gives us confidence of obtaining our suites Our owne unfaithfulnesse in the Covenant might choake us in our suites and stoppe our mouthes and cover our faces with shame But it is Gods faithfulnesse that undershores us seeing his promise hath bound him to be found of all them that seeke him truly Therefore Daniel 9.16 in the name of the Church having disclaimed all their owne righteousnesse bindeth God from all his displeasure Lord according to all thy righteousnesse let thy wrath be turned away from thy Citty and Sanctuary This will answer all the objections wee can make against our owne prayers Object I am unworthy to pray or be heard and my prayer is as unworthy as my selfe Answ. True but Gods faithfulnesse gives worthinesse to both Object But my sinnes hinder good things they are a partition wall and stoppe my prayers Answ. Begge remission of sinnes beholde hee is faithfull and just to forgive thee 1 Iohn 1.9 Object I have no comfort of my prayer nor deserve any Answ. Cast thy selfe on this faithfulnesse of God trust thy selfe with him Commend thy selfe unto him as to a faithfull Creatour 1 Pet. 4.19 Object But I see no meanes or way of escape or deliverance Answ. Pray as David Psal. 31.1 Deliver me oh Lord according to thy righteousnesse that is that faithfulnesse whereby thou defendest thine owne children according to thy promise Object But I see nothing but present death on every side and am even cast on my death-bed creeping into the grave Answ. Now behold this faithfulnesse and be safe it will make thee in peace and silence to commit thy selfe wholly to him in life and death Psal. 31.5 Into thy hand I commit my spirit for thou hast redeemed me oh Lord God of truth Vpon the same ground lay a sound profession of faith Sound profession stands in two things 1. A constant profession of truth 2. Pure and upright conversation To uphold both these behold Gods faithfulnesse Is God so faithfull in his word and promises let us then boldly confesse and constantly embrace his faithfull word 1. Because it is of the nature of God truth and faithfulnesse it selfe Why should wee be ashamed to holde out this faithfull word as many Politicians be what neede a man be ashamed of the truth Remember what Truth hath said Hee that is ashamed of me in my sayings before men I will be ashamed of him before my Father and his holy Angels 2. How dare men fall off from the truth of the Gospell to Popery or profanesse after the knowledge of it what change is in the truth that they should change their mindes and turne from it Have not we a sure word of the Prophets and Apostles 2 Pet. 1.19 which is as immutable and unchangeable as God himselfe is 3. How venterously doe men goe on in their sinne notwithstanding the light of the word checking their consciences reprooving their wayes as if some part of the faithfulnesse of it should be abated to them Is it not an eternall word that endureth for ever as God doth of which not one jot can
and make some offers but to purchase the pearle what ever it cost he heares this voice not to taste onely some sweetnesse of Christ and the heavenly gift which an ineffectuall calling may doe but to digest it and live by it Ineffectuall calling may enlighten many may affect many but this perswades the heart and justifieth many Esay 53.11 By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many That may consent to the word and and receive it with joy but not with faith not with love That may taste it but digest it not as beleeving Christ rather the Saviour of others than their owne or if they say their owne they cannot prove it but this mingles all with faith assenteth and truly applieth and constantly retaines it when all the other blaze is quite put If God speake in the Sacraments hee heares his voice there First in Baptisme to obey his first call to be gathered into the Church as the creatures into the Arke But with this difference Hee heares this voice to be admitted not onely into the externall society of the Church among true beleevers as Simon Magus may Demas and Iudas and every uncleane beast but to put on Christ and to be justified by faith to be set into the head and so are both in the Church and of it He heares the voice effectually not onely to the washing of his body with water but to the washing of his soule with the water of regeneration and first fruites of sanctification He heares this voice not onely to make a profession but an actuall renunciation of Satan of lusts of the fashion of the world and to binde himselfe an houshold servant of Christ all his dayes Secondly in the Sacrament of the Supper hee heares the voice and discernes it to feede not his body onely with the Lords bread but his soule with the bread which is the Lord. He heares the voice to renew his Covenant and set his seale unto it to eate and drinke worthily the flesh of Christ which is meate indeede and the blood of Christ which is drinke indeede and so growes up in the Covenant as a true member of Iesus Christ. He feedes his faith by this Sacrament the hypocrite feedes his hypocrisie The second way of Gods externall calling is by the voice of his mercies and crosses The heart effectually called heares the voice of his mercy 1. To inflame it selfe with the love of God but not as hirelings for wages but as children for himselfe and his goodnesse Psal. 116.1 2. To make him cleave to his worship not outwardly onely as Cain and the Pharise but inwardly and sincerely 3. To frame him to cheerefull obedience whereas ineffectuall calling can make men say Lord Lord but they doe not things commanded 4. To make him zealous for religion and hate corruptions not in others as Iehu but in himselfe and that not by a fit as a burning ague but with a constant temperate heate against all evill because of love of good 5. To make him thankfull to God and mercifull to men as God hath beene to him Secondly when the Lord calls by afflictions and crosses this heart heareth the voice of the rod to open keep open the door that is the eare which was sealed It is the Lord as saith Eli and not as Pharaoh Who is the Lord Hee heares this voice to make him stoope and inquire and hearken further as Manasseh and as Paul stricken downe Lord what wilt thou have me to doe Hee heares it to make him feare the more but not servilly and slavishly by the spirit of bondage as the Israelites at the giving of the Law lest they should be stricken through with darts but with a childlike feare lest they further offend him He heares the voice of the Spirit purging and cleansing him by afflictions as by the Lords fanne and whitening him by this sope of afflictions Dan. 12.10 II. The Lord speakes inwardly by a still voice in the heart sometimes by the motions of his Spirit when the elect heare the voice behinde them saying this is the way they heare the voice cherish and foster the motion and walke in the way Many are the motions of ineffectuall calling but they are not followed but either resisted or neglected and at last utterly quenched Sometimes the Lord speakes by the secret checkes of their owne conscience which the hypocrite by all meanes would choake and stifle but effectuall calling listens to this voice to the humbling of the heart making the sense of one or more grosse sinnes to be as a weight of lead on their hearts to keepe them under to the shunning of them and terrifying of them from the like for time to come so as by sinne a way is made out of sinne and a passage made to reconciliation and grace which is given to the humble Thus have we described the first and most assured and infallible note of effectuall calling namely the true discerning of every voice and call of God with a gracious fruite and effect following the same A second infallible note of effectuall calling is a manifest and continuall change by this voice great and wonderfull is the change in a man truly called He is not the same man he was before Gods voice and calling makes things that are not as if they were Rom. 4.17 Was there not a great change in Lazarus when he was called out of the grave yet the difference betweene Lazarus dead and alive is not more than betweene a man effectually called and uncalled God hath quickened a dead man This change will bewray it selfe sundry wayes I. In respect of sinne Before effectuall calling oh how did he delight and joy in his sinne who was a more busie actour in sinne than he he could runne to excesse of riot as fast as any hee was a loving partner and companion of evill men hee hated none so much as those who would have reclaimed him from his sin or if sometime he were stung and pricked in conscience he could confesse and sorrow for sinne but not hate it not leave it Perhaps some sinister respects might cause him to restraine himselfe as Haman but to a thorow reformation he could never attaine But now he is called not onely out of the curse and guiltinesse of sinne but out of the bondage and service of sinne that now hee serves not in the oldnesse of the letter but in newnesse of spirit the more dearely hee loved his lusts the more deadly hee hates them as Ammon did Thamar Now he hates that which he doth Hee dearely accompts of him now whom God useth as an instrument to helpe him out of his sinne so the Iaylour Act. 16. He gives his sinnes a passe and saith as Ephraim to his Idols Get yee hence hee loathes his beloved sinnes past hates the present and avoides sinne to come with all the occasions be they never so secret gainefull and pleasant II. In respect