this being a particular about which they are ofttimes much exercised and perplexed That we may therefore in some weak measure through the helpe of His light and grace propose some things to cleare up this great and necessary truth we shall first speak a little to it in the generall and then come to cleare up the matter more particularly Before we speak of the matter in generall it would be remembered first That the person who only is in case to make use of Christ for Sanctification is one that hath made use of Him already for Righteousnesse justification for one who is a stranger to Christ and is living in nature hath no accesse to Christ for sanctification He must be a beleever and within the covenant ere he can make use of the grounds of sanctification laid down in the covenant One must first be united to Christ and justified by faith in Him before he can draw any vertue from Him for perfecting holinesse He must first be in Him before he can grow up in Him or bring forth fruit in Him And therefore the first thing that souls would goe about should be to get an union made up with Christ and be cloathed with his righteousnesse by faith and then they have a right to all his benefites first they should labour to get their state changed from enmity to peace reconciliation with God through faith in Jesus Yet next it would be observed That when it is said that one must be a beleever before he can go to Christ make use of Him for holinesse sanctification it is not so understood or said That one must know that indeed he is justified by faith before he can make any use of Christ for sanctification One may be justified and a beleever yea and growing in grace through Iesus Christ and so actually improving the grounds of sanctification and making use of Christ for this end and allowed thereunto and yet win to no certainty oâ—… his union with Christ of his justification through faith in Him noâ—… of his faith But thirdly if it be said How can a soul with confidence approach to Christ for usemaking of Him in reference to sanctification that is still doubting of his state and regeneration I answere It is true a clear fight of our interest in Christ by faith would be a great encouragement to our confident approaching to and usemaking of Him in all things and this consideration should moâ—…e all to a more earnest search study of the marks evidences of their Interest a good help whereunto they will finde in the forementioned book I shall only say this here That if the soul have an earnest desire tâ—… be sanctified wholly and to have on the image of God that he may glorifie Him and panteth after holinesse as for life that he may look like Him who is holy maketh this his work and study sorrowing at nothing more than at his short coming crying out and longing for the day when he shall be delivered from a body of death and have the old man wholly crucified he needeth not question his interest in Christ warrant to make use of Him for every part of sanctification for this longing desire after conformity to Gods law and panting after this spiritual life to the end God may be exalted Christ glorified otherâ—… edified will not be readyly found in one that 〈◊〉 yet in nature It is true I grant some who designe to establish their owne righteousnesse and to be justified by their owne works inherent holinesse may wish that they might be more holy and lesse guilty and for some other corrupt ends they may desire to be free of the power of some lust which they finde noxious troublsome and yeâ—… retaine with love and desire some other beloved lusts and so have a heart still cleaving to the heart of some detestable thing or other But gracious souls as they have respect to all the commands of God so they have not that designe of being justified before God by their works nor do they study mortification or sanctification for any such end nay they no sooner discover any by as of their false deceitfull hearts unto any such end but as soon they disowne it and abhore it So that hence believers may get some discovery of the reality of their faith and interest in Christ and of their warrand yea duty to make use of Christ for sanctification Tâ—…s premised we come to speak some thing in the generall of beleevers usemaking of Christ as made of God to us Sanctification and for this end we shall only speak a little to two things first we shall show upon what account it is that Christ is called our sanctification or made of God to us sanctification as the Apostle's phrase is 1. Cor. 1 30. or what Christ hath done as Mediator to beginne carry on to perfection the work of sanctification in the soul. And secondly How the soul is to demeane it self in this matter or how the soul is to make use of improve what Christ hath done for this end that it may grow in grace and perfect holinesse in the fear of God As to the first we would know that though the work of sanctification be formally ours yet it is wrought by another hand as the principal efficient cause even by the Father Son and Holy Ghost The Father is said to purge the branches that they may bring forth more fruit Iohn 15 1. 2. hence we are said to be sanctified by God the Father Iud. vers 1. The Son is also called the sanctifier Heb. 2 21. He sanctifieth cleanseth the Church with the washing of water by the word Ephes. 5. â—…6 The Spirit is also said to sanctifie 2. Thes 2 13. 1 Pet. 1 2. Rom. 15 16. Hence we are said to be washed sanctified by the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 6 11. But more particularly we are said to be sanctified in Christ. 1. Cor. 1. 2. and He is made of God to us sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30. let us then see in what sense this may be true and 1 He hath by his death blood procuâ—… that this work of sanctification shall be wrought carryed on for he suffered without the gate that He might Sanctifie the people with his owne blood Heb. 13 12. we are saved by the washing of regeneration renewing of the holy ghost which He shed on us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour Tit. 3 5 6. He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2 14. Thus our sanctification is the fruit of his death purchased by his bloodâ—… He gave himself for his church that he might sanctifie it Ephes. 5 25 26. â—… He dying as a cautioner publick person beleevers are accounted in law to be dead to sin in Him Hence the Apostle tells us Rom. 6 3 4
5 6. that as many of us as are Baptized into Iesus Christ were Baptized into his death and that therefore we are buryed with Him by baptisme into death and are planted together in the likenesse of his death yea and that our old man is crueified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed that hence forth we should not serve sin whence beleevers are warranded commanded vers 11. to reckon themselvs to be dead indeed unto sin and therefore sin should not reigne in their mortall bodyes to fulfill the lusts thereof vers 12. This is a sure ground of hope comfort for beleevers that Christ dyed thus as a publick person and that by vertue thereof being now united to Christ by faith they are dead unto sin by law and sin cannot challenge a dominion over them as before their conversion it might have done and did for the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth but no longer wherefore beleeving brethren becomeing dead to the law by the body of Christ are marryed to another even to Him who is raised from the dead that they should bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7 1 4. 3. Hence It followeth that our old man is crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed Rom. 6 6. So that this old tyrant that oppresseth the people of God hath got his deaths wounds in the crucifixion of Christ shall never recover his former vigour activity to oppresse beare down the people of God as he did He is now virtually through the death of Iesus killed crucified being in Christ nailed to the crosse 4. His resurrection is a paune pledge of this sanctification for as He died as a publick person so He rose againe as a publick person we are buryed with Him by baptisme that likeas Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newnesse of life Rom. 6 4. and beleevers are said to be planted together with him in the likenesse of his resurrection vers 5. and they shall live with Him vers 8. and therefore they are to reckon themselvs alive unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord verse 11. we are raised up together Ephes. 2 6. 5. This sanctification is an article of the covenant of redemption betwixt the Father the Son Esa. 52 15. so shall he sprinkle many nations Cap. 53 10. He shall see his seed and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Christ then having this promised to Him must see to the accomplishment thereof and will have it granted to him seing He hath fulfilled all that was engadged to by Him having made his soul an offering for sin 6. This sanctification is promised in the covenant of grace Ier. 33. 8. I will cleanse them from all their iniquity Ezech 37 23. and I will cleanse them So Chap. 36 25. Then will I sprinkle cleane water upon you yee shall be cleane from all your filthinesse from all your idols will I cleanse you Now all the promises of the covenant of grace are confirmed to us in the Mediator for in Him all the promises are yea amen 2. Cor. 1 20. 7. He hath also purchased made sure to his owne the new nature and the heart of flesh which is also promised Ezech. 36 26. 11. 19. Ier. 32. 39. This is the new lively principle of grace the spring of sanctification which cannot be idle in the soul but must be emitting vitall acts natively Yea through Him are beleevers made partakers of the divine nature which is a growing thing young glory in the soul. 2. Pet. 2 3 4. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertaine unto life godlinesse through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory virtue whereby are given unto us exceeding great precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature c. 8. The Spirit is promised to cause us walk in his statutes Ezech. 36 27. Now all these promises are made good to us in Christ who is the cautioner of the covenant yea He hath gotten now the dispensing and giving out of the rich promises of the covenant committed unto Him so as He is the great Lord treasurer and administrator of the great glorious purchased blessings 9. There are new waterings breathings gailes of the Spirit given in Christ. Esai 27 3. He must water his garden or vinyaird every moment This is the north winde the south winde that bloweth upon the garden Cant. 4 16. He must be as the dew unto Israel Hos. 14 5. 10. Through Christ is the beleever brought into such a covenant state as giveth great ground of hope of certane victory He is not now under the law but under grace and hence inferreth the Apostle Rom. 6 14. That sin shall not have dominion over them Being now under that dispensation of grace whereby all their stock is in the Mediators hand at his disposall and not in their own hand power as under the covenant of works there is a sure ground laid down for constant supply furniture in all necessities 11. Christ hath prayed for this Iohn 17. 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth where the Lord is praying that his disciples might be more more sanctified and so fitted qualified for the work of the ministrie they were to be imployed in And what He prayed for them was not for them alone but also for all the elect proportionably who are opposed to the world for which He did not pray v. 9. 12. He standeth in relation to beleevers of a Vine or a Root in which they grow as branches so that by abiding in Him living by faith in Him and drawing sap from him they bring forth fruit in Him Iohn 15 1 2 4 5. Their stock of grace is in Him the root and He communicateâ—…h sap and life unto his branches whereby they grow floorish and bring forth fruit to the glory of God 13. Christ hath taken on Him the office of a Prophet and Teacher to instruct us in the way wherein we ought to goe for He is that great Prophet whom the Lord promised to raise up and who was to be heard and obeyed in all things Deut. â—…8 15. Act. â—… 2â—… and 7 37. He is given for a witnesse a leader Esai 55 4. and we are commanded to hear Him Mat. 17 5. Mark 10 7. 14. He hath also taken on Him the office of a King Psal. 2 6. Mat. 21 5. Esai 9 6 7. Phil. 2 8. 9 10 11. and thereby standeth engadged to lubdue all their spirituall enemies Satan corruption Psal. 110. He is given for a leader and commander Esai 55 4 and so can cause his people walk in his wayes 15. When we defile ourselves with new transgressions failings He hath provided a fountaine for us
to wash in a fountaine opened to the house of David to the Inhabitants of Ierusalem for sin for uncleannesse Zâ—…ch 13 1. and this fountaine is his blood which cleanseth from all sin Heb. 9 14. 1. Iohn 1 7 Revel 1 5. 16. He is set before us as a copie patternâ—… that we should walk even as He walked 1. Ioh. 2 6. He left us an example that we should follow his stepps 1. Pet. 2 21. But we would beware to separate this consideration from the preceeding aâ—… Antichristian Socinians do who will have Christ only to be a copie 17. He hath overcome Satan our arch-enemie and hath destroyed his works 1. Iohn 3 8. He came to destroy the works of the devill And in particular his works of wickednesse in the soul Thus He is a conquerour the Captaâ—…e of our Salvation 18. As He hath purchased So hath He appointed ordinences for the laying of the foundation and carrying on of this work of sanctificationâ—… both Word 〈◊〉 are appointed for this end The Word to convert and to confirme Iohn 17 17. sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth said Christ. The word is given as the rule and also through the meanes thereof is life and strength conveyed to the soul to perfect holinesse in the fear of God 1. Pet. 2 2. And the Sacraments are given to strengthen confirme the soul in the wayes of God 19. As He hath laid downe strong encouragements to his followers to hold on in the way of holinesse many great precious promises by which they might be partakers of the divine nature 2. Pet. 1 4. and by which they are encouraged to cleanse themselves from all filthinesse of the flesh spirit 2. Cor. 7 1. and many motives to hold on continue So hath He rolled difficultyes out of the way whether they be within us or without us and thereby made the way easie and pleasant to such as walk in it so as they may now run in the way of his commandements walk not weary run not be faint Nay 20 we would remember for our encouragment and confidence that in carrying on of this work lyeth the satisfaction of soul the pleasure of the Lord that must prosper in His hand thus He seeth his seed hath of the travail of his soul and is satisfied These particulars rightly considered will discover unto us what a noble ground for sanctification is in Christ laid downe for beleevers which they may and must by faith grippe to that they may grow in grace and grow up in Christ and perfecte holinesse and what a wonderfull contriveance of grace this is wherein all things are made so sure for beleevers Christ becomeing all things to them and paveing a royall sure way for them sure for them and glorious to himself As to the second particular that is How beleevers are to carry in this matter or how they are to make use of Christ and of those grounds of sauctification in Christ which we have mentioned First There are some things which they would bewar of and guaird against as 1. They would bewar of an heartlesse despondency giving way to discouragements and hearkning to the language of unbeleefe or to the suggestions of Satan whereby he will labour to perswade them of the impossibility of getting the work of sanctification throughed or any progresse made therein to purpose Satan a deceitfull heart can soon muster up many difficultyes alledge that there are many Lyons many insuperable difficultyes in the way to discourage them from ventureing forward and if Satan prevail here he hath gained a great point Therefore the beleever would keep up his head in hope and beware of multiplying discouragements to himself or of concludeing the matter impossible for then shall he neither have heart nor hand for the work but sit downe wring his hands as overcome with discouragement despondency of Spirit 2. They would beware of wilfull rejecting their owne mercyes and forbearing to make use of the grounds of hope of strength and progresse in the matter of sanctification which Christ hath allowed them to make use of There is such an evill even amongst Gods children that they scarre at that which Christ out of great love hath provided for them and dar not with confidence make use of nor apply to themselves the great and comfortable promises to the end they might be encouraged they will not take their allowance as thinking themselves unworthy and that it should be presumption in them to challenge a right to such great things and they think it commendable humility in them to stand aback and so wilfully refuse the advantages and helps that make so much for their grouth in grace 3. They would beware of a carelesse neglect of the meanes appointed for advanceing in holinesse for though the meanes do not worke the effect yet it is by the meanes that God hath chosen to worke the work of sanctification Here that is to be seen that the hand of the diligent maketh rich and the field of the slothfull is soon grown over with thorns and nettles so that poverty cometh as one that travelleth and want as an armed man Prov. 24 30 31 34. It is a sinfull tempting of God to think to be sanctified another way than God hath in his deep wisdom condescended upon 4. Yet they would beware of laying too much weight on the meanes ordinances as if they could effectuat the businesse Though the Lord hath thought good to work in and by the meanes yet He himself must do the work Meanes are but meanes and not the principal cause nor can they work but as the principal agent is pleased to make use of them and to work by them when we leane to the meanes and to instruments we prejudge our selves by disobligeing God and provoking Him to leave us that we may wrestle with the ordinances alone and finde no advantage Therefore the soul would guaird against this 5. Albeit the meanes can do nothing unlesse He breath yet we would beware not only of neglecting them as we said afore but also of a slighting way of performing of them without that earnestnesse and diligence that is required Cursed is he who doth the work of the Lord negligently Ier. 48 10. Here then is the speciall art of Christianity apparent to be as diligent earnest and serious in the use of the means as if they could effectuate the matter we were seeking and yet to be as much abstracted from them in our hopes and exspectation and to be as much leaning on the Lord alone and depending on Him for the blessing as if we were useing no meanes at all 6. They would beware of slighting and neglecting the motions of the Spirit for thereby they may lose the best opportunity They should be alwayes on the wing ready to imbrace the least motion and they should stand alwayes ready waiting
would be also eyeing Christ by faith as his store house and generall Lord dispensator of all the purchased blessings of the Covenant which he standeth in need of and looking on Christ as standing engadged by office to compleate his work of salvation and to present him with the rest to himself holy without blemish yea and without spote or wrinkle or any such thing Ephes. 5 27. 3. He would by faith gripe to the promises both of the generall stock of grace the new heart heart of flesh and the Spirit to cause us walk in his statutes Ezech. 36 26 27. and of the severall particular acts of grace that he standeth in need of such as that Ier. 30 8. I will cleause them from all their iniquities c. so Ezech. 36 25 Ier. 31 19. as the Church doth Micah 7 9. He will subdue our iniquities c. And so having or gripping these promises we are to cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh Spirit and perfect holinesse in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7 1. 4. As the beleever would by faith draw out of Christ through the conduite of the promises which are all yea amen in Him 2 Cor. 1. 20. grace strength knowledge courage or what ever his fight in this warfare calleth for to the end he may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Ephes. 6 10. So he would by faith roll the weight of the whole work upon Christ and thus cast himself and his care and burden on Him who careth for him 1 Pat. 5 7. Psal. 37 5. 55 22. and so go on in duty without anxiety knowing who beareth the weight of all and who hath undertaken to work both to will and to do according to his good pleasure thus should the work be easie and saife when by faith we roll the burden on Him who is the chosen one fitted for that work and leave it on Him who is our strength patiently waiting for the outgate in hope Thus the beleever makes use of Christ as made of God Sanctification when in the use of meanes appointed eyeing the covenant of grace and the promises thereof and what Christ hath done to Sanctifie and cleanse his prople he rolleth the matter on Him and exspecteth help salvation victory through Him CAUTIONS But least some should be discouraged and think all this in vaine because they perceive no progresse nor grouth in grace for all this but rather corruption as strong and troublesome as ever I would say a few things to them 1. Let them search and try whether their short-coming and disappointment doth not much proceed from this that the matter is not so cleanly cast over on Christ as it should be Is it not too oft found that they goe forth to the battell in their own strength lippening to their owne stock of grace to their own knowledge or to their duties or the like How then can they prosper 2. Let them mourne as they get any discovery of this and guaird hereafter against that corrupt by as of the heart which is still inclining them to an engadgment without the Captane of their salvation and a fighting without the armour of God 3. Let them try and see if in studying holinesse they be not led by corrupt ends and do not more laboure after sanctification that they may be more worthy and the better accepted of God and that they may have quietnesse and peace as to their acceptance with God as if this were any cause matter or condition of their righteousnesse and justification before God then that they may shew their obedience to the command of God 1 Thes. 4 3. Ephes. 2 10. Ioh. 15 16. and expresse their thankfulnesse to Him and glorifie God Mal. 1 6. Mat. 5 16. Iohn 17 10. Ephes. 4 30. and if so they ought to acknowledge Gods goodness in that disappointment seing thereby they see more and more a necessity of laying aside their own righteousness and of betaking themselves to the righteousnesse of Christ and of resting on that alone for peace and acceptance with God 4. They would try and see if their negligence and carelesnesse in watching and in the discharge of duties do not occasion their disappointments shortcomeing God sometimes thinks fit to suffer a lion of corruption to set on them that they may look about them and stand more vigilantly upon their watch tour knowing that they have to do with a vigilant adversary the devil who as a roaring lion goeth about seeking whom he may devoure 1 Pet. 5 8. and that they fight not against flesh blood but against Principalities against powers against the Rulers of the darknesse of this world against spirituall wickednesse in high places Ephes. 6 12. It is not for nought that we are so often commanded to watch Mat. 24 42. 25 13. 26 41. 14 38. Luk. 21 36. Mark 13 33 34 35 37. 1 Cor. 16 13. 1 Thes. 5 6. 1 Pet. 4 7. Col. 4 2. through the want of this we know what â—…efell David and Peter 5. They would try and see whether there be not too much self confidence which occasioned Peter's foule fall God may in justice and mercy suffer corruption to break loose upon such at a time and tread them underfoot to learne them afterward to carry more soberly and to work out their salvation with fear trembling Phil. 2 12. remembering what a Jealous holy God He is with whom they have to do what an adversary they have against them and how weak their owne strength is 6. This would be remembered that one may be growing in grace and advancing in holinesse when to his apprehension he is not going forward from strength to strength but rather going backward It is one thing to have grace and another thing to see that we have grace so it is one thing to be growing in grace and nother thing to see that we are growing in grace Many may question their grouth in grace when their very questioning of it may evince the contrary for they may conclude no grouth but rather a back going because they perceive moe and more violent and strong corruptions and hidden works of darknesse and wickednesse within their souls than ever they did before while as that great discovery sheweth the Increase of their spirituall knowledge and an increase in this is an increase in grace So they may question and doubt of their grouth upon mistakes as thinking corruption alwayes strongest when it makes the greatest stirre noise Or their complaints may flow from a vehement desire they have to have much more sanctification which may cause them overlook many degrees they have advanced or some such thing may occasion their darknesse and complaints yea God may think it fittest for them to the end they may be keeped humble and diligent to be in the dark as to their progresse whereas if they saw what advancement progresse they had made in
to rejoyce in this that the enemy is already conquered by the Captaine and that we share in his victory and that the very God of peace shall quickly bruise Satan under our feet Rom. 16 20. CHAP. VII How Christ is to be made use of in reference to Growing in grace I Come now to speak a little to the other part of Sanctification which concearneth the change of our nature and frame and is called Vivification or Quickening of the new man of grace which is called the New man as having all its severall members and parts as well as the old man and called New because posteriour to the other and after regeneration is upon the growing hand This duty of growing in grace as it is called 2. Pet. 3. uâ—…t is variously expressed and held forth to us in scripture for it is called an abideing and bringing forth fruit in Christ Iohn 15 5. adding to faith vertue and to vertue knowledge c. 2 Pet. 1 5 6 7. a going on to perfection Heb. 7 1. a growing up in Christ in all things Ephes. 4 15. a working out our salvation Phil. 2 12. a perfecting of holinesse 2. Cor. 7 1. a walkeing in newnesse of life Rom. 6 4. a yeelding of our selves unto God as alive from the dead and our members as instruments of righteousnesse unto God Rom. 6 13 18. a bringing forth of fruit unto God Rom. 7 4. a serving in newnesse of spirit Rom. 7 6. a being renewed in the spirit of our mindes and a putting on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Ephes. 4 23 24. Col. 3 10. and the like some whereof do more immediatly expresse the nature of this change as to the root and some as to the fruit and effects thereof and some the progresse and advancement that is made or to be made therein And all of them point out a speciall piece of work which lieth on all that would see the face of God viz. to be holy gracious and growing in grace This then being a speciall piece of the exercise and dayly work of a Christian and it being certane as some of the places now cited do also affirme that without Christ they cannot get this work either begun oâ—… carryed on the maine difficulty and question is how they are to make use of Christ for this end For answere whereunto though by what we have said in our former discourse it may be easie to gather what is to be said here yet I shall briefly put the Reader in minde of those things as usefull here 1. The Beleever would consider what an ornament this is to the soul to have on this new mâ—…n which is created after the image of God Ephes. 4 23. what an excellency lyeth here to recover thâ—… lost glory holinesse and the image of God and what advantage the soul reapeth hereby when it is made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1 12. and walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God Col. 1 10. and strengthened with all might according to his glorious pover unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse vers 11. and when the abounding of the graces of the Spirit make them that they shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ 2. Pet. 1 8 and to be a vessell unto honour sanctified and meet for the masters use and prepared unto every good work 2. Tim. 2 21 what glory and peace is here to be found obedient unto the many commands given to be holy What hazard is in the want of holinesse when without it we cannot see God Heb. 12 14. How unanswereable it is unto our profession who are members to such a holy Head to be un holy What profite joy and satisfaction there is iâ—… being temples of the holy ghost in walking after the spirit in bringing forth fruit unto the glory of the Father c. The consideration of these and other motives unto this study of sanctification would arme the soul with resolution and harden it against opposition 2. It would be remembered that this work though it be laid upon us as our duty and we be called thereunto of God yet it is beyond our hand and power it is true at conversion the seed of grace is cast into the soul new habites are infused a new principle of life is given the stonny heart is changed into an heart of flesh yet these principles and habits can not act in themselves or be brought into act by any thing that a beleever considered in himself and without divine helpe can do But this work of sanctification and grouâ—…h in grace must be caryed on by divine help by the Spirit of Jesus dwelling and working within and therefore it is called the sanctification of the spirit 2. Thes. 2 13. 1. Pet. 1 2. The God of peace must sanctifie us 1. Thes. 5 23. We are said to be sanctifiâ—… by God the Father Iud. 1. and by the holy ghost Rom. 15 16. See also 1. Cor. 6 11. We would remember that of our selves we can do nothing 2. Cor. 3 5. and that He must work in us both to will and to do of his owne good pleasure Phil. 2 13. Albeit no beleever will question the truth of this yet it may be it shall be found after tryal that one maine cause of their not growing in grace and making progresse in this work is their not acting as beleeving this but setting about the work as if it were a work which they themselves could master and do without speciall divine help Therefore the beleever would abide live and act in the faith of this truth 3. Therefore beleevers would not in going about this work either trust to their own strength to the habites of grace to their former experiences to their knowledge and pairts or the like nor yet would they trust to any externall meane which they are to go about because the wisdome strength and helpe which their case calleth for is not to be found in them yet they should not think of laying these meanes and dutyes aside for then should they sin against God they should prejudge themselvs of the helpe strength and supply which God useth to convey to the soul in by the use of the meanes and withall they should tempte the Lord by prescribing another way to Him than He hath thought good to take The beleever then would use the meanes and duties prescribed and that diligently seâ—…iously and constantly and yet would leane as little to them and exspect help reliefe as little from them as if he were not useing them at all as we said above And indeed this would be a right way yea the most advantagious and profitable way of going about dutyes to be diligent in the use of them because of Gods command and yet to place
out hope and exspectation in God alone and to look above the ordinances for our help 4. Albeit it be true that the power and grace of God alone doth beginne and carry on this work of sanctification in the soul yet though he might did He but see it for his glory carry on and finish this work in the soâ—…l without the intervention of second causes or meanes he hath notwithstanding thought it fit forth â—… glory of his name to worke this work by meanes and particulary by beleevers setting about the work He worketh not in man as if he were a block or a stone but useth him as a rationall creature endued with a rationall soul having useful and necessary facultyes and having a body fitted by organs to be â—…ubservient to the soul in its actions Therefore the beleever must not think to lye by and do nothing for he is commanded to worke out his owne salvation and that because it is God that worketh in him both to will and to do Because God worketh all therefore he should worke so reasoneth the Apostle so that God's working is an argument and motive to man to worke and not an argument to him to lye by idle and do nothing And here is the holy art divine skill requisite in this businesse to wit for the believer to be as diligent and active as if he could bring forth fruit in his own strength and by his owne working and yet to be as abstracted from himself his owne grace ability knowledge and experience in his working as if he were lying by like a meeâ—… block only moving as moved by externall force 5. The soul that would make progresse in Christianity and grow in grace would remember that Christ is proposed to us as a copy which we are to imitate and that therefore we should set Christ continually before us as our patterne that we may follow his steps 1. Pet. 1 15. and 2 â—…1 But with all it would be remembered that He is not like other ensamples or copies that can helpe the man that imitateth them no other way than by their objective prospect for looking by faith on this copy will bring vertue to the man that studyeth to imitate whereby he shall be inabled to follow his copie the better O 〈◊〉 we knew in experience what this were to take a look of Chrâ—…'s Love Patience Long suffering Meeknesse Hatred of sin Zeal c. and by 〈◊〉 to pore-in till by vertue proceeding from that copie we found our hearts in some measure framed into the same disposition or at least more inclined to be cast into the same mould 6. The beleever would act faith on Christ aâ—… the Head of the body and as the stock in which the branches are engrafted and thereby suck sap and life and strength from Him that he may work walk and grow as becometh a Christian. The beleever must grow up in Him being a branch in Him and must bring forth fruit in Him as the forementioned places clear Now Christ himselfe tells us that the branches cannot bring forth fruit except they abide in the vine and that no more can his disciples bring forth fruit except they abide in Him Iohn 15. Therefore as it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith that the soul as a branch is united to Christ as the vine and as it is by faith that they abide in Him so is it by faith that they must bring forth fruit and this faith must grippe Christ as the Vine and the Stock or Root from which cometh sap life and strength faith then must look to Christ as the fountain of 〈◊〉 as the head â—…om whence cometh all the in â—…ces of strength and motion Christ 〈◊〉 strength and life enough to give out for the fulnesse of the God head dwelleth in Him bodyly and he is also willing enough to communicate of his fulnesse as the relations He hath taken on do witnesse Thâ—… head will not grudge to give to the members of the body spirits for action and motion 〈◊〉 will a vine grudge to give sap unto the branches â—…ay life strength and furniture will as it were natively flow out of Christ unto beleevers except they through unbeleef and other distempers cause obstructions as life and sap doth natively and kindely flow from the root to the branches of from the head to the members unlesse obstructions stoppe the passage It is necessary therefore that beleevers eye Christ under these and the like relations and look upon Him as standing to speak so obliged by his place and relation to grant strength and influences of life whereby they may become fruitful in every good work and so with holy humble and allowed boldnesse presse in faith for new communications of grace vertue strength courage activity and what else they need for from the head all the body by joints bands having nourishment ministred increaseth with the increase of God Col. 2 19. Ephes. 4 16. 7. For this cause beleevers would lye open unto the influences of Christ and guaird against the puting of obstructions in the way through grieving of the Spirit by which He conveyeth communicateth those influences unto the soul and through questioning misbeleeving Christ's faithfulnesse and unchangable willingnesse which as a violent humore stoppeth the passage So then beleevers would lye open by looking and waiting drawing seeking from Him what they need and by guarding against every thing that may provoke the Lord to angerâ—… whether in omission or commission Here is requisite â—…n holy humble sober and watchfull walk an earnest serious and hungry looking out to Him and a patient waiting for supply and furniture from Him This is to open the mouth wide that He may fill it to lie before the sun of righteousnesse that the beames thereof may beat upon them warme revive them and to waite as a beggar at this kings gate till he give the almes 8. For the strengthening of their hope faith in this they would lay hold upon Christ dying and by his death purchaseing all those influences of life and strength which are requisite for carrying on of the work of grace and sanctification in the soul for we must be blessed in Christ with all spiritual blessings Eph. 1â—… 3. The beleever then would look on these influences as purchased at a deare rate by the blood of Jesus Christ so that the divine power giveth unto us all things that pertaine unto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory virtue 2 Pet. 1 3. And this will encourage the soul to wait on and expect the flowing down of influences and spiritual blessings and showres of grace to cause the soul to flourish and become fruitfull and to urge and presse more earnestly by faith the bestowing of the purchased benefites 9. Moreover the beleever would look on Jesus as standing engaged and obliged to carry on this work both as receiving them for this end from the Father
our looking long and waiting and asking and labouring and yet seeing no sensible advantage Such and such a beleever sayeth the soul made great progresse in a short time but I come no speed for as long as I have been at this school O! we should beware of limiteing the holy one of Israel Let us be at duty and commit the event to Him 9. It is not a fit time to take the measure of our graces as to their sensible grouth and fruitfulnesse when devils are broken loose upon us temptations are multiplyed corruptions make a great noise and we are meeting with an horrible tempest shaking us on all hands for it will be strong grace that will much appear then It will be a strong faith that will say though He kill me yet will I trust in Him At such a time it will be much if the man keep the ground he hath gained though he make no progress It will be much for a tree to stand and not be blowne out of the ground in the time of a strong and vehement storme of winde though it keep not its flourishes yeeld not fruit The trees which in a cold winter day bear neither leafs nor fruit must not be said to go back nor not to grow because when the spring cometh againe they may revive and be as fruitfull as ever 10. We would not alway measure our graces by what appeareth outwardly for there may be some accidental occurrence that may hinder that and yet grace be at work within doors which few or none can observe The Believer may be in a sweet and gracious frame blushing before the Lord yâ—…a melting in love or taken up with spirituall meditations wondering when as to some externall duties it can finde no present disposition through some accidentall impediment or other so that to some who judge most by out ward appearance no such thing as the active working of grace in life can appeare 11. We would think it no small measure or degree of holinesse to be with singlenessâ—… of heart pursueing it even though it should seem to flee from us to be earnestly panting after it and hungering and thirsting for it Nehemiah thought this no small thing when he said Neh. 1. last O Lord I beseech thee let now thine eare be attentive to the prayer of thy servants who desire to feare thy name 12. Whatever measure of holinesse the beleeveâ—… win to he would take speciall heed that he place no part of his confidence of his being accepted and justified before God in it as if that could come in as any part of the price to satisfy justice but when he hath done all let him call and account himself an unprofitable servant Though beleevers will not be so grosse as to speak thus yet sure their justifying of their holding aback from God because they finde not such a measure of grace and holinesse as they would have looketh too much this way and sayeth that they leane too much hereunto in the matter of the acceptance of their persons before God Now this would be specially guairded against lest their labour be in vaine Objections answered An Objection or two must here also be removed and first some may say That though they have been labouring and striveing and working now for some long time yet they can perceive no advancementâ—… they are as far short as ever Answer 1. Hath it not been found that some have compleaned without cause Have not some complained of their fruitlesnesse and want of grouth that other good Christians would have thought themselves very happy if they had but advanced half so farre as they saw them to have done 2. But be it so as it is alleiged what if the fault be their owne what if the cause of this be that they attempt things in their owne strength leaning to their own understanding or habites of grace or meanes c. and that they do not go about duties with that single dependence on Christ that is requisite nor do they suck life strength and sap from Him by faith through the promises nor give themselvs up to Him by faith that He may worke in them both to will and to do Should not this be seen mourned for and helped 3 If all this shortcoming and disappointment cause them lye in the dust and humble themselves more and more before the Lord the grace of humility is growing and that is no small advantage to be growing downward 4. Withall they would do well to hold on in duty looking to Christ for help and rolling all difficulties on Him give themselves away to Him as their Head and Lord and so continue their life of faith or their consenting to let Christ live in them by faith or work in them by his Spirit what is welpleasing in his sight and waite for the blessing and fruit in God's own time Next it will be Objected Though we might wait thus yet how unedifying are we unto others when there appeareth no fruit of the spirit of grace 〈◊〉 Answer A Christian behaviour and deportment under the sence of fruitlesnesse expressing an holy submission of soul unto God as Soveraigne much humility of minde before Him justifying of God and taking guilt to themselves with a firme resolution to waite on patiently in the use of meanes appointed cannot but be edifying to Christian soules such exercises being really the works and fruit of the Spirit of grace working within But thirdly Some may say How are then the promises of the covenant made good Answere 1. The same measure of sanctification and holinesse is not promised to all 2. No great measure is promised to any absolutly So much indeed is secured to all beleevers as shall carry them to heaven as without which they cannot see God but much as to the degrees depends on our performing through faith the conditions requisite to wit on condition of our abideing in the vine of our acting faith on Him c. and when these the like conditions are not faithfully performed by us what can we exspect So the Lord hath appointed a way wherein He will be found and will have us to waite for strength and influence from Him and if we neglect those meanes which He hath appointed how can we exspect the good which He hath promised in the use of these means 3. The Lord hath his owne time of making good all his promises and we must not limite Him to a day 4. Hereby the Lord may be trying and exerciseing thy Faith Patience Hope Dependence Submission Diligence c. and if these be in thee and abound they shall make that thou shall neither be barren noâ—… unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. Pet. 1 11. But lastly it will be enquired what can support the beleeving soul in this case Answere 1. The consideration and saith of the covenant of Redemption wherein both the Fathers engadgment to the Son and the Sons engadgment to the Father secureth
and filthinesse taken away that we may be holy As to the first For the purging away of the filth of our dayly failings and transgressions Christ hath done those things 1. He hath died that He might procure this benefite and advantage to us and thus he hath washed us meritoriously in his blood which he shed upon the crosse Thus he loved us and washed us from our sins in his owne blood Revel 1 5. and this is from all sins as well such as are committed after as such as are committed before conversion Thus He by himself purged our sins Heb. 1 3. viz by offering up of himself as an expiatory sacrifice to make an atonement and so procure this liberty So also it is said Ephes. 5 25 26 27. that Christ gave himself for his Church that He might sanctify and cleanse it that He might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy without blemish So Tit. 2 14. He gave himself for us that he might purify to himself a peculiar people Zealous of good works Here then is the foundation and ground of all our cleanseing and purification Christ's death procuring it 2. As He hath procured so he sendeth the Spirit to effectuate this and to worke this washing and sanctification in us Hence it is said 1 Cor. 6 11. that we are sanctified and washed in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God We are said to be saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy ghost which he shed upon us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour Tit. 3 5 6. The sending then or shedding of the holy and sanctifying Spirit upon us whereby we are sanctified and consequently purified and purged from our filth is a fruit of Christ's death and mediation being purchased thereby and is an effect of his resurrection and glorification and intercession in glory 3. He hath made a fountaine of his blood for this end that we may go to it daylie and wash and be cleane thus his blood cleanseth from all sin 1 Ioh. 1 7 9. This is the fountaine opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem for sin and for uncleannesse Zech. 13 1. 4. He hath purchased and provided the externall meanes whereby this cleansing and sanctification is brought about viz the preaching of the gospell which He himself preached and thereby sanctified Iohn 15 3. Now are yee clean through the word that I have spoken unto you Ephes. 5 26. the Church is sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word 5. So hath He procured and worketh in the soul those graces that promove and cary on this work of sanctification and purifying such as faith which purifyeth the heart Act. 15 9. whereof he is the author and finisher Heb. 12. and hope which whosoever hath purifyeth himself even as He is pure 1 Iohn 3 3. 6. He hath confirmed and ratified all the promises of the covenant which are ample and large touching this cleansing and washing Ier. 35 8. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me Ezech. 36 25. Then will I sprinkle cleane water upon you and yee shall be cleane from all your filthinesse So Ezech. 37 23. and I will cleanse them And all the other promises of the covenant apprehended by faith have no small influence on our cleanseing 2 Cor. 7 1. having there oâ—…e these promises let us cleanse our selves c. all which promises are yea and amen in Christ 2 Cor. 1 20. Thus Christ hath made all sure for the cleanseing and washing of his people conforme to that article of the covenant of Redemption So shall he sprinckle many nations Esai 52 15. Secondly As to the way of our usemaking of Christ for the purging away of our filth and daylie pollutions Beleevers would take this course 1. They would remember and live in the conviction of the exceeding abominablnesse and filthinesse of sin which is compared to the vomite of a dog and to the mire wherein the sow walloweth 2 Pet. 2 22. to filthy rags Esai 64 6. to a menstruous cloath Esai 30 22 and the like that this may move them to seek with greater care and diligence to have that filth washen away 2. They would remember also how abominable sin maketh them in the eyes of an holy God who cannot behold iniquity being a God of purer eyes than to behold it Habak 1 13. nor can He look on it And how therefore no unclean thing can enter in into the new Jerusalem nor any thing that defileth And this will make them so much the more to abhore it and to seek to be washen from it 3. They would look by faith upon the blood of Christ that is shed for this end to wash filthy souls into and run to it as a fountaine opened for this end that they might come to it and wash be cleane 4. For their encouragement they would grip by faith to the promises of the new covenant which are large and full 5. And remember the end of Christ's death viz to purchase to himself a holy people Zealous of good works to present them to Himself holy and without spot and wrinkle or any such thing and this will be a further encouragement 6. They would put the work by faith in his hand who hath best skill to wash a foule soul and to purge away all their spots and by faith pray for and exspect the Spirit to sanctifie and cleanse them from all their filthinesse that is they would make known and spread forth their abominations before the Lord and eyeing Christ as the only great Highpriest whose blood is a fountaine to wash in would lay the work on Him and by faith put Him to wash away that filth and to purifie their souls by his Spirit pardoning their bygone iniquities renewing them in the spirit of their mindes by grace that they may walk before him in fear Thus they would roll the work on Him and leave it there Cautions Directions 1. The beleever would in all this work be keeped in the exercise of those graces following 1. Of Humility seeing what a vile filthy wreatch he is that stands in need of washing and purging dayly because of his daylie pollutions and transgressions 2. Of Love considering with what a loving God he hath to do that hath provided so liberally 〈◊〉 things for him and particularly hath provided a fountaine and such a fountaine whereto he noâ—… only may but is commanded to resort dayly 3. Of Thankfulnesse remembering how great this mercy is how unworthy he is on whom it is bestowed and who He is that doth grant it 4. Of Fear least God's goodnesse be abused and He provoked who is so gracious to us 5. Of Sincerity and godly ingenuity avoiding all hypocrisie and formality knowing that we have to do with Him who
more constantly at the fountaine yet when we have fled to Christ and taken our filthinesse to the open and appointed fountaine we can answere the accusations of conscience in law and have peace 3. But I am apt to think will some say That if I had once taken the right way to get my sins filthinesse purged away my conscience would trouble me no more but now so long as it doggeth me thus I cannot think that the way which I have taken is the right way Ans. Though the Lord may think good to suffer conscience to trouble a man for a time though he hath taken the right way as is said for a further exercise and tryall to him yet the beleever will have no losse nor disadvantage by examineing his way and trying whether he hath laid the matter cleanly over on Christ or whether he hath laid too much weight on his own humiliation sorrow and paines and whether he beleaving the matter on Jesus and exspecting to be washen alone in his blood or looking in to himself and exspecting some helpe in the matter from self And after tryall would mourne for any failing he gets discovered and still be about that work of runing with filth to the fountaine But withall they would go to Christ for helpe because without Him they cannot come to Him they cannot come or carry their soul to the fountaine opened for sin and uncleannesse So that in all this work there would be a single dependance on Christ for understanding and strength to go about this work aright Thus have we endeavoured to cleare up Christ's being the Way to the Father first and last and how all beleevers or unbeleevers are to make use of him as the way to the Father whatever their condition be from all which we may see 1. That such are in a wreatched and forlorne condition who are still strangers to Christ and will not lay hold on Him nor come to Him and walk in Him and make use of Him They are unrighteous and unholy and dayly contracting more guilt and more filth and they know no way either for justification or sanctification but a way of self which will prove like the brooks which run dry in summer disappoint the weary travailer when he hath most need They are without Christ and so without the way the only way the saife and sure way to the Father And oh if all that is here spoken could induce them to think once of the misery of their condition and to seek out for reliefe that they might not only be saved from their state of sin and misery but brought into a state of salvation through Jesus Christ so that they might be justified before God from all that justice the devil the law or conscience could lay against them and throughly sanctified and so at length brought home to the Father faire and spotlesse 2. Upon the other hand we see the noble advantage of beleevers who through grace are entered into this way for it is a full and compleat way that shall carry them saife home they shall finde that He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God through Him And O if they were sensible of this How would it excite them to thankfulnesse How would it encourage them to run thorow difficulties great and many 3. We see what a special duty lyeth upon beleevers to make special use of Christ in all things as the way to the Father and so march to heaven in Him as the only way march in his hands or rather be carryed in his armes and bosome This were to goe from strength to strength till at length they appeared in Zion and landed in that pleasant place of rest where the weary are at rest and yet rest not day nor night but sing praises to Him that hath redeemed them by his blood out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation saying blessing honour glory power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb forever and ever Revel 5 9 13. 4. Hence we may see the cause of the leannesse of beleevers of their wanderings of their short comings of their many defilements c. viz. their not constant making use of Christ as the way in all things according to the tenor of the gospel Oh if this were laid to heart and mourned for and if grace were sought to helpe it This one point of truth That Christ is the way well understood and â—…ghtly put into practice would do all our businesse both as to justification and sanctification and were poor sinners once entred into this way and had they grace from this way to walk in it it would prove their life and salvation for it is the marrow and substance of the whole gospel So that there needeth little more to be said yet we shall speak a little to the other particulars in the text CAP. X. The Truth Some generalls proposed THat what we are to speak for the clearing and improving of this noble piece of truth That Christ is the Truth may be the more clearly understood and edifying we shall first take notice of some generalls and then show particularly how or in what respects Christ is called the Truth and finally speak to some cases wherein we are to make use of Christ as the Truth As to the first There are foure generall things here to be noticed First This supposeth what our case by nature is and what we are all without Christ who is the Truth as Frst. It supposeth that without Christ we are in darkness mistakes errors yea we are said to be darkness it self Ephes. 5. 8. yea were sometimes darknesse c. Iohn 1 5. and of darknesse 1 Thes. 5 5. yea under the â—…ower of darknesse Col. 1 13 Iohn 12 35. 1 Iohn 2 vers 11. walking in darknesse 1 Iohn 1 vers 6. and abideing in darknesse 1 Pet. 2 9. 1 Thes. 5 4. Iohn 12 46. we wander and go astray as soon as we are borne speaking lies Psal. 58 3. yea we go astray in the greatnesse of our folly Prov. 5. last we are all gone astray Esai 53 6. See also Psal. 119 67 176. So far are we from any knowledge of or acquantance with Truth or with the way of truth Secondly it supposeth that we cannot turne-in to the right way a Spirit of errour and untruth leadeth us continually wrong like the sheep we wander still and we weary ourselves in our wandering and so spend all our labour and paines in vaine Being under the power of untruth and errour we cannot walk one step right Thridly Though all other wayes beside Him who only is the Way and the Truth be false wayes and by-wayes leading us away from the true testing place and from that Way which is the Truth yet we are prone and ready to cleave to those false and erroneous wayes to grippe to shadowes andto leane to them as if they were the wayes of truth Such
is so displayed that nothing appeareth from the lowest foundation stone to the upper most cope-stone but grace grace free grace making up all the materials and free grace with infinite wisdom cementing all The gracious soul can be warme under no other covering but what is made of that web wherein grace and only grace is both wooft and werpe and the reason is manifest for such an one hath the clearest sight and discovery of his owne condition and seeth that nothing suiteth him and his case but free grace nothing can make up his wants but free grace nothing can cover his deformities but free grace nothing can help his weaknesses shortcomings faintings sins and miscarriages but free grace therefore is free grace all his Salvation and all his Desire itis his glory to be free grace's debtor for evermore the crown of glory will have a far more exceeding and eternal weight and be of an hyperbolically hyperbolick and eternal weight and yet easily carryed and worne when he seeth how free grace and free love hath lined it and free grace and free love sets it on and keeps it on for ever this maketh the glorified Saint weare it with ease by casting it down at the feet of the gracious and loving purchaser and bestower His exaltation is the Saints glory and by free grace the Saints receiving and holding all of free grace is He exalted O what a glory is it to the Saint to set the crown of glorious free grace with his owne hands on the head of such a Saviour and to say not unto me not unto me but unto thee even unto thee alone be the glory for ever and ever With what delight satisfaction and complacency will the glorified Saint upon this account sing the Redeemed and Ransomed their song And if the result and effect of free grace will give such a sweet sound there and make the glorified's heaven in some respects another thing or at least in some respect a more excellent heaven than Adam's heaven would have been for Adam could not have sung the song of the Redeemed Adam's heaven would not have been the purchase of the blood of God nor would Adam have sitten with Christ Redeemer on his throne nor would there have been in his heaven such â—…ich hangings of free grace nor such mansions prepared by that gracious and loving husband Christ who will come and bring his boughâ—…-bride home with Him Seing I say heaven even upon the account of free grace will have such a special lovely desireable and glorious lustre O how should Grace be prized by us now How should the Gospel of the Grace of God be esteemed by us What an antipaâ—…hy to Glory as now prepared and dressed up for sinful man must they show whose whole wit and parts are busied to daâ—…ken the glory of thâ—… Grace which God would have shineing in the Gospel and who are aâ—… so much paines and labour to dresse up another gospel though the Apostle hath told us Gal. 1 7. that there is not another wherein Gospel-grace must stand by and law grace take the throne that so man may sacrifice to his owne net and burn incense to his own drag and may at most be graces debtor in part and yet no way may the saved man account himself more graces debtor than the man was who wilfully destroyed himself in not performing of the conditions for Grace as the new Gospelers or rather Gospel spillers meane and say did equally to both frame the conditions make known thâ—… contrivance and tender the conditional peace and salvation But as to the difference betwixt Paul and Iudas it was Paul that made himself to differ and not the free grace of God determineing the heart of Paul by grace to a closeing with and accepting of the bâ—…rgan It was not grace that wrought in him both to will to do It waâ—… he not the grace of God in him What more contradictory to the gospel of the grace of God And yet vaine Man will not condescend to the free grace of God Pelagianisme Arminianisme needeth not put a man to much study and to the reading of many books to the end it may be practically learned though the patrons hereof labour hote in the very fires to make their notions hang together and to give them such a lustre of unsanctified and corrupt reason as may be taking with such as know no other conduct in the matters of God for nâ—…turally we are all borne Pelagians and Arminians these Tenets are deeply engraven in the heart of every Son of fallen Adam what serious servant of God findeth not this in his dealing with souls whom he is labouring to briâ—…g into the way of the Gospel Yea what Christian is there who hath acquantance with his owne heart and is observing its byasses and corrupt inclinations that is not made to cry out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from these dregs of Pelagianisme Arminianisme and Iesuitisme which I finde yet within my soul Hence it may seem no wonderful or strange thing though after so much clear light it may be astonishing to think that now in this age so many are so openly and aâ—…wedly appearing for this dangerous and deadly errouâ—… to us to hear and see this infection spreadâ—…ng and gaining ground so fast there needeth few arguments or motives to worke up carnal hearts to an imbraceing thereof and to a cheerful acquiesceing therein little labour will make a spark of fire worke upon gunpowder And me thinks if nothing else will this one thing should convince us all of the errour of this way that nature so qâ—…imely and readyly complyeth therewith for who that hath any eye upon or regaird of such things seeth not what a world of carnal reasonings objections prejudices and scruples natural men have in readiness against the Gospel of Christ and with what satisfaction peace and delight they reason and plead themselves out of the very reach of free grace and what work there is to get a poor soal in any measure wakened and convinced of its lost condition wrought up to a compliance with the gospel way of Salvation How many other designes projects and essayes doth it follow with a piece of natural vehemency and seriousness without wearying were it even to the wasteing of its body and spirits let be its substance riches before it be brought to a closeing with a crucified Mediator and to an accounting of all its former workings attainments and painful labourings and gaine as losse for Christ and for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ and as dung that it may win Christ and be found in Him not having its own righteousness which is of the laâ—… but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faiâ—…h Phil. 3 7 8 9. Aâ—…d mâ—…y it not seem strange that now after so many have found through the grace of God the sweet experience of
lye quiet will yet at length through the quickening revivâ—…ing infâ—…uences of Grace promised in the Covenant granted in the Lords good time come out of its prison take the fields recover the impire of the soul and then the dry withered stocks when the God of all grace will be as the dew unto Israel shall blossome and grow as the lilie and cast forth his roots as lebanon his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the olive tree and his smell as lebanon It is a happy thing either for Church or particular soul to be planted in Gâ—…ace's 〈◊〉 soyl they lye open to the warm beames of the sun of righteousness and though winter blasts may be sharpe and long clouds may intercept the heat and nipping frosts may cause a sad decay and all the sap may returne and lye as it were dormant in the root yet the winter will passe the raine will be over and gone and the flowers will appear on the earth the time of the singing of birds will come and the voice of the turtle will be heard in the land then shall even the wilderness and solitary place be glade and the desert shall rejoice and blossome as the rose it shall blossome abundantly and rejoyce even with joy and singing the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it the excellency of Carmel and Sharon they shall see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God We wonder that it is not alwayes hote summer dayes a flourishing and fruitful season with Souls and with Churches But know we the thoughts of the Lord See we to the bottom of the deep contrivances of infinite wisdom Know we the usefulness yea necessity of long winter nights stormy blasts hail raine snow and frost Consider we that our state and condition while here calleth for those vicissitudes and requireth the blowing of the north as well as of the south windes If we considered how Grace had ordered all things for our best and most for the glory and exaltation of Grace we would sit down and sing under the sadest of dispensations and living by faith and hope we would rejoyce in the confident expectation of a gracious outgate for as long as Grace predomineth and that will be untill Glory take the Empire all will run in the channel of grace and though now sense which is oft faiths unfaithful friend will be alwayes suggesting false tales of God and of His Grace unto unbeliefe and raising thereby discontents doubts feares jealousies and many distempers in the soul to its prejudice and hâ—…rt yet in end Grace shall be seen to be Grace and the faithful shall get such a full sight of this manifold Grace as ordering tempering timeing shortening or continueing of all the sad and dismal dayes and seasons that have passed over their own or their Mothers head that they shall see that Grace did order all yea every circumstance of all the various tossings changes ups downs that they did meet with And O what a satisfying sight will that be when the general assembly and Church of the first borne which are enrolled in heaven and every individual saint shall come together and take a view of all their experiences the result of which shall be Grace began Grace carryed on and Grace hath perfected all Grace was at the bottome of all and Grace crowned all What shoutings Grace Grace unto it will be there when the head stone shall be brought forth What soul satisfying complacency in admiration at all that is past will a back look â—…hereat yeeld when every one shall be made to say Grace hath done all well not a pin of all the work of Grace in and about me might have been wanted now I see that the work of God is perfect Grace was glorious Grace and wise Grace whatever I thought of it then O what a fool have I been in quarrelling at and in not being fully satisfied with all that Grace was doing with me O how little is this beleeved now In confidence Madam that your La to me no wayes known but by a savoury report shall accept of this bold address I recommend your La my very noble Lord your Husband and off spring to the word of His grace and subscribe my self Your and Their Servant in the Gospel of the Grace of God JOHN BROWN Christian Reader IF thou answer this designation and art really a partaker of the Unction which is the high import of that blessed and glorious name called upon thee thine eye must affect thy heart and â—… soul swelled with Godly sorrow must at last burst and bleed forth at a weeping eye while thou looks upon most of this licentious and loathsome generation arrived at that hâ—…ight of prodigious profanity as to glory in their shame and boast of bearing the very badge and blake marke of damnation but besides this swarme who savage it to hâ—…ll and make such hast thiâ—…her as they foame themselves into everlasting flames carrying under the shape and visage of men as Devils in disguise The face of the Church is covered with a scâ—…me of such who are so immersed in the concerns of this life and are so intense in the pursute of the pleasures gaine and honours thereof as their way doth manifestly witnesse them to be sunk into the deep oblivion of God and desperat inconsideration of their precious and immortal souls But in the 3. place besides these who are hurried into such a distraction with the cares of this life that they as natural brute beasts made to be taken and dâ—…stroyed are never at leasure to consider either the nature and necessitie of their noble souls or to converse with the notion of a Deitie Thou may perceive a company of self deceiving speculatists who make broad the phylacteries of their garments and boast of some high attainements in religion yea would have others look upon them as arrived at the very porch of heaven and advanced to a high pitch of proficiency in the wayes of God because they can discourse a little of the mysteries of salvation and without ever diveing further into the depth and true nature of Religion dream themselves into a confidence of being saints and conclude themselves Candidats for glory This is that heart-moveing object which presents itself to thy eye observation this day this is that deplorable posture wherein thou mayst perceive most men at the very point of perishing eternally who are within the pale of the visible Church some danceing themselves headlong in all hast into the lake of fire and brimstone some so much concerned in things which have no connexion with their happiness as to drop inconcernedly into the pit out of which there is no redemption and others dreaming themselvs into endlesse perdition all of them unite in a deriding at or despiseing the means used essays made in order to their recovery Now while Religion which is the beautie of the soul
glade in his house of prayer and their sighes and groans come up with acceptance upon his Altar O blessed Altar that sanctifies the gold This is that Altar whereto the mocking moralist hath no right It is by him that the poor beleever offers up his sacrifice to God continually what ever he doth in word oâ—… deed he desires to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus as he knowes He lives to make intercession and to appeare in the presence of God for his poor people both to procure influences for duety and plead for acceptation so he depends upon him for both as knowing he can never otherwise heare or have it said unto him well done good and faithful servant It may be he can do little he hath but a mite to offer but he puts it in the mediators hand to be presented to God he hath not gold nor silver nor purple to bring he can do no great things he hath but goats hair or rams skins but he gives them the right tincture he makes them red in the blood of Christ and so they are a beautiful incarnat Lastly This Gospel holinesse respects Jesus Christ as its last end as it hath its being from him so it is all directed toward the praise of his grace while the beleeving soul in whom Christ dwells designes no lâ—…sse and aims at no lower mark then assimilition to God and fâ—…uition of him while he is endeavouring alwayes and in all things to be unlike himself and what he was that he may be like God it is not to be like him on that wicked and wretched designe which man had at first in his eye whereby he lost his God and unmade a man but it is that thereby he may be in better case to glorâ—…fy him and that God may be the more endeared to his own soul because of what he hath done for him and commended and madâ—… precious to the souls of others while they take notice of what a change grace hath not onely made in his most eminent appearances for God he contracts himself into a disappearance that God may appeare and be seen in the shinâ—…ing glory of his grace bestowed upon him for the godly man of all men is â—…he most humble this is the garbe he cloaths himself with if his face shine in his accesses to God that pride may be hâ—…d fâ—…om his eyes he wots not of it the very thoughts of â—…obing God of his glory and clothing himself with thâ—… spoils of his honour are terrible to him and looked upon as that wherein thâ—… soul resembls Satan most manifestly and therefore that great practitioner who ouâ—… stript all others in doing and suffâ—…ring for God dare not stand up to intercept the glory due to his Master but ascribes all to him with a neverthe lesse neverthelesse not I but the grace of God which was with me what hast thou which thou hast not received prevents his boasting and imposeth the necessity of blessing the donor the marke he aims at in his exerciseing himself to godlinesse is mainly this that men seeing his goods works may glorify his Father which is in heaven As he knowes he acts not in his own strength but in his who counts him worthy of the high calling and fulfils all the good pleasure of his goodnesse in him and the work of faith with power so he considers for what all this is it is that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in us and we in him according to the grace of our God the Lord Jesus Christ and he hath a sweet complacency in complying with this God-exalting and grace-magnifiing designe when grace hath set a crown upon his head and made him a king for the meanest beleever is truely a more illustrious Prince then the greatest Potentat of the earth not onely because under his rags lyes hide a title to a crown and his expectation is to sit with Christ upon his throne but because he is already crowned with loving kindenesse and tender mercies and doth while on the earth sit together with Christ in heavenly places Christ is possessed of glory in his stead as his representee and head and a man is all crowned and acknowledged as king when his head is crowned he knowes he is made a preist alâ—…o to sacrifice it to the giver and therefore he casts downe his crown before the throne with this thou art worthy to receive glory and honour c. and he esteems the priviledge of doing soâ—… as great as the prerogative of haveing it set on when he works hardest to adorne himself with the beauty of holinesse it is not so much that his beauty may appeare perfect as that that grace to which he is a debtor for all his comelinesse may shine in its lustre and his vertues who hath called him to glory and vertue may be shewed forth he designes not in his diligence in duty to be taken notice of as a singular saint but his great and shineing singularity which he doth most ambitionat lyes in this that Christ in the communications of his grace and efficacy of his influence may be admired in him as in all that beleeve In a word as all he hath is of him and from him so all he does or designs is for him and to him it is Christ to him to live in whom Christ lives now this is the very nature of pure religion and undefiled and that which compleats the image of God and puts it beyond all debat that his soul hath received the stamp and impression of the royal seal on it and that his heart is the epistle of Christ written not with inck and pen but with the Spirit of the liveing God when his glory and the exaltation of the manifold grace and manifold wisdom of God in the contriveance of salvation is upmost in his thinkings desireings Projectings and endeavourings and hath the first place in the roll of his wishings while other men seek their own things it is his own his onely own his one his all to seek the things of Christ that blessed seeker who came to seek him and save him and being found of him he endeavours to carry as one no more his owne the glorifieing of him in his body and Spirit which are his because bought by him is his begun heaven and the greatest errand he hath in heaven is to get a more cleare sight of that blessed object of all admiration and adoration and to be in better case to cry him up for ever Now this is but a short and general Character drawn by an unskilful hand of that holinesse which will abide the test and be found true when tried by the touch stone of the word But let us on the other hand take a short view of what our moralists substitute in its place as in their account both more beautiful to the eye and more beneficial to the souls of men wherein I intend to be breife I
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
Edifying and Satisfying discovery of this Necessary Important Truth viz. Christ made of God to us Wisdome Righteousness Sanctification Redemption and withall Point out plainely particulary the way how Beleevers in all their Particular and various exigéncies maâ—… and should so make use of and apply that all fulness which is treasured up in the Head for the benefite and advantage of the Members of the Mystical body as they may not only theoretically see but practically also experience this truth That in Him they are compleat and so they may be helped to understand how through the necessary constant usemaking of Him as all in all they may grow up in Him in all things If this be I say done by any to better purpose I shall think this my adventure not altogether fruitless in part at least excusable As for thee O Christian whose instruction edification and confirmation in the Faith of our Lord Iesus Christ the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints I mainly intended in this undertaking I have a few things to adde knovv then that there are certain men as the Apostle Iude speaketh crept in unawares who were of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Iesus Christ for in these last dayes vve see that these perillous times are come of vvhich Paul advertised Timothy 2 Tim. 3 1. c. vvherein men shall be lovers of their owne selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to Parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce breakers false accusers or make bates incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good traitours heady high minded lovers of pleasure morethan lovers of God having the forme of godliness but denying the power thereof for of this sort are they which creep into houses lead captive silly women laden with sinnes led away with diverse lusts ever learning never able to come to the knowledge of the truth And because it is so be exhorted to give deligence to make your Calling Election sure by giving all diligence to adde to faith vertue to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity for if ye do these things ye shall never fall As the Apostle Peter assureth us 2 Pet. 1 5 6 7 10. for itis the Elect vvho are secured from full and final defection and Apostasie Mat. 24 24. Mark 13 22. Rom. 11 5 7. 9 11. 8 33. Mat. 24 31. Mark 13 27. and the promise of Salvation is made to such as shall endure to the end The Crown is for the Overcomers such as are faithful to the death Mat. 10 22. 24 13. Mark 13 1â—… Revel 2 10 11 17 26 27 28. 3 5 1â—… 21. All vvhich and the like are sct dovvne that hereby his people might be rationally moved to a constant seriousness in the working out of their owne Salvation in fear trembling and the forevvarnings given of the great difficulty of reaching the end of our faith the salvation of our souls because of the many Active Vigilant Indefatigable Subtile and Insinuating adversaries who by good words faire speaches vvill readily deceive the hearts of the simple are to avvaken the more His people to be sober vigilant because their Adversary the Devil vvho acteth and moveth his under-agents in their several Modes Methods and Motions so as he may best according to the various Tempers Present Dispositions Advantages or Disadvantages of such as he intendeth to seduce vvhich he carefully studyeth and plyeth for this end obtaine his designed end their ruine and destruction as a roaring lyon walking about seeking whom he may devoure And this calleth them to haste out of their slumber and security lest their Adversary who will be loath to misse his Opportunity surprize them to their great losse and disadvantage It is Beloved high time novv to awake to look about us to consider where we are upon vvhat ground vve stand vvhether the Enemy or we have the advantage hovv and in vvhat Postour vve are to rancontre with deceivers that seek to cheare us of all of our souls and of our Salvation because they vvould cheat us of the Lord our Righteousness and dravv us off the pathes of life that vvhen vve come to die beside the unspe akable great losse vve vvould thereby be at even here in missing the comfortable accestes to God through lesus Christ the inflowings of grace strength for spiritual duty through the Lord our Strength the sweet communications of peace and joy in the holy Ghost the shedings abroad of the love of God in our hearts by the holy Ghost vvhich is given unto us and the full assurance of hope through the Lord Iesus our hope vve might be frustrated of all our expectations and finde that all that vvhich Men made us grip to lay hold on and leane unto in stead of Christ vvas but a meer shadow and a lie in our right hand to the unexpressible griefe vexation and sorrovv of soul vvhen all should end in a dreadful and horrible disappointment But let us not think that our Purposes firme-like Resolutions to adhere to the Truth and our present Abhorrence at and Detestation of errours novv broached to the overturning of the very foundations of true Christianity vvill sufficiently guaird us from and make us proof against the shotes and assaults of these crafty seducers Nor think that our learning and knovvledge in the Theory of the Truth nor our Abilities to rancontre Sophisters vvill secure us from a fall let us not think that the Enemies are contemptible and therefore vve need be the less anxious nor yet think that former experiences throughbearings in the like cases vvill be a pillow vvhereupon vve may novv lay our selves downe to sleep If vve do vve shall certanely deceive ourselves if all our strength standing be in ourselves and through ourselves and if this be the ground of our hope the Righteous Lord in his holy justice may give us up to be a Prey Peters instance should never be forgotten bâ—… us and such as tempt the Lord have no ground to expect his last issue Our strength must be in Christ to the rock of ages must vve flee to our chambers in Him must vve retire and there must vve hide ourselves on Christs lee side can vve only ride salfe and be free of the hazard of the storme To Him therefore must our recourse be dayly by new fresh acts of Faith In and through Him and His Influences communicated according to the tenor of the Covenant of grace through Faith eyeing the Promiser the Promise vvith the Price purchaseing and so dravving and sâ—…king Light Direction Strength Stability and vvhat our present exigent calleth for must vve think to stand and happy they vvho conscious to
themselves of their own weakness and convinced of the insufficiency of all things vvithin them in Godly fear hide themselves under the wings of the Almighty and get in into this Strong hold resolving there to abide and there to be secured from all their Adversaries vvithin or vvithout These humble fearers may expect a saife noble outgate vvhen more strong-like more confident adventurers shall being left to themselves because trusting in themselves shamefully fall and be triumphed over by the Enemie to the griefe of the Godly and for a snare to others The best vvay then to keep the faith of Christ vvhich many are novv seeking to shake and to loose us from is to be exerciseing the faith of Christ. The serious and upright practiseing of the Gospel is the only best mean to keep thee firme in the profession of the Gospel vvhen the Gospel vvith thee is not a fevv fine notions in the braine but is heavenly and necessary Truth sunck into the heart and living and acting there it vvill keep thee and thou will owne it more firmly and steadfastly in a day of tryal Thy walking in Christ and working and living by Him living in thee will so root thee in the Gospel truth that enemies will pull in vaine when seeking to overthrow thee The Gospel of the grace of God received and entertained in thy soul in love and constant sutable improvement will fortifie thee and secure it self in thee so that vehement blasts shall but contribute to its more fixed abode and more fruteful actings in thee Live up then to the Gospel and so be sure of it and be saife in it I mean let Christ live in thee as thy all and cast all thy care and cumber on Him lay all thy difficulties before Him lean all thy weight upon Him draw all thy necessities out of Him undertake all thy duties in Him be strong in Him and in the power of His might let Him by thy Counseler Conductor Leader Teacher Captain Commander Light Life Strengh and all so shall thou stand and have cause to glory even in thy infirmities for thou shalt finde the power of Christ resting upon thee and thou shalt have cause to say Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake for when I am weak then am I strong Remember that great word Phil. 4 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me It hath bin the usual and ordinary question of Beleevers How shall we make use of Christ for Sanctification To this great and important question I though the meanest and most unfit for such a work of all that God hath sent to feed his flock have adventured or endeavoured at least to give such as truely desire to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God some satisfation herein laying before them some plaine directions framed to their capacities and suited to some of their most ordinary and usual cases some whereof are more comprehensive others more particular may be looked upon as exemplary instances serving for other cases of the like nature for hardly could every particular circumstanâ—…iat case be particularly spoken to and some might judge that to be superfluous If thou in the light strength of Christ shalt really practise what is here pointed forth I may be confident to say thy labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord thou shalt attaine to another sort of holiness than that which Proud pretenders boast of shalt be far without the reach of that snare which unstable souls are too readily entangled with I meane the plausible pretension of more than ordinary sanctity which yet is but forced feigned constrained mostly external framed to cause some admiration in beholders whom they intend to make a prey of This shall be no temptation to thee who by experience findeth a more saife satisfying full free easy pleasant heartsome way of mortifying lusts growing in grace in the knowledg of Jesus Christ so perfecting holiness by runing immediatly to Christ by living in upon Him who is mad of God to us Wisdom Righteousnes Sanctification Redemption That the Lord may blesse the same to thee for this end shall â—…e and is the desire and prayer of Him who is thy servant in the work of the Gospel I. B. CHRIST The Way the Truth the Life Or A discovery of the right way of making use of Christ for Sanctification From IOHN XIV 6. Iesus sayeth unto them I am the Way the Truth the Life No man cometh unto the Father but by Me. CHAP. I. The introduction with some generall observations from the cohesion DOubtlesse it is alwayes usefull yea necessary for the children of God to know the right way of making use of Christ who is made all things to them which they need even Wisdome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1 30. But it is never more necessarie for beleevers to be cleare distinct in this matter than when Satan by all meanes is seeking to pervert the right wayes of the Lord and one way or other to lead souls away and draw them of Christ knowing that if he prevail here he hath gained his poynt and therefore he endeavoureth not only to darken it by error either more grosse or more subtile but also to darken it by mistakes and prejudices whence it cometh to passe that not only Strangers are made to wander out of the way but oftentimes many of his owne people are walking in the darknesse of ignorance and mistakes and remaine leane through want of the reall exercise of the Life of faith which would make them fat flourishing because it would make them strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and to grow up in Christ in all things The clearing up then of this truth cannot but be most seasonable now when Satan is prevailing with many whom he cannot get tempted to loosenesse and profanitie to sit downe upon some thing which is not Christ and to rest upon something within themselves distinct from him both in the matter of Iustification and Sanctification This subtile Adversary is now setting some a work to cry up by preaching speaking and printing a way to heaven which is not Christ a kinde of morality civility and outward holinesse whereupon the soul is to rest and this holinesse not wrought and effectuated through the strength of Iesus by faith sucking life and furniture from him but through our owne art and skill which in effect is nothing but an extract of refined Popery Socinianisme and Arminianisme devised and broached of purpose to draw the soul off Christ that he may stand upon his owne legs and walk by his owne power and thank himself at least in part for the crown at length Further through the great goodnesse of God the true way of a soul's justification
is admirablie cleared up and many are at least theoretically acquanted therewith and many also practically to the quieting of their wakened consciences and stopping the mouth of their accusers and obteaning of peace joy and the lively hope of the everlasting crowne yet many a gratious soul professe their unacquantednesse with the solide and thriveing way of usemaking of Christ for grouth in grace and true Sanctification Therefore some discovery of the truth here cannot but be usefull seasonable yea and acceptable unto them If He who is the Truth would give grace to understand and to unfold this so necessary and alwayes advantagious a Truth and would help to write of and explaine this Truth by faith in him who is here said to be the Truth then should we have cause to blesse and magnifie his name But if he because of sin shall hide himself and not let out those beames of light whereby we might discover light we shall but darken counsell with words without knowledge and leave the matter as uncleare as ever Therefore is it necessarie there be both in him that writeth and in such as reade a single dependence on him who is given for a leader Esa. 55 5. and hath promised to bring the blinde by a way which they knew not and to lead them in paths that they had not known and to make darkness light before them and crooked things streight Esa. 42 16. that thus by acting faith on him we may finde in so far the truth of this verified viz. That he is the Way the Truth and the Life Now for clearing up of this matter we would know That our Lord Iesus from the beginning of this Chapter is laying downe some grounds of consolation sufficient to comfort his Disciples against the sad newes of his departure and death and to encourage them against the feares they had of much evill to befall them when their Lord Master should be taken from them Which is a sufficient proof of the tender heart of Iesus who alloweth all his followers strong consolation against all feares hazards troubles and perplexities which they can meet with in their way He will not leave them comfortlesse and therefore he layeth downe strong grounds of consolation to support their drouping and fainting hearts as loving to see his followers rejoyceing alwayes in the Lord and Singing in the wayes of Zion that the world may see and be convinced of a reality in Christianity and of the preferablenesse of that life notwithstanding of all the troubles that attend it unto any other how sweet and desireable so ever it may appear to flesh and blood In prosecution of which designe he told them vers 4. that they knew whâ—…ther He went and the way also which he was to take and by which he was to bring them to the Father to the mansions spoken of and so to life eternall But Thomas rashly and incredulously as too usually he did Chap. 11 16. and 20 25 venteth himself and little lesse then contradicteth his Master saying vers 5 We know not whither thow goest and how can we know the way wherein we have an emblem of many a beleever who may have more grace and knowledge of God and of Christ than they will be able to see or acknowledge that they have what through temptations inward distempers sense of their many defects and great ignorance strong desires of high measures clearer discoveries of the vastnesse of the object mistakes about the true nature of grace despiseing the day of small things and indistinctnesse as to the actings of grace or want of understanding and right uptaking of grace in its various out goings and actings under various notions and the like Whereupon Christ after his usuall manner taketh occasion to clear up that ground of consolation further unto them and to let them see the true way of coming to the Father that thereby they night be helped to see that they were not such strangers unto the way as they supposed and withall he amplifieth and layeth out the properties and excellencies of this way as being the true and living way and the only true and living way and that in such a manner as they might both see the way to be perfect full saife saving and satisfying and also learne their duty of improving this way alwayes and in all things untill they came home at length to the Father saying I am the Way the Truth and the Life no man cometh to the Father but by me Christ then saying that He not only is the Way to the Father even the true way but that he is so the true way as that he is also Truth it self in the abstract and so the Living way that he iâ—… Life itself in the abstract gâ—…eth us ground to consider after what manner it is that He is the Truth and the Life as well as the Way and that for the clearing up and discovering of His being an absolutely perfect transcendently excellent incomparably preferable and fully satisfying way usefull to beleevers in all cases all exigents all distresses all difficulties all tryals all temptations all doubts all perplexities in all causes or occasions of distempers feares faintings discouragements c. which they may meet with in their way to heaven And this will lead us to cleare up the duty of beleevers on the other hand and to shew how they should in all their various cases and difficulties make use of Christ as the only alsufficient Way to the Father and as Truth and Life in the way and so we will be led to speak of Christs being to his people all that is requisite for them here in the way whether for justification or sanctification and how people are to make use of him as being all or as being made of God to us Wisdom Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption 1. Cor. 1 30. Ere we come to the words in particular we would look upon them as having relation to Thomas his words in the preceeding verse wherein he did little lesse then contradict what Christ had said in the 4 vers and learne severall very comfortable points of doctrine as First THat Iesus Christ is very tender of his followers and will not cast them off nor upbraide them for every escape whereby they may provock him to anger and grieve his Spirit but gently passeth by many of their faileings when he findeth they are not obstinate in their mistake nor perverse in their way for how gently and meekly doth He here passe over Thomas his unhandsome expression findeing that Thomas spoke here not out of obstinacy and pertinaciousnesse but out of ignorance and a mistake And the reason is because 1 Christ knoweth our infirmitie and weaknesse and is of a tender heart and therefore Will not break the bruised reed Esa. 42. Well knoweth He that rough and untender handling would crush us and break us all in pieces And 2. He is full of bowells of mercy and can have compassion on
Him in a day of tryall Confession of Him must be made with the mouth as with the heart we must beleeve Ro. 10 9. Let corruption speak against this what it will because it is alwayes desireous to keep the skinne whole yet reason cannot but say that it is equitable especially seing He hath said that whosoever confesseth Him before men He will confesse them before his Father which is in heaven Mat. 10. 32. And that if we suffer with Him we shall also reigne with Him 2 Tim. 2. 12. Is He our Lord and Master and should we not owne and avouch Him Should we be ashamed of him for any thing that can befall us upon that account What Master would not take that ill at his servants hands Hence then we see that there is nothing in all the conditions on which He offereth Himself to us that can give the least ground in reason why a poor soul should draw back and be unwilling to accept of this noble offer or think that the conditions are hard But there is one maine Objection which may trouble some and that is They cannot beleeve faith being the gift of God it must be wrought in them How then can they goe to God for this and make use of Christ for this end that their souls may be wrought up to a beleeving consenting to the bargan and hearty accepting of the offer To this I would say these things 1. It is true that faith is the gift of God Ephes. 2 8. and that it is He alone who worketh in us both to will to do Phil. 1 29 and none cometh to the son but whom the father draweth Iohn 6 44. and it is a great matter and no small advancement to win to the reall faith and through conviction of this our impotency for thereby the soul will be brought to a greater measure of humiliation and of despaireing of salvation in it self which is no small advantage unto a poor soul that would be saved 2. Though faith be not in our power yet it is our duty Our impotency to performe our duty doth not loose our obligation to the duty so that our not beleeving is our sin and for this God may justly condemne us His wrath abideth on all who beleeve not in his Son Jesus and will not accept of the offer of salvation through the crucified mediator And though faith as all other acts of grace be efficiently the work of the Spirit yet it is formally our work we do beleeve but it is the Spirit that worketh faith in us 3. The ordinary way of the Spirit 's working faith in us is by pressing home the duty upon us whereby we are brought to a despairing in ourselves and to a looking out to Him whose grace alone it is that can work it in the soul for that necessary 〈◊〉 and breathing without which the soul will not come 4. Christ Jesus hath purchased this grace of faith to all the elect as other graces necessary to their salvation and it is promised and convenanted to Him that He shal see his seed and shall see of the travell of his soull Esai 53 10 11. and that by the knowledge of him that is the rationall and understanding act of the soul griping to and laying hold upon Him as he is offered in the gospell many shall be justified Ibid. Hence he sayeth that all whom the father hath given to Him shall come unto Him Ioh. 6 37. and the Apostle tels us that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him Ephes. 1 3. 5. Not only hath Christ purchased this grace of faith and all other graces necessary for the salvation of the elect but God hath committed to Him the administration and actuall dispensation and outgiving of all those graces which the redeemed stand in need of Hence He is a Prince exalted to give repentance and forgivenesse of sinns Act. 5 31. all power in heaven and earth is committed unto him Mat. 28 18 19. Hence He is called the author and finisher of faith Heb. 12 v. 2. and He telleth his disciples Iohn 14 13. 14. That whatever they shall ask in his name He will do it He is made Prince and a Saviour having all judgment committed unto him Iohn 5 22. and He is Lord of all Act. 10 36. Rom. 14 9. 6. Hereupon the sinner being convinced of his lost condition through sin and misery of an utter impossibility of helping himself out of that state of death of Christ's alsufficiency and willingnesse to save all that will come to Him and of its owne inability to beleeve or come to Him for life and salvation or to lay hold on and leane to his merites and satisfaction and so despaireing in himself is to look out to Iesus the author of eternall salvation the foundation and chiefe corner stone the author and finisher of faith I say the sinner being thus convinced is thus to look out to Iesus not that that conviction is any proper qualification prerequisite as necessary either to prepare dispose and fit for faith or far lesse to merite any manner of way or bring on faith But because this is Christ's methode to bring a soul to faith by this conviction to the glory of his grace The soul naturally being averse from Christ and utterly unwilling to accept of that way of salvation must be redacted to that straite that it shal see that it must either accept of this offer or die as the whole needeth not a physitian so Christ is come to save only that which is lost and his method is to convince the world of sin in the first place and then of righteousnesse Iohn 16 8 9. 7. This looking out to Iesus for faith comprehendeth those things 1. The Souls acknowledgement of the necessitie of faith to the end it may partake of Christ and of his merites 2. The souls satisfaction with that way of partaking of Christ by a closeing with Him and a resting upon Him by faith 3. A sense and conviction of the unbeleefe and stubbornnesse of the heart or a seeing of its own impotency yea and unwillingnesse to beleeve 4. A persuasion that Christ can overmaster the infidelity wickednesse of the heart and worke up the soul to a willing consent unto the bargane 5. A hope or a half hope to speak so that Christ who is willing to save all poor sinners that come to Him for salvation and hath said that He will put none away in any case that cometh will have pity upon him at length 6. A resolution to lye at his door till he come with life till He quicken till He unite the soul to Himself 7. A lying open to the breathings of his Spirit by guarding against every thing so far as they can that may grieve or provok Him and waiting on Him in all the ordinances He hath appointed for begetting of faith such as reading the scriptures hearing the word conference with godly persons and prayer
c. 8. A waiting with patience on Him who never said to the house of Iacob seek me in vaine Esai 45 19. still crying and looking to Him who hath commanded the ends of the earth to look to him and waiting for him who waiteth to be gracious Esai 30 18. remembering that they are all blessed that waite for him Ibid. and that there is much good prepared for them that waite for Him Esai 64 4. 8. The sinner would essay this beleeving and closeing with Christ and set about it as he can seriously heartily willingly yea and resolutely over the belly of much opposition and many discouragements looking to Him who must helpe yea and worke the whole work for God worketh in and with Man as a rationall creature The soul then would set the willingnesse it findeth on work waite for more and as the Lord is pleased to commend by his Spirit the way of grace more unto the soul and to warme the heart with love to it and a desire after it strick the yron while it is hote and looking to Him for help gripe to Christ in the covenant and so set to its seal though with a tembling hand and subscribe its name though with fear and much doubting remembring that He who worketh to will must work the deed also Phil. 2 13. and He that beginneth a good work will perfect it Phil. 1 6. 9. The soul essaying thus to beleeve in Christ's strength and to creep when it can not walk or run would hold fast what it hath attained and resolve never to recall any consent or half consent it hath given to the bargane but still look forward hold on wreastle against unbeleefe and unwillingnesse intertaine every good motion of the Spirit for this end and never admit of any thing that may quench its longings desires or exspectation Nay 10. If the sinner be come this length that with the bit willingnesse he hath he consenteth to the bargane is not satisfied with any thing in himself that draweth back or consenteth not with the little skill or strength he hath is writing downe his name and saying even so I take Him and is holding at this peremptorily resolving never to goe bake or unsay what he hath said but on the contrare is firmly purposed to adhere as he groweth in strength to grippe more firmly and adhere to Him he may conclude that the bargan is closed already and that he hath faith already for here ther is an accepting of Christ on his owne tearmes a reall consenting unto the covenant of grace though weak and not so discernable as the soul would wish The soul dar not say but it loveth the bargane and is satisfied with it and longeth for it and desireth nothing more than that it might partake thereof and enjoy Him whom it loveth hungereth for panteth after or breatheth as it is able that it may live in Him be saved through Him But Some will say If I had any evidence of God's approbation of this act of my soul any testimony of his Spirit I could then with confidence say that I had beleeved accepted of the covenant and of Christ offered therein but so long as I perceive nothing of this how can I suppose that any motion of this kinde in my soul is real faith For answere 1. We would know that our beleeving and God's sealing to our sense are two distinct acts and separable and oft separated our beleeving is one thing and God's sealing with the holy Spirit of promise to our sense is another thing and this followeth though not inseparably the other Eph. 1 13. In whom also after that yee beleeved yee were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise And so 2. We would know that Many a man may beleeve yet not know that he doth beleeve He may set to his seal that God is true in his offer of life through Iesus and accept of that offer as a truth and close with it and yet live under darknesse doubtings of his faith long many aday partly through not discerning the true nature of faith partly through the great sense and feeling of his owne corruption and unbeleefe partly through a mistake of the operations of the spirit within or the want of a clear distinct uptaking of the motions of his owne soul Partly because he findeth so much doubting and feare as if there could be no faith where there were doubting or fear contrare to Mark 9 24. Mat. 8 26. 14 31. Partly because he hath not that perswasion that others have had as if there were not various degrees of faith as there is of other graces the like Therefore 3. We would know that many may really beleeve and yet misse this sensible sealing of the Spirit which they would be at God may think it not yet seasonable to grant them that lest they forget themselves and become too proud and to traine them up more to the life of faith whereby He may be glorified and for other holy ends He may suspend the giving of this for a time 4. Yet we would know that all that beleeve have the seal within them 1. Iohn 5 10. He that beleeveth on the Son of God hath the witnesse in himself that is He hath that which really is a seal though he see it not nor perceive it not even the work of God's spirit in his soul inclining and determineing him unto the accepting of this bargan to a likeing of endeavouring after holinesse and the whole gospel clearing up what faith is is a seal confirmation of the businesse So that the matter is sealed and confirmed by the word though the soul want those sensible breathings of the Spirit sheding abroad his love in the heart and filling the soul with a full assurance by hushing all doubts and feares to the door yea though they should be a stranger unto the Spirits witnessing thus with their spirits that they are the children of God and clearning up distinctly the reall wotâ—… of grace within their soul and so saying in effect that they have in truth beleeved But enough of this seing all this and much more is abundantly held forth and explained inthat excellent usefull treatise of Mr. Guthries intituled The Christians great interest CHAP. V. How Christ is to be made use of as the VVay for Sanctification in generall HAving shown how a poor soul lying under the burden of sin wrath is to make use of Iesus Christ for righteousnesse justification and so to make use of Him goe out to Him and apply Him as He is made of God to us righteousnesse 1. Cor. 1 v. 30. and that but briefly this whole great businesse being more fully and satisfactoryly handled in thâ—…t fore mentioned great though small Treatise vix The Christians great Interest We shall now come and show how a beleever or a justified soul shall furder make use of Christ for Sanctification
for the breathings of his Spirit and open at his call least afterward they be put to call and seek and not attaine what they would be at as we see in the Spouse Cant. 5 2 3 4. 5 6. c. 7. They would also guaird against the quenching of the Spirit 1 Thes. 5 12. or greiving of the Spirit Ephes. 4 30. by their unchristian unsuteable carriage for this will much marre their sanctification It is by the Spirit that the work of sanctification is carryed on in the soul and when this Spirit is disturbed and put from his work how can the work go on When the motions of this indwelling Spirit are extinguished his work is marred and retarded and when He is grieved he is hindered in his work Therefore souls would guard against unbeleefe despondency unsuteable unchristian carriage c. 8. Especially they would beware of wasteing sinns Psal. 51 10. Sins against light and conscience such as David calleth presumptuous sinâ—… Psal. 19 13. They would beware also of favouring any known corruption or any thing of that kinde that may hinder the work of sanctification Secondly It were usefull and of great adâ—…antage for such as would grow in grace and advance in the way of holinesse to be living in the constant conviction 1. Of the necessity of holinesse without which no man shall see God Heb. 12 14. nothing entering in into the new Ierusalem that defileth Revel 21 27. 2. Of their owne inability to do any one act aright how they are not sufficient of themselvs to think any thing as of themselvs 2 Cor. 3 5. and that without Christ they can do nothing Iohn 15 5. 3. Of the insufficiency of any humane helpe or meanes or way which they may think good to choose to mortifie aright one corruption or to give strength for the right discharge of any one duty for our sufficiency is of God 2. Cor. 3 5. and it iâ—… through the Spirit that we must mortifie the deedâ—… of the body Rom. 8 13. 4. And of the treachery and deceitfulnesse of the heart which is bent to follow by wayes being not only deceitfull above all things but also desperatly wicked Ier. 17 9. That by this meanes the soul may be jealous of it self and despaire of doing any thing in its owne strength and so be fortified against that maine evill which is an enemy to all true sanctification viz confidence in the flesh Thirdly The soul would keep its eye fixed on those things 1. On Christ's alsufficiency to helpe in all cases that He is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7 v. 25. 2. On his compassionednesse to such as are out of the way and ready nesse to helpe poor sinners with his grace and strength and this will keep up the soul from fainting and dispaireing 3. On the commands to holinesse such as those cleanse your hands and purify your hearts Iam 4 8. and be ye holy for I am holy 1 Pet. 1 15 16. and the like That the authority of God and conscience to a command may set the soul a work 4. On the great recompense of reward that is appointed for such as wrestle on and endure to the end and on all the great promises of great things to such as are sanctified whereof the Scriptures are full that the soul may be encouraged to run thorow difficultyes to ride out stormes to endure hardnesse as a good souldier and to persevere in duty 5. On the other hand on the many sad threatnings and denunciations of wrath against such as transgresse his lawes and on all the sad things that such as shake off the fear of God and the study of holinesse have to look for of which the Scripture is full that by this meanes the soul may be keeped in awe and spurred forward unto duty and made the more willing to shake off Leazynesse 6. On the Rule the word of God by which alone we must regulate all our actions and this ought to be our meditation day and night and all our study as we see it was Davids and other holy men of God their dayly work See Psal. 1. and 119. Fourthly In all this study of holinesse and aimeing at an hiegher measure of grace the beleever would lavell at a right end and so would not designe holinesse for this end that he might be justified thereby or that he might thereby procure and purchase to himself heaven and God's favoure for the weight of all that must lie on Iesus Christ who is our Righteousnesse and our holinesse must not dethrone Him nor rob Him of his glory which He will not give to another But would study holinesse to the end he might glorifie God Father Son and holy Spirit and please Him who calleth to holinesse and thereby be made meet to be partaker of the Inheritance of the saints in light Col. 1 10 12. and be made a meet bride for such a holy bridegroome and a member to such an holy head that hereby others might be edified Mat. 5 16 1. Pet. 2 12. and 3 1 2. that the soul may look like a temple of the holy ghost and like a servant of Christ's bought with a price 1 Cor. 6 17 18 10. 20. And have a clear evidence of his regeneration and justification and also that he may expresse his thankfulnesse to God for all his favours and benefites Fiftly The soul would by faith lay hold on and grip fast to the ground of sanctification that is to say 1. To what Christ hath purchased for his people 2. To what as a publike person He hath done for them And so by faith 1. Challenge a right to and lay hold on the promises of grace strength victory and throw-bearing in their combating with corruption within and Satan and a wicked world without 2. Reckon themselves dead unto sin through the death of Christ and alive unto God through his resurrection Rom. 6 4 11. and that the old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed vers 6. and that they are now not under the law but under grace vers 14. That by this meanes they may be encouraged to continue fighting against a vanquished enemy and not give over notwithstanding of disappointments discouragements prevailings of corruption c. and the beleever may know upon what ground he standoth and what is the ground of his hope and exspectation of victory in end and so he may run not as uncertanely and so fight not as one that beateth the aire 1 Cor. 9 26. Sixtly In this work of sanctification the beleever would be much in the lively exercise of faith fight by faith advance by faith grow up and bring forth fruit by faith and so 1. The beleever would be oft renewing his grips of Christ holding Him fast by faith and so abideing in Him that he may bring forth fruit Iohn 15 4 5. 2. Not only would he be keeping his union fast with Christ but he
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
hence we are said to be chosen in him before the fundation of the world that we should be holy c. Ephes. â—… 4. and aâ—… dying for themâ—… for He gave himself son the church that He might sanctiâ—…y cleanse it that He might present it to himself a glorious church that it should be holy Ephes. 5 25 26 27. He hath reconciled them in the body of his flesh through death to present them holy Col. 1 21 22. So that the noble 〈◊〉 of Redemption may found the 〈◊〉 hope and expectation of the beleever upon â—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 First upon the account of the Fathers faithfulnesse who promised a seed to Iesus Viz. such as should be his children and so be sanctified through Him and that the pleasure of the Lord which in pâ—…rt iâ—… thâ—… work of sanctification should prosper in his hand And next upon the account of Christs undertaking and engaging as is said to bâ—…ing his sonâ—… and daughters to glory which must be through sanctification for without holinesse no man shall see God And they must look like himself who is a holy Head a holy Husband a holy Captane and therefore they must be holy members a holy spouse holy souldiers So that He standeth engaged to sanctifie them by his Spirit and word and therefore is called the Sanctifier Heb. 2 11. for both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one Yea their union with Christ layeth the foundation of this for being joyned to the Lord they become one Spirit 1 Cor. 6 17. and are animated and quickened by one the same Spirit of life and grace and therefore must be sanctified by that Spirit 10. The beleever likewise would act faith upon the promises of the new Covenant of grace strength life c whereby they shall walk in his wayes have Gods lawes put into their mindes and write into their hearts Heb. 8 10. Ier. 31 33. and of the new heart and new spirit and the heart of flesh and the Spirit within them to cause them walk in his wayes or statutes and keep his judgments and do them Ezech. 36 26 27. and the like wherewith the scripture aboundeth Because these are all given over to the beleever by way of Testament and legacy Christ becoming the mediator of the new Testament that by meanes of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternall inheritance Heb. 9 15. Noâ—… Christ by his death hath confirmed this Testament for where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death ' of the testatour for a Testament is of force after men are dead vers 16 17. Christ then dying to make the Testament of force hath made the legacy of the promises sure unto the beleever so that now all the promises are yea and amen in Christ 2 Cor. 1 20. He was made a minister of circumcision to confirme the promises made to the Fathers Rom. 15 8. That the eyeing of these promises by faith is a noble meane to sanctification is cleare by what the Apostle sayeth 2 Cor. 7 1. Having therefore these promises let us cleanse ourselves perfecting holinesse in the feare of God And it is by faith that those promises must be received Heb. 11 33. So that the beleever that would grow in grace would eye Christ the fundamentall promise the Testatour establishing the Testament and the excutor or dispensator of the covenant and exspect the good things through Him and from Him through the conduite and channell of the promises 11. Yet further beleevers would eye Christ iâ—… his Resurrection as a publick person and so look on themselves and reckon themselves as riseing virtually in and with Him and take the resurrection of Christ as a certane paune and pledge of their sanctification for so reasoneth the Apostle Rom. 6 4 5 11 13. we are buryed sayâ—…s He with him by baptisme into death that likeas Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 of life for we shall â—…e 〈◊〉 also in the likenesse of his resurrection and if we 〈◊〉 dead with Christ we beleeve that we shall also live with him therefore reckon ye also yourselves to be alive unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord and yeeld yourselves unto God as these that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousnesse unto God The right improving of this ground would be of noble advantage unto the student of holinesse for thence he might with strong confidence conclude that the work of sanctification should prosper in his hand for he may now look upon himself as quickened together with Christ Epes 2 5. Christ dying and riseing as a publick person and he by faith being now joyned with him and united to him 12. Moreover this Resurrection of Christ may yeeld us another ground of hope and confidence in this work for there is mention made of the power of his resurrection Phil. 3 10. So that by faith we may draw strength and vertue from Christ as an arisen and quickened Head whereby we also may live unto God and bring forth fruit unto him and serve no more in the oldnesse of the letter but in the newnesse of Spirit Rom. 7 4 6. He was quickened as an Head and when the head is quickened the members cannot but look for some communication of life therefrom and to live in the strength of the life of the head See Col. 3 1 2. 13. Faith may and should also look to Christ as an intercessor with the Father for this particular Iohn 17 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth and this will adde to their confidence that the work shall go on for Christ was alwayes heard of the Father Iohn 11 41 42. and so will be in this prayer which was not put up for these few disciples alone The beleever then would eye Christ as engadging to the Father to begin and perfect this work aâ—… dying to purchase the good things promised and to confirme the same as quickened and riseing aâ—… head and a publick person to ensure this work and to bestow and actually conferre the graces requisite and as praying also for the Fathers concurrence and cast the burden of the work on Him by faith knowing that He standeth obliged by his place and relation to his people to beare all their burthens to work all their works in them to perfect his owne work that He hath begun in them to present them to himself at last a holy bride to give them the Spirit to dwel in them Rom 8 9 11 and â—…o quicken their mortall bodyes vers 11. and to lead them vers 14. till at length they be crowned and brought forward to glory This is to live by faith when Christ liveth acteth and worketh in us by his Spirit Gal. 2 20. Thus Christ dwelleth in the
heart by faith and by this his people become rooted and grounded in love which is a cardinall grace and knowing the love of Christ which passeth knowledge they become filled with all the fulnesse of God Ephes. 3 17 19. So that the beleever is to commit by faith the work to Christ and leave the stresse of all the businesse on Him who is their life Yet the beleever must not think to do nothing nor to lay aside the means and ordinances but usâ—…ing these diligently would in them commit the matter to Christ and by faith roll the whole work on Him exspecting upon the ground of his relations engadgments promises beginnings c. that He will certanely perfect the work Phil. 1 6. and take it well off their hands and be well pleased with them for putting the work in his hands and leaving it on Him who is made of God to us sanctification Cautions As in the former part so here it will not be 〈◊〉 to give a few words of caution for preventing of mistakes 1. We would bewar of thinking that perfection can be attained here the perfect man and measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ is but coming and till then the body will but be a perfecting edifying through the work of the ministery Ephes. 4 12 13. Beleevers must not think of sitting down on any measure of grace which they attaine to here but they must be growing in grace going from strength to strengh till they appeare in the upper Zâ—…on with the Apostle Phil. 3 13. forgetting those things that are behinde and reaching forth unto those things which are before they must presse toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus It must then be a dreadful delusion for any to think that they can reach to such a degree of perfection here as not to stand in need of the ordinance any more Let all beleevers live in the constant convicton of their shortcoming and be humbled and so worke out their salvation with fear and trembling 2. Nor should every beleever exspect one and the same measure of holinesse nor can it be expected with reason that all shall advance here to the same height of sanctity for every part of the body hath its owne measure and an effectuall working in that measure and so every joint of the body supplieth lesse or more according to its proportion and contribureth to the increase of the body and to the edifying of it self in love as the Apostle cleaâ—…ly showeth Ephes. 4 16. As in the naturalâ—… body the diversity of functions and uses of the members requireth diversity of furniture strength so in the mysticall body of Christ the members have not all alike measure but each hath his proper distinct measure according to his place and usefulnesse in the body Beleevers then would learne much sobrâ—…ety here and submission knowing that God may dispense his graces as he will and give them to each member in what measure he thinketh good Only they would take heed that their poverty and leannesse be not occasioned through their own carelesnesse and negligence in not plying the meanes of grace with that faithfulnesse and single dependence on Christ that they ought 3. It would be remembered that there may be some progresse made in the way of holinesse when yet the beleever may apprehend no such thing not only because the measure of the grouth may be so small and indiscernable but also because even where the growth in it self is discernable the Lord may think it good for wise ends to hide it from their eyes that they may be keeped humble and diligent whileas if they saw how matters stood indeed with them they might without a new degree of grace swell and be puffed up yea even forget God and misken themselves and others too Likewise this may proceed from such an earnest desire after more that they forget any measure they have gotten and so despise the day of small things 4. There may be a progresse in holinesse though not in that particular which the beleever is most eying to his sense and apprehension for when he thinks he is not growing in Love to and Zeal for God c. he may be growing in Humility which is also a membâ—…r of the new man of grace and when he can perceive no grouth in Knowledge there may be a grouth in Affection Tendernesse And if the work be carryed on in any joynt or member it decayeth in none though it may be better apprehended in one than in another 5. There may be much holiness where the believer is compleaning of the want of fruits when under that dispensation of the Lord towards him he is made to stoup before the most high to put his mouth in the dust if so be there may be hope and pleasantly to submit to God's wise ordering without grudging or quarrelling with God for what He doth and to accept sweetly the punishment of his iniquity if he see guilt lying at the root of this dispensation Where there is a silent submission to the soveraigne only wise disposeing hand of God and the man is saying if he will not have me to be a frutefull tree in his garden nor to grow and flouriâ—…h as the palme tree Let me be a shrub only let me be keepâ—…d within the precincts of his garden that his eye may be upon me for good let me abide within his courts that I may behold his countenance there is grace and no small measure of grace To be an hired servant is much Luk 15 19. 6. But withall it would be observed that this gracious frame of soul that is silent before God under severall disappointments is accompanied with much singleness of heart in panting after more holiness and with seriousness and diligence in all commanded dutyes waiting upon the Lord who is their hope and their salvation in each of them and with mourning for their own sinfull accession to that shortcoming in their expectations 7. We would not think that there is no progress in Christianity or grouth in grace because it cometh not our way or by the instruments and meanes that we most expect it by possibly we are too fonde oâ—… some instruments and meanes that we preferre to others and we think if ever we get good it must be that way and by that meane be it private or publick and God may give a proof of his Soveraignity and check us for our folly By taking another way He would not be found of the Bride neither by her seeking of him secretly on her bed by night nor more publickly by going about the city in the streets and broad wayes nor by the meanes of the watchmen Cant. 3 1 2 3. 8. Nor would we think that there is no grouth in the work of grace because it cometh not at such or such a prelimited or fore-set time nor would we think the matter desperate because of
grace and holinesse and salvation to the beleever And whatever we be They will be true to each other our unbeleef will not make the faith of God of none effect 2. The consideration of the noble and faithfull promises contained in the covenant of Grace which shall be all made good in due time 3. If we be humbled under the sence of ouâ—… failings and shortcomings and made to mourne before the Lord and stirred up to more diligence and seriousnesse that may yeeld comfort to our soul. If we be growing in Humility godly Sorrow Repentance Diligence and be gripping faster by faith to the Root we want not ground of joy and support for if that be we cannot want fruit 4. It should be matter of joy and thanksgiving that the beleever is keeped from turning his back on the way of God aud keeped with his face still Zion-ward though he make but little progresse yet he is still looking forward and creeping as he may waiting at God's door begging and asking studying labouring and endeavouring for strength to go faster 5. It is no small matter of peace and comfort if we be keeped from fretting grudging and repineing at the Lords dispensations with us and be taught to sit silent in the dust adoreing His Soveraignity and ascribeing no iniquity to our maker CHAP. VIII How to make use of Christ for taking the guilt of our dayly out-breakings away THe next part of our sanctification is in reference to our dayly failings and transgressions committed partly through the violence of temptations as we see in David and Peter and other eminent men of God partly through dayly infirmities because of our weaknesse and imperfections for in many things we offend all Iam. 3 2. and if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us 1 Iohn 1 8. A righteous man falleth seven times Prov. 24 16. There is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Eccles. 7 20. and Solomon further sayeth 1 King 8 46. that there is no man that sinneth not This being so the question is how Christ is to be made use of for taking of these away For satisfaction to this it would be considered that in those dayly outbreakings there are two things to be noticed first there is the Guilt which is commonly called Reatus poenâ—… whereby the transgressour is liable to the sentence of the law or to the penalty annexed to the breach thereof which is no lesse then God's curse for cursed is every 〈◊〉 that abideth not in all things which are 〈◊〉 the law to do them Gal. 3 10. Next there is the â—…taine or blote which is called Reatus culpâ—… whereby the soul is defiled and made in so far incapable of glory for nothing entreth in there which defileth and of communion and fellowshipe with God who is of purer eyes then He can behold iniquity So that it is manifest how necessary it is that both these be taken away that they may not stand in ouâ—… way to the Father And as to both we must make use of Christ who is the only way to the Father And this we shall now cleare and first speak of the taking away of the Guilt that is contracted by every sin and for this cause we shall briefly speak to two things first Shew what Christ hath done as Mediator for this end that the guilt contracted by our dayly failings and outbreakings might be taken away Secondly shew what the beleever should do for the getting of guilt taken away in Christ or how he should make use of Christ for reconciliation with God after transgressions or for the taking away of the guilt that he lyeth under because of his violation of the law As to the first We say Christ for taking away of Guilt contracted dayly hath done these things 1. Christ laid downe his life a ransome for all the sinns of the Elect both such as were past before they beleeved and such as were to be committed after His blood was shed for the remission of sinâ—… indefinitly and without distinction Mat. 26 28 â—… And this was done according to the tenour of the covenant of Redemption wherein the Fatheâ—… caused all our sins to meet together on Him Esai â—…3 6. and made Him sin or a sacrifice for sin indefinitely 2 Cor. 5 21. and so did not except the sins committed after conversion 3. Having satisfiedjustice and being risen from the dead as a Conquerour He is now exalted to be a Prince to give Repentance and Remission of sins Act. 5 31. Now repentance and remission of sins his people have need of after conversion as well as before conversion 4. There are promises of pardon and remission of sins in the new covenant of Grace all which are sealed and confirmed in the blood of Jesus Ier. 31 34. for I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more and Chap. 33 8. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned against me and whereby they have transgressed against me Esai 43 25. I even I am he that bloteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins 5. Though there be no actuall pardon of sins till they be committed and repented of according to the tenor of the gospell Matth. 3 2. Luke 13 3. Act. 2 38. 8 22. yet while Christ beare all the sins of his people upon the crosse they were all then virtually and meritoriously taken away of which Christ's resurrection was a certane pledge and evidence for then gote He his acquittance from all that either law or justice could charge Him with in behalfe of them for whom He laid downe his life a ransome Rom. 8 33 34. who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died or rather that is risen againe c. 6. So that by vertue of Christ's death there is a way laid down in the covenant of grace how the sinns of the elect shall be actually pardoned viz. That at their conversion and first laying hold on Christ by faith all the sins whereof they then stand guilty shall be actually pardoned and forgiven in their justification and all their after sins shall also be actually pardoned upon their griping to Christ of new by faith and turning to God by repentance And this way is agreed to by Father and Son and revealed in the gospel for the instruction and encouragement of beleevers and all to the glory of his free grace In whom we have redemption sayeth the Apostle Ephes. 1 7 8 9. through his blood the forgivenesse of sins according to the riches of his grace wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure
which He purposed in himself 7. Beside Christ's Death and Resurrection which give ground of hope of pardon of dayly out-breakings there is likewise his Intercession usefull for this end for sayeth the Apostle Iohn 1 Epist. 2 1. 2. If any man sin we have an advocat with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous and He is the propitiation for our sins This intercession of his 〈◊〉 a special part of his Priesthood who was the great Highpriest Heb. 4 14 16. and a compleating Part Heb. 8 4 9 8. and upon this account 〈◊〉 that He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God through Him because He liveth for ever to make intercession for them Heb. 7 25. for by his intercession is the work of redemption carryed on the Purchased benefites applyed and particularly new grants of remission are through his intercession issued forth He pleading and interceeding in a way suteable to his glorified condition upon his death and propitiation made while he was upon the crosse accepted of the Father and declared to be accepted by his resurrection asoâ—…sion and sitting at the Fathers right hand And thus as beleevers are reconciled to God by Christs death they are saved by his life Rom. 5 10. So that Christ's living for to be an intercessour makes the beleevers salvation sure and so layeth down a ground for taking away of dayly outbreakings which if not taken away would hinder and obstruct the beleevers salvation 8. And as for the condition requisite to renewed pardon viz faith and Repentance Christ is the worker of both for He is a Prince exalted to give Repentance first and last Act. 4 30. and as He is the author of faith so He is the finisher of it Heb. 12 2. As to the second particular namely what beleevers should do for getting the guilt of their dayly failings and outbreakings taken away by Christ or how they should make use of Christ for this end I shall for clearing of it propose those things to consideration 1. We would beware to think that all our after actuall transgressions are actually pardoned either when Christ dyed or when we first beleeved in Christ as some suppose for sin cannot properly be said to be pardoned before it be committed David was put to sue out for pardon after his actuall transgression was committed and not for the mere sense and feeling of the pardon or the intimation of it to his Spirit when he cryed out Psal 51 2 blot out my transgressions wash me c. vers 9 hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities and vers 14. deliver me from blood guiltinesse Sure when he spoke thus he sought some other thing than intimation of pardon to his sense and conscience for that he desired also but in far more clear expressions vers 8. make me to hear joy and gladnesse c. and vers 12. restore unto me the joy of thy salvation c. Scripture phrases to expresse remission import this viz Covering of sin Pardoning of debts Blotting out of sins Hideing of God's face from sins not Remembering of them Casting of them behinde his back Casting of them into the sea Removing of sins Psal. 103 12. a lifting off of sin or Taking it away a Non-imputation of sin Psal. 33 1 2. These and the like phrases though many of them be metaphoricall yet do all of them clearly evince that sin must first have a being before it can be pardoned The same is clearly imported by the gospel conditions requisite before Pardon such as acknowledgment of sin 1 Ioh. 1 9. which we see was practised by the worthies of old David Psal. 32. 51. Nehemiah Cap. 9. Ezra Cap 9 Daniel Chap. 9. Confessing and Forsaking of it Prov. 28 13. Sorrowing for it Repenting of it and laying hold on Christ by faith c. The reason why I propose this is not only to guaird against this antinomian error but also to guaird the soul from security to which this doctrine hath a naturall tendency for if a person once think that all his sins were pardoned upon his first beleeving so that many of them were pardoned before they were committed he shall never be affected for his after transgressions nor complean of a body of death nor account himself miserable upon that account as Paul did Rom. 7 24. nor shall he ever pray for remission though Christ hath taught all to do so in that patern of prayer nor shall he act faith upon the promises of pardon made in the covenant of grace for after transgressions or for transgressions actually committed Ier. 31 34. 3â—… 8. Heb. 8 12. and so there shall be no use made of Christ for new pardons or remissions of new sins 2. The beleever would remember that among other things antecedently requisite to remission of posterior actuall transgressions gospel Repentence is especially required Luk. 13 3. Mat. 3 2. Ezeck 18 28 30 32. Luk. 15 17 18 Hoâ—… 2 6 7. Ezech. 14 6. whereby a Sinner through the helpe of the Spirit being convinced not only of his hazard by reason of sin but also of the filthinesse and hatefulnesse of sin and having a sight of the mercy of God in Christ Jesus to sinners turning from their sin doth turne from those sins unto God with a full purpose of heart in his strength to follow Him and obey his lawes and hereby the soul is brought to loath its self and sin and is made willing to desire seek for accept of and prize remission of sins This makes them more warry in time coming and carefull for behold sayes the Apostle 2 Cor. 7 11. This self same thing that yee sorowed after a godly sort what carefulnesse it wrought in you yea what clearing of yourselves what indignation yea what feare yea what vehement desire yea what Zeal yea what revenge c. Thus is God glorified in his justice Psal. 51 4. and his mercy is acknowledged in not entering with us into judgement nor casting us into hell as He might have done in justice 3. Yet it would be remembered that though it hath seemed good in the Lord's eyes to chuse this method and appoint this way of obtaining pardon of sins dayly committed for the glory of his grace and mercy and likewise for our good we must not ascribe too much unto Repentance in the matter of pardon we must not make it a cause of our remission either efficient or meritorious we must not think that it hath any hand in appeaseing the wrath of God or in satisfying of justice pardon must alwayes be an act of God's free grace unmerited at our hands procured alone through the merites of Christ we must not put repentance in Christ's room and place nor ascribe any imperfection unto his merites as if they needed any supply from any act of ours we must beware of leaning to our Repentance and godly Sorrow even so far as to think to
commend ourselves to God thereby that we may obtaine pardon 4. The beleever would consider seriously the dreadfulnesse of their condition who are lying under the lash of the law for sin The law sayeth cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the law and every sin is a transgression of the law so that acording to law and justice they are in hazard for evry sin in it self exposeth the sinner to eternal wrath sin being an offence against God who is a righteous judge and a breach of his law A right sight and apprehension of this would serve to humble the sinner before God and make him more earnest in seeking out for pardon that this obligation to punishment might be removed 5. The beleever would not only consider the sin it self but also take notice of all its Aggravations There are peculiar aggravations of some sins taken from the time manner and other circumstances which rightly considered will helpe forward the work of humiliation And the sins of beleevers have this aggravation above the sins of others that they are committed against more love and speciall Love and against more opposition and contradiction of the grace of God within the soul against more light and conviction c. and therefore their humiliation upon this account ought to be singular and serious So was it with David when he took notice of the speciall aggravations of his sin Psal. 51 4 6 14. and Ezra cap. 9. Nehemiah Cap. 9. and Daniel Cap 9. This considering of sin with its due aggravations would helpe to prize mercy at an high rate and cause the soul more willingly waite for and more seriously seek after Remission knowing that God is more angry for great sins than for sins of infirmity and may therefore pursue the same with sorer judgments as He broke David's bones withdrew his comforts c. 6. The beleever would be convinced of an impossibility of doing any thing in himself which can procure pardon at the hands of God should he weep cry afflict himself pray never so all will do nothing by way of merite for the taking away of the least sin that ever he commited and the conviction of this would drive him to despaire in himself and be a meane to bring him cleanly off himself and to look out for mere mercy in Christ Jesus So long as through the deceitfulnesse of Satan the false heart inclineth to the old byas and hath its eye upon any thing in it self from whence it draweth its hops and expectation of pardon and acceptance it will not purely act faith on Christ for this end and so he will lose all his labour and in end be disappointed Therefore the beleever would guard against this and that so much the more that the false deceitful heart is so much inclined thereto and that this deceit can sometime work so cuningly that it can hardly be discerned being fairded over with many false glosses and pretexts and that it is so dishonourable to Jesus and hurtful and prejudicial to the soul. 7. The beleever would act faith on the promises of pardon in the new covenant as having a right to them through Jesus Christ and challenge with humble boldnesse the fulfilling of the same according to that 1. Ioh. 1 9 If we confesse our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins So that the beleever may not only take hold of mercy and grace in God as an incouragement and invitation to go to God for pardon but even of the justice and righteousnesse of God because of his faithful promises and the beleever would have here a speciall eye to Christ in whom all the promises are yea and amen and look for the accomplishment of them through Him and for his sake alone 8. Faith would eye Christ as hanging upon the crosse and offering up himself through the eternall Spirit a sacrifice to satisfie divine justice for all the sins of his own chosen ones we cannot think that Christ bare but some of their sins or only their sins committed before conversion and if he bare all as the Father laid all upon Him the beleever is to lay hold on Him by faith as hanging on the crosse as well for taking away of the guilt of sins committed after conversion as before His sacrifice was a sacrifice for all and He bare our sins without distinction or exception in his owne body on the tree 1. Pet. 2 24. David had his eye on this when he cryed out Psal. 51 7. purge me with hysope hysope being sometimes used in the legall purifications which typified that purification which Christ really wrought when He gave himself a sacrifice for sin Levit. 14 6. Num. 19 18. 9. The beleever looking on Christ dying as a Mediator to pacifie the wrath of God and to make satisfaction to the justice of God for the sins of his people would renew his consent unto that gracious and wise contriveance of heaven of pardoning sins through a crucified Mediator that mercy and Justice might kisse each other and be glorified together and declare againe his full satisfaction with Christ's satisfying of justice for him and taking away the guilt of his sins by that blood that was shed upon the crosse by taking those sins whereof now he standeth guilty and for which he is desireous of pardon and by faith nailing them to the crosse of Christ and rolling them on his shoulders that the guilt of them as well as of the rest might be taken away through the merites of his death and satisfaction Thus the beleever consenteth to that noble act of free grace whereby the Lord made all our sins to meet together on Christ when he taketh those particular sins wherewith now he is troubled and casteth them in into the heape that Christ as the true scape-goat may carry all away This is to lay our hands on the head of our sacrifice 10. The beleever hath another ground of comfort to grippe to in this case and that is Christ's eternall Priesthood whereby he makes intercession for the transgressions of his people and as their advocate and atturnay with the father pleadeth their cause whereby he is able to save them to the last and uttermost step of their jurnay and so to save them from the guilt of all casuall and emergent sins that might hinder their salvation So that the beleever is to put those sins that now he would have pardoned into the hands of Christ the everlasting intercessour and alsufficient advocat that He by vertue of his death would obtaine a new pardon of these their failings and transgressions and deliverance from the guilt thereof and their acceptance with the Father notwithstanding of these transgressions 11. Thus beleevers eyeing Christ as Dying Riseing againe Ascending and as Sitting at the Fathers right hand there to be a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck and to interceed for his owne and to see to the application of
with clouds and doubteth of its interest in Christ it would then put it out of doubt by fleeing to Him for refuge from the storme of God's indignation and lay hold on Him as He is offered in the gospel and thus renew its grips of Him as the offered alsufficient Mediator and frequent direct acts of faith will helpe at length to a reflex act The soul that is daylie running to Christ according to the covenant with all its necessities and laying hold on Him as only able to helpe will at length come to see that it hath beleeved on Him and is made welcome by Him and accepted through Him So that rëterated acts of faith on an offered Cautioner and Salvation will dispel at length those clouds of darknesse that trouble the soul. 7. Such souls would beware of making their bands stronger and their darkness greater by their â—…olly and unwise carriage for this cause they would beware 1. To cry out in despondency of Spirit as if there were no hope and to conclude peremptorily that they are cut off and it is in vaine to waite any longer for this course will but darken them more and multiply the clouds over their head 2. To run away from Christ through unbeleef and dispaire for that will make their case yet worse 3. To walk untenderly and not circumspectly for the moe sins appear the lesse light will be had O but souls would be tender in all their conversation at that time and guaird against the least sin or appearance of evill 4. To fret and repine against God because of that dispensation for that will but entangle the soul more and wreath the yock straiter about its neck and put it self furder out of case to be relieved and to receive light 8. Lastly such would do well not to limite the holy one of Israel but to waite with patience till his time come to speak-in light to the soul knowing that such as waite upon Him shall never be ashamed Esai 49 23. because He waiteth to be gracious and therefore blessed are they all that waite upon him Esai 30 18. Quest. But what if for all this I get no outgate but my distress and darkness rather grow upon my hand Ans. That such a thing may be I grant the Lord thinking it fit 1. To exercise their faith dependence patience hope and desire more 2. And to discover more unto them their own weakness faintings faithlesness 3. To shew his absolute power and soveraignity 4. To make his grace and mercy more conspicuous remarkeable at length and. 5. To traine them up in away of dependence on him in the dark and of leaning to him when walking in darknesse yea and in a way of beleeving when they think they have no faith at all and for other holy ends Yet the soul would not despond for there are several things that may serve to support and beare up the heart even in that case as 1. This is not their case alone Others have been in the like before and many have had the like complaints in all ages as is known to such as have been acquanted with exercised souls 2. It may yeeld peace and comfort to know that they are about duty when looking to Him and depending upon Him and waiting for his light 3. The promises made to such as waite for Him may support the soul and yeeld comfort 4. The distinct knowledge and uptaking of their condition though it be comfortable and refreshing yet itis not absolutely necessary A soul may be a saved soul though those clouds should continue to its dying day and though as long as they lived they should never get a clear discovery of their gracious state but spend their dayes in mourning complaineing and crying out of darknesse c. 5. Such a soul should think that its much that he is keeped out of hell so long and sure the thoughts of what he is and of what he doserveth may make him sober and not to think much though he reach not so high as to see his name written in the book of life 6. They would know that full assurance of hope and of faith is but rare and even such as have it do nor ordinarily keep it long So that it should not much trouble them if after all their paines they cannot win at it 7. If they win to any real ground of hope how small so ever they should think much of that for many dear to Christ live long and never know what so much is 8. It is no small matter that they are not sincking in the gulfe of inconsideration and plagued with an indifferency in these matters but are made to value Christ and an interest in Him at such a rate 9. Their going to Christ with all their wants laying all on Him and their making that their daylie exercise may keep up their hearts from fainting yea and fill their souls with joy for that is really the exercise of faith And the great and gracious promises are made to such as beleeve and not to such only as know they do beleeve I grant such as know not that they do beleeve cannot draw comfort from these promises yet it is as true that one may by reflecting on the actings of his own soul see and know that really he is going out to Christ forsaking himself casting his burden on Him waiting and depending upon Him when yet he will not say that he doth beleeve and when he seeth this working of soul toward Christ he is obliged to beleeve that he beleeveth and thereupon rejoyce in the hope of the great promises And however the very sight and knowledge of this acting and motion of soul may give them some comfort though they shall not take it for faith because it is the way of duty and it is the thing which the gospel calleth for and because they cannot show an instance of any one soul that did so and perished But the truth is the right understanding of the nature of faith would cleare many doubts and prevent many questions I come to speak a little to the last case which I shall handle which is CHAP. XVIII How we shall make use of Christ as the Truth that we may win to right and suteable thoughts of God This is a case that much troubleth the people of God They cannot get right and sutable thoughts of God which they earnestly desire to have nor know not how to win at them And certane it is He only who is the Truth and came out of the bosome of the Father can helpe here Therefore for our use making of Him for this end It would be remembered 1. That the minde of man through the fall is nothing but a masse of ignorance and blindenesse that the understanding is darkned Ephes. 4 17 18. And naturally we are in darknesse 1 Iohn 2 9 11. Yea under the power of darknesse Col. 1 13. And which is more our mindes naturally are filled with prejudice
hear 10. This life is eminently and transcendently in Him and exclusively of all others Itis in Him and in Him alone and itis in Him in a most excellent manner So that He is the Life in the abstract not only a living head and an enlivening head but Life it self the Life the Resurrection and the Life CHAP. XX. Some general uses BEfore we come to speak of some particular cases of deadnesse wherein beleevers are to make use of Christ as the Life we shall first propose some useful consequences and deductions from what hath been spoken of this life and. First The faith of those things which have been mentioned would be of great use and advantage to beleevers and therefore they should study to have the faith of this truth fixed on their hearts and a deep impression thereof on their spirits to the end that 1. Be their case and condition what it will they might be keeped from dispaire and despondency of spiâ—…it from giving over their case as hopless and from looking upon themselves as irremediably gone The faith of Christs being Life and the Life would keep up the soul in hope and cause it say how dead so ever my case be yet Life can help me and He who is the resurrection and the Life can recover me 2. Yea be their case and condition what it wil they would have here some ground of encouragement to goe to Him with their dead soul and to look to Him for helpe seing He is the Life as mediator to the end He might enliven and quicken his dead fainting swooning members and to recover them from their deadness 3. They might be freed from many scruples and objections that scar and discourage them This one truth beleeved would cleare up the way so as that such things as would have been impediments and objections before shall evanish and be rolled out of the way now such as are the objections taken from their own worthlesness their long continuance in that dead condition and the like 4. They might hereby likewise be freed from that dreadful plagâ—…e and evil of jealousie whereby the soul is oft keeped aback from comeing to Christ for they feare He will not make them welcome they doubt of his love and tendernesse and questione his pity and compassion yea their jealousie maketh them to doubt of his faithfulnesse So that the faith of this truth would cure this jealousie and deliver the soul therefrom and open a way for the soul to come forward with boldnesse and confidence 5. They might also be hereby helped to waite with patience and to be still and quiet under the Lord 's various dispensations so as they would not frete nor repine against him knowing that He would prove himself to be Life even the Life in his own good time so that the soul would paitiently waite at his door till He were pleased to look out and with his look convey life in to their dead soul. 6. They might be preserved hereby from looking out to or expecting any help from any other arth knowing that He alone is the Life and so that help can no where else be had The faith of this truth would guaird from many sinistrous wayes which the soul in a time of straite is ready to run to for reliefe for hereby would it see that neither instruments nor meanes nor outward administrations nor any thing of that kinde can quicken their dead soul and that He and He alone must breathe in life into them as at first so now againe Secondly May we not see and observe here great matter of admiration at the goodnesse and rich bounty of God towards his people who hath found out and condescended upon such a sure saife and satisfying way whereby he becometh all things to his â—…ple which they stand in need of and that notwithstanding 1. That we are most unworthy of any such dispensation of grace at his hands 2. That we too oft are too desirous of other guests in our hearts beside Him O How much corruption sin and death lodge we within our souls and how more desirous are we oftimes of death than of life 3 That we little improve the noble advantages for life which we have granted unto us yea many a time we abuse them and this He did foresee and yet notwithstanding would condescend thus unto us 4. That we do little expresse our thankfulnesse for such mercies But not for our sakes hath He done this but for his owne names sake for noble and holy ends hath He resolved upon this course as 1. That He might be all and in all Col. 3 11. and they nothing That He alone might fill all in all Ephes. 1. ult and they be empty nothing without Him 2. That He might weare the glory of all for of Him and through Him and to Him are all things Rom. 11. last and that no man might share therein 3. That Man might be His everlasting debtor and cast downe in testimony thereof his crowne at His feet who sitteth on the throne as those did Revel 4 10. and might câ—…y out with these same elders vers 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory honour and power c. and with those Chap. 5 12. worthy is the lamb that was staine to receive power and riches and wisdome and strength honour and glory and blessing 4. That mans mouth might be stopped forever and all boasting excluded for man is a proud creature and ready to boast of that which is nothing and vanity Now God hath chosen this noble way of the covenant of grace that man might boast no more Where is boasting then It is excluded By what law by the law of works no but by the law of faith sayeth the Apostle Rom. 3 vers 24. 5. That all might be sure to the poor chosen beleever The Lord will not have the stock of life any longer to be in mans own hand for even Adam in the state of innocency could not use it well but made shipewrack thereof and turned a bankerupt much more would man now do so in this state of sin in which he lyeth at present therefore Hath God out of love and tendernesse to his chosen ones put all their stock in the hand of Christ who is better able to manage it to God's glory and mans advantage being faithful in all things and a trusty servant having the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelling in Him bodyly Therefore sayeth the Apostle Rom. 4 16. It is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promises might be sure to all the seed 6. That beleevers might have strong consolation notwithstanding of all the opposition of enemies without and within when they see that now their life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3 3. and that their life is in their Head they will not feare so much devils and men without nor their own dead and corrupt hearts within Thirdly How inexcuseable must all such be
That they should live in the faith of this That there is life enough in Him who is the Life to do their businesse They should be perswaded of His alsufficiency 3. That He is not only an alsufficient deliverer able to deliver a soul that is as it were rotting in the grave and to cause the dead to heare his voice and live but also most willing and ready to answere them in all their necessities according to wisdome and as He seeth it is for his glory and their souls advantage The faith of this is necessary and will be very encourageing 4. That they should go to Him how dead-like so ever their condition be and by faith roll their dead case upon Him who is the Life 5. That they should pray upon the promises of grace and influence even out of the belly of hell or of the grave with Ionah Cap. 2 2. for He is faithful and true and tender hearted and will heare and give a good answer at length 6. That in the exercise of faith and prayer they should waite with patience till He be pleased to come and breath upon the dry bones and till the â—…un of righteousnesse arise on their souls with healing 〈◊〉 his wings But of this more particularly in the following cases which now we come to speak a little unto of purpose to cleare up more fully how the beleever is to make use of Christ as the Life when he is under some one distemper or other that calleth foâ—… life and quickening from Christ the Life We cannot handle distinctly all the particular cases which may be brought under this head it will suffâ—… for clearing of this great duty to speak to some few CHAP. XXI How to make use of Christ as the Life whâ—… the beleever is so sitten-up in the wayes of God that he can do nothing SOmetimes the beleever is under such a distemper of weaknesse and deadnesse that there is almost no commanded duty that he can go about his heart and all is so dead that he cannot so much as groan under that deadnesse Yea he may be undâ—… such a decay that little or no difference will be observed betwixt him and others that are yet in nature and be not only unable to go actively and livelily about commanded duties yea or to 〈◊〉 astle from under that deadnesse but also be so dead that he shall scarce have any effectual desirâ—… or longing to be out of that condition Now in speaking to the use making of Christ foâ—… quickening in this dead case we shall do thoâ—… things 1. For clearing of the case we shall shew how probably it is brought on 2. How Christ is life to the soul in such a case as this 3. How the beleever is to make use of Christ for life in this case and 4. Further cleare the matter by answering a question or two As to the first Such a distemper as this may be brought upon the soul 1. Through some strong and violent temptation from without meeting with some evil disposition of the heart within and so surprizeing overpowering the poor soul as we see in David Peter 2. Through the cunning and slight of Satan stealing the beleever that is not watchful enough insensibly off his feet and singing him asleep by degrees 3. Through carelesnesse in not adverting at first to the beginnings and first degrees of this deadnesse and upsiting when the heart beginneth to grow formal and superficial in duties and to be satisfied with a perfunctorious performance without life and sense 4. Through thortureing of conscience in light â—…nd smaller matters for this may provock God to â—…et conscience fall a sleep so the soul shall become more untender and scruple little at length at greater matters and thus deadnesse may come to an hieght God ordering it so for a further punishment to them for their untendernesse and uncircumspectnesse 5. Through their not stirring up themselves and shaking off that Spirit of lazinesse and drousinesse when it first ceaseth upon them but with the sluggard yet another slumber another sleep and a folding of the hands to sleep 6. Continuing in some known sin and not repenting of it may bring on this distemper as may be observed in David As to the Second particular Christ is life to the soul in this case in that 1. He keepeth possession of the soul for the seed remaineth the root abideth fast in the ground there is life still at the heart though the man make no motion like one in a deep sleep or in a swoon yet life is not away 2ly He is due time awakeneth and rouzeth up the soul so recovereth it out of that condition by one meane or other either by some alarme of judgment and terror as He did David or dispensation of mercy and tenderness as He did Peter And usually He recovereth the soul 1. By discovering something of this condition by giving so much sense and knowledg and senâ—…ing so much light as will let the soul see that it 〈◊〉 not well and that it is under that distemper of lifelesness 2. By discovering the dreadfulness of such a condition and how hazardous it is to countinue therein 3. By puting the soul in minde that He 〈◊〉 the Life and the resurrection and through thâ—… stirring up of grace airting the soul to look to Him for quickening and outgate 4. By raseing up the soul at length out of that drouziness and sluggish folding of the hands to sleep and out of that deep security and putting it into a more lively vigilent and active frame As to the Third The beleever that would make use of Christ for a recovery out of this condition would minde those duties 1. He would look to Christ as the light of Men and the enlightner of the blinde to the end he may get a better and a more through discovery of of his condition for it is halfe health here to be sensible of this disease The soul that is once brought to sense is halfe recovered of this feaver and lethargie 2. He would eye Christ as God able to cause the dead and dry bones to live as Ezech. 37. and this will keep from despondency and despaire yea it will make the poor beleever conceive hope when he seeth that his physitian is God to whom nothing is impossible 3. He would look to Him also as Head and Husband an Life to the poor soul that adhereth to Him and this will strengthen his hope expectation for he will see that Christ is ingadged to speak so in point of honour to quicken a poor dead and lifeless member for the life in the head is for the good of the whole body and of every member of the body that is not quite cut off and the good that is in the husband is forthcoming foâ—… the reliefe of the poor wife that hath not yet gotten a bill of divorce And Christ being Life the Life he must be appointed for the
master usher to the poor soul to lead him in to the Father so that by him we have accesse Ephes. 2 18. yea boldnesse and accesse through faith in Him Ephes. 3 12. and He is our advocate 1. Iohn 2 1. and as our atturnay is gone to heaven before us and there liveth for ever to make intercession Heb. 6 20 7 25. And what is there more to be done to procure us accesse or to move encourage us to come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtaine mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of need Heb. 4 14 16. 6. As to that want of freedome and liberty in prayer He helpeth that also for He maketh the dumb to sing Esa. 35 6. and maketh the tongue of the stammerers to be ready to speak elegantly Esai 32 4. He can enlairge the heart and help the soul to pour-out its heart before God 7. As to outward persecution He can easily take that discouragement away by giving the hundereth fold with it by supporting under it and bringing saife thorow it when his presence is with them through fire and water Esa. 43 2. what can trouble them and when he maketh their consolations abound 2 Cor. 1 5. what can discourage them Have not his sung in the very fires and rejoyced in all their afflictions The resting of the Spirit of God and of glory which Peter speaketh of 1 Pet. 4 14. is comfortable enough 8. As for all those sharpe dispensations mentioned in the last place He having taken the sting of all even of death away by taking away sin and purchased the blessing and love of the Father having made reconciliation through his blood all those dispensations flow from love even such as seem sharpest being inflicted for sin as we see Heb. 12 6. So that there is no cause here of fainting or of being so discouraged as to give over the matter But for helpe in this case there should be an use making of Jesus as the Life and that is The third thing which we shall speak a little to viz How the soul should make use of Christ as the Life to the end it may be delivered from this fainting occasioned through manifold discouragements 1. The beleever in this case would minde the covenant of Redemption wherein Christ hath promised and so standeth obliged and engaged to carry on his own through all discouragements to the end so that if any one beleever miscarry Christ loseth more than they can lose for the beleever can but lose his soul but Christ shall lose his glory and this is more worth than all the souls that ever were created And further not only shall Christ lose his glory as Redeemer But the Father shall also lose his glory in not making good his promise to Christ his Son for by the same covenant He standeth engaged to carry thorow all the seed that Christ hath died for And his appointing Christ to be his servant for this end and chooseing Him from among all the folk and his upholding of Him concurring with him delighting in Him and promiseing that He shall bring forth judgment to the gentiles and that to victory or to truth speak out His engadgment to see all true beleevers brought home See Esai 42 1 2 3 4. Mat. 12 17 18 19 20 21. Psal. 89 19 20 21 28 29 35 36 37. Sâ—…re the faith of this would support the poor beleever under all those discouragements 2. They would minde likewise the covenant of Grace wherein all things are contrived and laid downe so as that the beleever may have abundant consolation and comfort in all cases and wherein there is enough to take away all cause of fainting discouragement as might fully be made to appeare if any did questione it 3. They would remember how richly Christ is furnished with all qualifications suiteing even that case wherein they are like to be overwhelmed with discouragements and could the beleever but think upon and beleeve those three things he might be keeped-up under all discouragements first That Christ is a compassionate tender-hearted mediator having bowels more tender than the bowels of any mother so that He will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax Esai 42 3. He had compassion on the very bodies of the multitude that followed him and would not let them go away fasting lest they should fainte in the way Mat. 15 32. Mark 8 3. and will He not have compassion on the soules of his followers when like to faint through spiritual discouragements Secondly That He hath power and authority to command all things that can serve to carray-on a poor beleever for all power in Heaven and Earth is given to Him all things are made subject to Him Thirdly That He hath a great readinesse and willingnesse upon many accounts to helpe his followers in their necessities Sure were these three firmly believed the beleever could not â—…aint having Christ who is tender and loving willing to helpe and withall able to do what he will to look to and to run to for supply 4. They would take up Christ under all his heart-strengthening and soul comforting relations as a tender Brother a careful Shepherd a fellow-feeling Highpriest a loving Husband a sympathizing Head a life-communicating Root an alsufficient King c. any one of which is enough to beare up the head and comfort the heart of a drouping discouraged and fainting soul much more may all of them yeeld strong consolation to support revive a soul staggering and fainting through discouragement Oh! if wee could but rightly improve and dwell upon the thoughts of these comforting and heart-quickening relations our hearts would not fail us so much as they do 5. They would eye Him as now in glory who as Head and Captaine of salvation hath wreastled through and overcome all difficulties and discouragments that were in his way and in name and behalf of all beleevers that are his followers and members of his body is now possessed of glory and thence draw an heart-comforting and soul-strengthening conclusion thus Is He entered into glory as Head than such a poor faint hearted heart-brocken discouraged worme as I am may at length come there as a little bit of his body especially since He said that seing He liveth all his shall live also Ioh. 14 19. 6. They would remember how Christ who was alwayes heard of his Father Iohn 11 41 42. did supplicat for this as Mediator and Intercessor for his people Iohn 17 24. saying Father I will thâ—… they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am c. May not the poor faint-hearted believer that is looking to Iesus draw an heart-reviveing soul encouraging conclusion out of this say Though my prayers be shote out and when I cry for reliefe under my discouragements I get no hearing but on the contrary my discouragements grow and my heart fainteth the more yet Christ alwayes was heard and
parlying too much and too readyly with Satan Eva's practice might be a warning sufficient to us 5. Not living in the sight of their wants and of their dayly necessity of Christ nor acting faith upon Him dayly for the supplying of their wants and when faith is not used it may contract rust and be weakned and come at length not to be discerâ—…ed 6. Intertaining of jealous thoughts of God and harkening too readyly to any thing that foster and increase or confirme these 7. Not delighting themselves in and with pleasure dwelling on the thoughts of Christ of his offices of the gospel and promises so that these come at length to lose their beauty and glory in the soul and have not the lustre that once they had and this doth open a door to much mischiefe 8. In a word not walking with God according to the gospel provoketh the Lord to give them up to themselves for a time We come now to the Third particular which is to show How Chist is life to the poor soul in this case And for the clearing of this consider 1. That Christ is the author and finisher of faith Heb 12 2. and so as He did rebuke unbeleef at the first he can rebuke it againe 2. That He is the great Prophet clearing up the gospel and every thing that is necessary for us to know bringing life and immortality to light by the gospel 2 Tim. 1 11. and so manifesting the lustre and beauty of the gospel 3. He bringeth the promises home to the soul in their reality excellency and truth being the faithful witness and the Amen Revel 3 14. and the confirmer of the promises so that they are all yea and Amen in him 2 Cor. 1 20. And this serveth to establish the soul in the faith and to shoot-out thoughts of unbeleefe 4. So doth He by his Spirit dispel the mists clouds which Satan through unbeleef had raised in the soul. 5. And thereby also rebuketh those mistakes of God and prejudices at Him and his wayes which Satan hath wrought there through corruption 6. He discovereth himself to be a ready help in time of trouble the hope and anchor of salvation Heb. 6 19 and a Priest living for ever to make intercession for poor sinners Heb. 7 25. 7. And hereby he cleareth up to the poor soul a possibility of helpe and reliefe and thus rebuketh dispaire or preventeth it 8. He manifesteth himself to be the maâ—…ow and substance of the gospel and this maketh every line thereof pleasant and beautiful to the soul and so freeth them from the prejudices that they had at it 2. So in manifesting himself in the gospel he revealeth the Father that the soul cometh to the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4 6. and this saveth the soul from atheisme 10. When the soul cannot grippe Him nor look to Him yet He can look to the soul and by his look quicken and revive the soul and warme the heart with love to Him and at length move and incline it sweetly to open to Him And thus grippe and hold fast a lost sheep yea and bring it home againe But what should a soul do in such a case To this which is the Fourth particular to be spoken to I answere 1. They would strive against those evils formerly mentioned which procured or occasioned this distemper a stop should be put to these malignant humors 2. They would be careful to lay againe the foundation of solide knowledge of God and of his glorious truthes revealed in the gospel and labour for the faith of God's truth and veracity for till this be nothing can be right in the soul. 3. They would be throughly convinced of the treacherie deceitfulnesse and wickednesse of their hearts that they may see it is not worthie to be trusted and that they may be jealous of it and not hearken so readyly to it as they have done especially seing Satan can prompt it to speak for his advantage 4. They would remember also that it is divine helpe that can recover them and cause them grippe to the promises and lay hold on them of new againe as well as at the first and that of themselves they can do nothing 5. In useing of the meanes for the recovery of life they would eye Christ and because this eyeing of Christ is faith and their disease lyeth most there they would do as the Israelits did who were stung in the eye with the serpents they looked to the brazen serpent with the wounded and stung eye so would they do with a sickly and almost dead faith grip Him and with an eye almost put out and made blinde look to Him knowing how ready He is to help and what a tender heart He hath 6. And to confirme them in this resolution they would take a new vieu of all the notable encouragements to beleeve wherewith the whole gospel aboundeth 7. And withal fix on Him as the only author and finisher of faith 8. And in a word They would cast a wonderderfully unbeleeving and atheistical soul on Him who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working and is wonderful in mercy and grace and in all his wayes And thus may He at length in his own time and in the way that will most glorify Himself raise up that poor soul out of the grave of infidelity wherein it was stincking and so provâ—… Himself to be indeed the resurrection and the life to the praise of the glory of his grace We come now to speak to another case which is CHAP. XXV How Christ is to be made use of as the life by one that is so dead and senselesse as he cannot know what to judge of himself or his own case except that it is naught WE spoke something to this very case upon the matter when we spoke of Christ as the Truth Yet we shall speak alittle to it here but shall not enlarge particulars formerly mentioned and therefore we shall speak alittle to those five particulars and so 1. Shew what this distemper is 2. Shew whence it proceedeth and how the soul cometh to fall into it 3. Shew how Christ as the life bringeth about a recovery out of it 4. Shew how the soul is to be exercised that it may obtaine a recovery and 5. Answere some Questions or Objections As to the first Beleevers many times may be so dead as not only not to see and know that they have an interest in Christ and to be uncertaine what to judge of themselvs but also be so carried away with prejudices and mistakes as that they will judge no otherwayes of themselves than that their case is naught yea and not only will'deny or mis-call the good that God hath wrought in them by his Spirit but also reason themselves to be out of the state of grace and a stranger to faith and to the workings of the Spirit and hereupon will come to call
all delusions which some time they had felt and seen in themselves which is a sad distemper and which grace in life would free the soul from This proceedeth which is the second particular partly from God's hideing of his face and changing his dispensations about them and compassing them with clouds and partly from themselves and their owne mistakes as 1. Judging their state not by the unchangable rule of truth but by the outward dispensations of God which change upon the best 2. Judging their state by the observable measure of grace within them and so concludeing their state bad because they observe corruption prevailing now and then and grace decaying and they perceive no victory over temptations nor grouth in grace c. 3. Judging also their state by others and so they suppose that they cannot be beleevers because they are so unlike to others whom they judge true beleevers This is also to judge by a wrong rule 4. Judging themselves by themselves that is because they look so unlike to what sometimes they were themselves they conclude that their state cannot be good which is also a wrong rule to judge their State by 5. Beginning to try and examine their â—…ase and State and comeing â—…o no close or issue so that when they have done they are as uncleare and uncertaine what to judge of themselves as when they began or 6. Taking little or no paines to try themselves seriously as in the sight of God but resting satisfied with a superficial trial which can come to no good issue 7. Trying and examineing but through the slight of Satan and because pitching upon wrong marks comeing to no good issue but condemning themselves without ground 8. There is another thing which occasioneth this misjudging to wit the want of distinctnesse and clearnesse in covenanting with Christ and the ignorance of the nature of true saving faith As to the third particular How Chist is Life to the beleever in this case I Answere Christ manifesteth himself to be life to the soul in this case 1. By sending the Spirit of life that Enlighteneth Informeth Perswadeth and Sealeth 2. By actuating grace so in the soul that it manifesteth it self and evidenceth it self to be there as the heate and burning of a fire will discover it self without other toakens The fourth particular to wit how the soul should be exercised or how it should imploy Christ for an outgate out of this hath been abundantly cleared above where we shewed that beleevers in this case would 1. Be frequent in griping Christ and closeing with Him as their alsufficient Mediator and faith thus frequently acting on Him may discover it self at length 2. Look to Christ that hath eye salve and is given for a witnesse 3. Keep grips fast of Him though they be in the dark and walk on griping to Him 4. Keep love towards Him and his working and in exercise 5. Beg of Him to cleare up their state by his Spirit explaining the true marks of grace and discovering the working of grace in the soul. But it will be said and so I come to the last particular what if after all this I remaine as formerly as unable to judge aright of my State as ever Ans. Yet thou would continue griping Christ loving Him looking to Him casting a lost dead soul with all thy wants upon Him and minde this as thy constant work Yea thou would labour to be growing in these direct acts of faith and learne to submit to God herein knowing that those reflect acts are not absolutely necessary and that thou should think it much if He bring thee to heaven at length though covered with a cloud all thy dayes Obj. 2. But others get much more clearnesse Ans. I grant that yet know that every one geteth not clearnesse and such as have it have it not in the same measure and must God give thee as much as He giveth to any other What if thou could not make â—…hat use of it that others do but wax proud thereby and forget thy self Therefore it will be best to give God liberty to dispense his favours as He will and that thou be about â—…hy commanded duty the exercise of faith Love Feare Patience c. Obj. 3 But if at any time I gote a sight of my case it would be some peace and satisfaction â—…o me Ans. I grant that what knowest thou but â—…hou may also get that favour ere thou die Why â—…hen will thou not waite his leasure Obj. 4. But the want of it in the mean time maketh me go heartlesly and discouragedly about â—…ommanded duties and maketh that I cannot apply things distinctly to my self Ans. Yet the word of command is the same â—…he offer is the same and the encouragement is the same why then should not thou be going â—…on leaning to Christ in the wildernesse even though thou want that comfortable sight Obj. 5. But it is one thing to want a cleare â—…ight of my state it is another thing to judge my self to be yet in the state of nature and this is my case Ans. I grant this is the worste of the two yet â—…hat if thou misjudge thy self without ground â—…hould thou not suffer for thine own folly and â—…hom can thou blame but thy self And if thou judge so thou cannot but know that it is thy duty to do the thing that thou supposeth is not yet done that is run away to Christ for life and salvation and rest on Him and abide there and if this were frequently renewed the grounds of thy former mistake might be easily removed Yet further I would adde those few things 1. Take no pleasure in debateing against your own soul for that is but to serve Satans designe 2. Be not too rash or ready to drink-in prejudices against the work of God in your own souls for that is to collude with Sathan against your selves 3. Make much of any little light He is pleased to give were it but of one mark and be not ill to please for one scriptural mark as love to the brethren may sufficiently evidence the thing 4. See how thy soul would like the condition of such as are carnal profane carelesse in the matters of God and if thy soul doth really abhore that and thou would not upon any account choose to be in such a case thou may gather something from that to thy comfort But enough of this case here CHAP. XXVI How is Christ as the Life to be applyed by a soul that misseth God's favour and countenance THe sixt case that we â—…hall speak a little to is a deadnesse occasioned by the Lord 's hideing of himself who is their Life and the fountaine of life Psal. 36 9. and whose loving kindnâ—…sse is better then life Psal. 63 3. and in whose favour is their life Psal â—…0 5. A case which the frequent complaints of the Saints manifest to be rife enough Concearning which we shall 1. Shew some of the consequences of the
To teach them to walk more circumspectly afterward and to guaird more watchfully against Satans temptations and to imploy Christ more as their Strength Light and Guide 5. To cause them see their great obligation to Jesus Christ for delivering them from that state of wrath wherein they were by nature as well as others and would have lyen-in to all eternity had not He redeemed them 6. To exercise their Faith Patience and Hope to see if in hope they will beleeve against hope and lay hold on the strength of the Lord that they may make peace with him Esai 27 5. 7. To give a fresh proof of his wonderful Mercy Grace Love and Compassion upholding the soul in the meane time at length pardoning them and speaking peace to their souls through the blood of Jesus But as to the third particular We may look on Christ as the Life to the soul in this case upon those accounts 1. He hath satisfied justice and so hath borne the pure wrath of God due for their sinnes He hath troden the winepresse alone Esai 63 3. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our sins Esai 53 5 10. And therefore they drink not of this cup which would make them drunk and to stagger and fall and never rise againe 2. Yea He hath procured that mercy and love shall accompany all those sharpe dispensations and that they shall flow from mercy yea and that they shall be as a covenanted blessing promised in he covenant Psal. 89 30 31 32 33. 3. And sometimes He is pleased to let them see this clear difference betwixt the strokes they lye under and the judgments of pure wrath which attend the wicked and this supporteth the soul for then he seeth that those dispensations how sharpe so ever they be shall work together for good to him and come from the hand of a gracious and loving Father reconciled in the blood of Christ. 4. He is a Prince exalted to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel Act. 5 31. Yea He hath procured such a clause in the covenant which is wel ordered in all things and sure that upon their renewing of faith and repentance their after sin shall be pardoned and besides the promises of faith and repentance in the covenant His being â—… Prince exalted to give both giveth assurance oâ—… their receiving of both 5. He cleareth to them their interest in the Covenant and their right to the promises of the Covenant and through their closeing with Christ bâ—… faith He raiseth up their heart in hope causeâ—… them to exspect an outgate even remission of theâ—… sins and turning a way of the displeasure in due timâ—… through Him and this is a great part of their life 6. Being the author and finisher of faith 〈◊〉 â—… Prince to give repentance He by His Spirit worketh up the soul to a renewing of its grips oâ—… Himself by faith and to a â—…uning to the death and blood of Christ for pardon and washing and worketh godly sorrow in the heart whereupon followeth Pardon according to the gospel constitution though the beleever as yet perceiveth it not And sin being pardoned before God conforme to the tenor of the covenant of grace the man is a living man whatever feares of death he may be keeped under for a time 7. He helpeth also the soul to a justifying of God and to a holy submissive frame of Spirit under that dispensation so that they are willing to beare the indignation of the Lord because they have sinned against Him Micah 7 9. and to waite for an outgate in God's own time and to kisse the rod and accept of the punishment of their sin 8. When He seeth it fit for his own glory and their advantage He speaketh peace at length to the soul and sayeth Son or daughter be of good cheer thy sinnes are forgiven thee And then is the soul restored to life As to the fourth particular The soul that is wreastling with an angry God for sin and would make use of Christ as the life would do those things 1. He would look to Christ as standing under God's curse in our room and as satisfying justice for all the elect and for all their sinnes 2. He would eye the covenant wherein new pardon is promised upon the renewing of faith and repentance 3. He would eye Christ as the great Lord dispensator of both Faith and Repentance and hing on Him for both and thus beleeve that he may beleeve and repent or lay his soul open to Him that He may work in him both Repentance and Faith 4. He would flee to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than the blood of Abel that he may be washen and sprinkled with hysope as David did Psal. 51 7. 5. He would eye Christ as a prince to pardon and give remission of sins and as exalted for this end and would fix his eye upon Him as now exalted in glory for this end 6. He would close with Christ of new as his only alsufficient mediator and having done this and repented of his sins whereby God hath been provoked he would conclude through faith that a pardon is past in the court of heaven conforme to the tenor of the gospel and waite on Christ until the intimation come As for the cautions which I promised to speak to in the last place take those few 1. Do not conclude there is no pardon because there is no intimation thereof made to thy soul as yet According to the dispensation of grace condescended upon in the gospel pardon is had immediatly upon a souls beleeving and repenting But the intimation sense and feeling of pardon is a distinct thing and may for several ends be long â—…eeped-up from the soul Sure they go not alwayes together 2. Do not conclude there is no pardon because the rode that was inflicted for sin is not as yet taken off God pardoned Davids sin and did intimate the same to Him by Nathan and yet the sword did not depart from his house till he died God can forgive and yet take vengeance on their in venâ—…ions Psal. 99 8. 3. Do not upon this ground question God's Faithfulnesse or conclude that God's covenant doth not stand fast He is the same and the covenant abideth fast and firme but the change is in thee 4. Do not think that because thou hast once received Christ that therefore without any new act of faith on Him or of repentance towards God thou should immediatly be pardoned of thy sinnes as soon as they are committed for the gospel methode must be followed and it should satisfie us CHAP. XXVIII No man cometh to the Father but by me THis being added for furder confirmation of what was formerly said will pointe out unto us several necessary truthes as First That it is most necessary to be sound and cleare in this fundamental point of coming to God only in and through Christ for 1. It is the whole