of which he was hewen and is not onely humbled thereby but forced with an holy admiration to wonder at the marvellous and extraordinary change which God hath wrought in him and also instructed to trust onely to Christs obedience in whom onely our good works are accepted and for whom alone they are rewarded To shut up all he endeavours so to live as if there were no Gospel and so to dye as if there were no Law CHAP. XXIV 1. ONely it remains that you look your selves in this Glasse and â—ry your selves by this touchstone for though others may give a shrewd ghesse yet the Mother knowes best whether the Child be like the Father or no and the signs of Salvation are to be sought in our selves as the cause in Iesus Christ our Justification is to be proved by the fruits of our Sanctification and though faith alone justifieth yet justifying faith is never alone but ever accompanied with spiritual graces the beauties of the soul and good works the beauty of graces yea they are as inseparable as the root and the sap the Sun and its light and as Fire may be discerned by heat and life by motion so a mans faith may be discerned by the fruits of it Nor can any one be deceived except he desires to deceive himself for every particular man is either the Child of God or the Child of the Devil as Chrysostome hath it for there is not a mean betwixt them and there be more differences between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil then there are between Men and Beasts whereof I have named not a few for whatsoever you may find the one herein set forth to speak think or do the other does the contrary and to have the true Character of an unbeliever you need but read this Chracter of a true Believer backward understand all by the rule of contraries and be satisfied I speak this to Naturians onely for the regenerate man knowes the one to be so by what he is and the other by what he hath been neither is there one of all these signes or characters but each experienced Christian finds it in some degree written in his heart as his conscience can bear me witnesse And would you know whether you belong to Christ This will inform you you will by help from above endeavour to bring into captivity every thought and thing to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 5. 1 Joh. 2. 4 but so have not you in the least so long as you love not or any way oppose the people of God for the very first part of conversion is to love them that love God 1 Ioh. 3. 10. yea in reason if the Image of God by faith were repaired in thee thou couldest not but be delighted with those that are like thy self And what saith S. Iohn He that pretends interest in God or Christ and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar and the truth is not in him 1 Ioh. 2. 4. and in the third Chapter and eighth Verse he affirms plainly That all wilful Sinners are the Devils servants And indeed let men flatter themselves or pretend what they will it cannot be denyed but the fruit tells best the name of the Tree the conversation above all shewes who carries the bridle of the will whether God or Satan and did not men purposely shut their eyes and stop their ears and harden their own hearts least they should see and hear and so be converted as our Saviour himself speaks Metth. 13. 15. they could not but know that the whole Bible beats upon this It is Saint Pauls everlasting rule Rom. 6. 16. Ye are his servants to whom ye obey And Saint Peters infallible Doctrine 2 Pet. 2. 19. Of whom a man is overcome unto him he is in bondage And Saint Iohns In this are the Children of God known and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not righteousnesse is not of God but of the Devil 1 Ioh. 3. 8 10. And after this manner does our Saviour reason with the Iewes Ioh. 8. 33 to 48. See then whose Commands ye do Gods or Satans if Satans then saith Saint Iohn Let no man deceive you through vain words for he onely that doth righteousnesse is righteous and he that doth unrighteousnesse is of the devil 1 Ioh. 3. 7 8. wherefore if thou art a common Drunkard or a continual Swearer or an usual companion of Harlots or an accustomary Deceiver or a frequent â—landerer of thy Neighbour or an open and common Sabbath-breaker or canst thou boast of thy sin and mischief or defend it If thou makest no conscience of Praying in thy Family if thou callest evil good and good evil if thou hatest thy Brother for doing that which is good as Cain did Abel if Ismael-like thou mockest or Cham-like thou scoffest at the religious or usest bitter jests against them though it be under the notion of Round-heads Puritanes Sectaries Black-coats or the like if thou raisest slanders of them or furtherest them being raised if thou dost rejoyce at the secret infirmities of the godly or open scandals of Hypocrites if thou dost carp and fret against the Word refusing to heart it or withstandest the preaching of it if being a Minister thou disgracest or râ—vilest the godly in thy preaching so making sad the hearts of the righteous or justifiâ—st the wicked so strengthening them in their evil courses by preaching unto them peace if thou hast a base esteem of Gods people and their wayes and thinkest the worse of a man for scrupling small matters if thou makest Religion a cloak for villany if thou dost borrow or run in debt without care to pay again if thou delightest in cruelty if thou takest no care to provide for thine own Family if thou hadst rather the wicked should bear rule then the godly if thou art an enemy to reformation if thou hadst rather disobey God then displease great ones if thou desirest peace without any respect to truth if thou dost allow thy self in the practice of any known grosse sin if thou takest liberty to sin because God is merciful and forbears to execute judgment speedily if thou dost not believe all things to be ordered by Gods providence and in particular acknowledge him in all thou either receivest or sufferest if thou murmurest when thou wantest any thing without ever thinking of the many things thou hast beyond thy desert if thou canst hear God blasphemed and dishonoured without being moved thereat if the scandalous lives of Professors or the multitude of Heresies that are daily broached make thee think and speak evil of the way of truth if thou didst never see thy self out of measure sinful as being many wayes guilty of the breach of every of the Commandements in particular and so in a lost condition utterly despairing of all help in thy self acknowledging that thou hast deserved all the plagues of this life and of that which is to come if thou art not as
very observable shall I shew you how the Lord blesâ—eth him in every thing he takes in hand or that does befall him I pray observe the severals and then if you be not yet a Beleever you will neglect no means indeavouror opportunity to obtain such a blessed condition the particulars are many I le mention a few only First if he be in prosperity as he shall be sure to have plenty of all outward things if God sees that it would be good for him so that he shall lend to others but shall not borrow himself He will be accordingly thankfull and as God blesseth him more or lesse so will he do good and the more rich the more rich will he be in good works and the more ready to distribute and communicate For he is pitifull and ready to shew mercy where is need and to defend rescue and deliver the oppressed out of the hands of their enemies and oppressors if he have power and opportunity to do it And by reason of his bountifulnesse to the poor he becometh more rich so that he is not more ready to pray for blessings in his want then he is to give thanks for them being obtained And be he never so rich he is not high minded neither does he trust in uncertain riches but in the living God For in his prosperity he forgetteth not his former low estate but is ever mediâ—ating upon and admiring the Lords goodnesse towards him Yea he sets a Memoâ—andum upon every remarkable mercy that he may not forget it and admires that God should set his delight and love upon him and choose him above many others and this makes him strive to surpasse others in his love and service to God again Whereas unbeleevers when they are waxed fat with the good blessings of God they will spurn with the heel and forsake God that made them not once regarding the strong God of their salvation but provoke him with strange Gods and other abominations but it fares not so with the Beleever neither doth he so requite the Lord And as he is thankfull to the Author so likewise to any that he shall make instrumentall for his good thinking himself bound to remember and requite good turns 2. Secondly if he falls into adversity or any kind of distresse he knowes it is sent of the Lord in love and to do him good and to give him occasion of rejoycing afterwards He wâ—â—l considers that scarce any thing more proves us his then his stripes that stripes from the Almighty are so farre from arguing his displeasure that contrarily there are few better tokens and pledges of his adoption and love and that they are bastards and not sonnes who are without correction And so it is that as many as God loves he rebukes and chastens And as it is sent for his good so it doth him good crosses in his estate diseases in his body maladies in his minde are medicines to his soul the impairing of the one is the repairing of the other His sinne dies with his fame or with his health or with his peace or with his outward estate Yea it both lessons his sins and increaseth his graces for God sends him afflictions both for his instruction and reformation to scout away the rust of corruption and to try the truth of his sanctification for the increase of his patience and the exercise of his faith and the improvement of his zeal and to provoke his importunity and to double his obligation to greaten each other grace and to augment his glory Again he inflicts a lesse punishment to avoid a greater and by smarting in his body state or name he is saved from smarting in his soul He is chastened that he may be converted not confounded his worser part to wit his body state or name is impoverisht that his better part that is his soul may be saved in the day of Judgement But see it in some particulars as first how it makes him humble and thankfull for he not only calls to minde his own unworthinesse of the least mercy he still injoyes and how he hath provoked the giver for he is ever meditating of what Christ hath done and suffered for him and how he hath provoked Christ but he also compares what he suffers with what he might have suffered arguing thus with himself He that hath taken this from me might have taken more he that afflicts me for a time could have held me longer he that hath touched me in part could have stricken me in whole he that laid this upon my body hath power to lay a greater rod both upon my body and soul without doing me the least wrong And so goes on I was born a childe of wrath and whereas God might have left me in that perishing condition and chosen others he hath of his free grace adopted me and left others And this makes him cry out O the depth as a mercy beyond all expression saying further O my soul thou hast nor room enough for thankfulnesse And the truth is if we could but seriously think upon our deliverance from hell fire it alone would be thought cause enough to make us both patient and thankfull though the things we now delight in be taken from us And sure I am nothing can be too much to endure for those pleasures in Heaven which shall endure for ever O that we could keep fast in our memories but these two things and upon all occasions make use of them and consider withall that the least mercy is beyond our best merit And no better remedy for impatience then to cast up our receits and compare them with our deservings But secondly Gods corrections are his instructions his lashâ—s lessons his scourges schoolmasters his chastisements advertisements to him by feeling of smart he learns to decline the cause Yea this hath taught him to fly from the works of darknesse at a great distance and to consider as well the bitternesse of what will follow as the sweetnesse of a momentary pleasure and so cleared his sight that he can now discern sinne in all he thinks and speaks and does for he is ever bewailing his wants and weaknesses the hardnesâ—e of his heart want of faith c. Thirdly it abundantly increaseth his joy and comfort for admit Satan and the world should deprive him of all outward comforts at once yet God at the same time will supply the want of these with comforts farre surpassing and transcending them as first the assurance of the pardon of sinne alone is able to clear all stormâ— of the minde it teacheth misery as sicknesse poverty famine imprisonment infamy c. even to laugh for then let death happen it matters not when a malefactor hath sued out his pardon let the Assizes come when they will the sooner the better But to this is added the peace of conscience the marrow of all comforts otherwise called the peace of God which passeth all understanding and surpasseth all commending for never did
favour with God so that he can truly apply Christ and all his benefits and promises unto his own soul trusting in him and casting himself only upon him for pardon and salvation 4. He hath a sweet and sanctified peace in his conscience arising from the assured forgivenâ—sse of his sins a sound and strong joy in the Lord and in his Word through beleeving not seldom the holy Ghost inwardly setting to Gods privy seal by sudden refreshings falling like the dew upon his heart and establishing his soul before the Lord especially after holy duties yea his hope as being built upon Gods word and promises fills him with such joy unspeakable that is makes him rejoyce even in tribulation 5. He sometimes loseth the efficacie feeling and comfort of faith but the seed and habit of faith alwaies remaineth He is often and grievously assaulted with fears and doubtings but in the issue he alwaies gets the conquest and is the more asâ—ured for having been so much assaulted and does so much the more strive to make his calling and election sure and to be assured of future happinessâ— after this his earthly pilgrimage 6. Or if he have but a weak faith yet it is sound against which the very gates of hell shall never prevail for he never utterly falls away from the grace of God but perseveres in the truth and in well doing to the end and therein finds also a blessed thriving and gracious progresse in true holinesse 7. He is perfectly justified by the bloud of Christ freed from the rigour of the Law and in some good measure from the spirit of bondage is often in combate between the flesh and the spirit but the spirit in the end ever gets the upper hand CHAP. VI 1. ANd as he beleeves in his heart so he is not ashamed of the crosse of Christ but will professe the truth boldly in all estates and in times of suffering and publish what Christ hath done for his soul to Gods glory and the comfort of others yea if called to it he will God assisting him lay down his life for Christ and the Gospel and rejoyce also that he is counted worthy 2. Neither is he high-minded but more fears the want of grace then confides in what he hath for he works out his salvation with fear and trembling and trusts not in the least to his own strength but is ever jealous and suspitious lest his heart should deceive him but he resolves by Gods grace not to use any unlawfull means nor yeeld to any thing against the truth for the avoiding of what he fears be it burning at a stake as knowing and being fully perswaded that all things shall work together for the best unto him And indeed the fear of God which is his continuall guardian keeps him in some measure from the fear of death and terrour of the world for he fears not them that can only kill the body in any degree like him that after he hath killed can cast both body and soul into hell Nor does he grutch to losâ— a temporall life when in lieu thereof he shall obtain an eternall Crown of glory 3. He is wonderfully inflamed with the love and estimation of God and of Christ especially upon the retâ—rn of his prayers or the obtaining of some mercy the which he shews by his hating of evil and by his constant obedience and the delight he hath in keeping of God Commandements and by his willingnesse to be at cost or suffer for him Neither is he so in love with the world or any thing in it as that it shall diminish his love to God yea he so loves and longs for Christs appearing that he may be united to him and enjoy his presence that his daily prayer is Come Lord Jesus come quickly 4. Again He intirely loves and highly esteems Gods people not out of any carnall or selâ— ends but for their graces the truths sake and because they are born of God more loving and honoâ—ring the poor that wâ—lk uprightly then they that pervert their wayes though they be rich and loving them best that serve God most He is prone to justifie them and speak in their defence when he hears them reviled slandered or contemned by wicked and ungodly men though he incur their displeasure by it 5. He does not estrange himself from the people of God in their misery but is ready to minister unto them when they stand in need and use any means for their relief He will solicit great ones in their behalf and in Christs cause though he indanger himself thereby and can be as earnest a suitor at the throne of Grace for others that are in distresse as for himself even thirsting and studying how he may do them most good as participating and being touched with compassion and having a fellow-feeling both of the misery and felicity of others as one member hath of another especially of the Churches as a member hath of the whole body Neither can he rejoyce in his own peace and welfare while the Church and people of God are in distresse whose welfare he prefers before his own 6. He delights in the Saints company above all others as finding an heavenly sweetnesse in their conference and society where every ones words do savour of grace and wisedom and when in every company he shall either do good or receive good 7. And as he loves and delights in holy company so he loathes evil company neither will he have any fellowship with the workers of iniquity or be in league with the wicked as Swearers Drunkards Whoremongers Scoffers c. but avoid all needlesse society with them 8. He rejoyceth when the righteous are exalted and grieves when the wickâ—d bear rule He is no enemy to reformation but earnestly desires the same and furthers it all he can CHAP. VII 1. HE makâ—s conscience of sanctifying the Sabbath and sees that all under him do the same He will not give liberty to his servants â—pon the Lords day to do what they list 2. He reforms his family and sâ—ts up Gods Worship therein perâ—orming the duties of Prayer reading repeating c. and instructing his children and servants 3. He is zealous to admonish reclaim and reduce such as go astray and to save those among whom he lives out of duty and thankfulnesâ—e to God and his Redeemer and out of love to them 4. He is haâ—ed of the world for goodnesse and suffers some way for Christ at least he is evil spoken of for well doing and rejoyceth therein or in whatsoever he suffers well considering that all his sufferings in this life are not worthy that glory â—e shall enjoy in the next 5. His graces and goodnesse gains him more enemies and breeds him more danger then vice and wickednesse does another man but he is more pleased then displeased at it for he knows by the worlds hating of him that he is not of the world but that Christ hath chosen him out of
in his Word allowes or condemns them he censures none for things indifferent but you must â—e able to alledge the violation of some Law much lesâ—e will he mâ—ck oâ— despise a man for his poverty or any naturall defect as for judging anothers thoughts to be evil when he cannot tax his life or making ill constructions of good actions or sleighting and disparaging them or thinking the worse of a man for having of a tender conscience he utterly abhors He is not easily suspitious without just cause neither will he willingly wrest mens words or misconster their meanings but take their sayings and doings in the best sense He will â—ot hearken to talâ—-bearers nor is he apt to beleeve an evil report without good ground neither will he condemn a man without hearing him speak He never determins of any ones finall estaâ—e be he never so wicked well knowing that God may change his heart in a moment neither will he conclude one to be a wicked man or an hypocrite for appearances or moates or some sudden eruptions or common infirmities or for sinnes before conversion or for this or that single act of grosse impiety when the main tenor and course of his life besides is a continuall current of honesty and goodnesse though he may suspend his good opinion in case of some unexpected misdemeanour or for lesser evils either affected or often repeated He is tender-hearted and can bear with the infirmities of the weak and is ready to cherish them that are cast down He does not expect a full growâ—h of Grace in the Cradle of a mans conversion yea he yeelds the best Christians in this their state of imperfection their graynes of allowance as our Saviour did to his Apostles 2. He will neither backbite others nor give ear to backbiters of others Neither lend Satan his tongue to utter nor his ears to hear nor his heart to beleeve lyes and slanders He will not lesâ—en his own credit by traducing one that wrong him he will not lessen his own shame and blame by traducing one he hath wronged as too many do He wonders not so much at anothers ingratitude to him as at his own unthankfulnesse to God He will pardon many things in others which he will not tolerate in himself He will neither arrogate to himself nor derogate from another neither vilifie other mens doings nor over highly prize his own He will not condemn censure or slight that which â—e understands not To finde gall in a Pidgion a knot in a Bulrush where is none is none of his humour In relating an enemies words he will neither adde to them nor diminish from them The faults of a few shall not make him uncharitable to all nor the goodnesse of many make him credulous of the rest He envies none for doing or faring or being better esteemed then himself CHAP. XIII 1. HE is more knowing then the men of the world for as he hath the light of the Spirit and the eye of faith above them so the Word of Christ dwelleth in him plentifully in all wisedom and spirituall understanding and he increaseth daily in the knowledge of God and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ because God reveals himself to him in a great measure as to his friend Besides his knowledge is about the best things and one drop of soul wisedom and saving knowledge guided by the fear of God is more worth then all humane learning And to this knowledge unbeleevers are meer strangers Yea be they never so wise and learned in other things they have only the theory of this wisedom they can prattle of it by roat but they know not what it is by effect and experience Yea if a man want faith holinesse the love of God and the Spirit of God to be his teacher he shall not be able really and by his own experience to know the chief points of Christian Religion such as are faith repentance regeneration the love oâ— God the presence of the Spirit the remission of sinnes the effusion of grace the possession of heavenly comforts nor what the peace of conscience and joy in the holy Ghost is nor what thâ—communion of Saints means when every one of these are easie and familiar to the meanest and simplest Beleever And the reason is the Beleever digests his knowledge into practise and imployes it to the glory of the giver his neighbours good and the furthering of his own salvation He is neither ungrounded in the Principles of Religion nor unconscionable in the practice Each Book or Sermon both increaseth his knowledge and lessens his vices Yea he will pick something out of every thing and gather honey from the self same thing that others will poyson Anothers hating the truth shall make him love it the more for he iâ— instructed both by similitude and contrariety Whereas let the unbeleever know never so much he is resolved to be never the better and they who are unwilling to obey God thinks unworthy to know Whence it is also that as what the Beleever doth is good for the matter so he will do it well also for the manner and in all his actions observe whether his ends be good or evil for he will do good actions with good intentions and not be moved unto them by baâ—e end as is the unbeleever Nor is he puffed up either with his knowledge or parts well knowing that he is ignorant of many things for a few that he understands and that he falls short of others in what he most excells Nor will he build upon his knowledge but in cases doubtfull he will advise with others Yea he will submit to the better advice even of his inferiour or maid-servant 2. He is not erronious in his judgement he neither affects curiosity nor singularity which is the foolish ambition of unblest understandings But he wholly applies himself to those things which God hath revealed in his Word and to the confirmation of received truths which is the meeknesse and humility of the best judgements and so is wise according to sobriety Nor does he so cry up Justification as to cry down and quite overthrow Sanctification He reades and hears with an hâ—nâ—st and good heart and to the end only that he may know savingly beleeve rightly and live religiously and God granâ—s his desire in all the â—hrâ—e He is resolved to do Gods Will thâ—refore God gives him to know the Doctrine whâ—â—her it be oâ— God or no Neither will he give heed nor lend his â—ar to the iâ—â—ising words of false Propherts or spirits of 〈◊〉 who speak lyâ—s 〈…〉 as having their consciences burned with an 〈◊〉 iron None can bâ—gâ—ile him with their sleights and 〈◊〉 craftinesse whâ—râ—by they lye in wait to deceive for his hearâ— is stablished with grace He is not wauering nor carried about with every winde of Doctrine which vain talkers and deceivers of mindes daily vent because he is rooted and stablished in the faith He avoides all
well troubled for original guilt for sins of omission for the evil which cleaves to thy best works and for thy very thoughts as for thy actual and manifest evil deeds if thou hast made vowes and promised amendment when the rod was on thy bacâ— but never cared to perform the same when thou wert released if thou art not industrious after the means of grace if thou lovest not to hear Christ voyce if thou findest not the Word more quick and powerfull and sweet and efficacious then any other writings if it and the Spirit going along with it hath not brought thee out of darknesse into marvellous light in comparison of thy former darknesse if thou art ignorant of the principles of Religion in the midst of so much light and means and canst not yeeld a reason of the hope that is in thee if thou dost not find a manifest change in thy judgment affections and actions from what they were by nature if the old man hath not changed with the new man worldly wisdome with heavenly wisdom carnal love for spiritual love servile fear for Christian and filial fear idle thoughts for holy thoughts vain words for holy and wholsome words fleshly works for works of righteousnesse c. as if thou wert cast into a new mould even hating what thou formerly lovedst and loving what thou formerly hatedst if thou art not ashamed of thy former conversation if thou hast not been often and grievously assaulted with fears and doubtings and often in combate between the flesh and the Spirit the Spirit getting the better if thou dost not more fear the want of grace then confide in what thou hast if thou are not jealous lest thy heart should deceive thee yea if thou art not hated of the world and evil spoken of for well doing thou art the Devils servant and not as yet one of that small number whom Christ hath chosen out of the world to believe in his name for these or any one of these signs sufficiently brand thee for a wicked man CHAP. XXV 1. BUt least any weak Christian should think himself unsound and so none of Christs because he falls short of this description of a true Believer and finds wanting in himself perhaps many of the former signs or evidences herein set forth or should be discouraged by reason of his many and great failings together with the weaknesse of his faith and love as for the most part the true Christian is as â—earful to entertain a good opinion of himself as the false is unwilling to be driven from it let such an one take special notice in the first place that there are three sorts of true and sound Christians as the Apostle Saint Iohn makes the distinction 1 Ioh. 2. 12 13. the first sort are babes in Christ viz. such as are new born or but weakly qualified with the graces of Gods Spirit A second are strong men as having the gifts of the Spirit lively and in power The third are Fathers such as have had long experience in the powerful practice of Christianity and been long exercised in all kinds of well doing This done 2. Secondly let him know That as God requires no other obedience in the best then Evangelical so he looks not for the same measure and degree of grace from Bubes and strong men or from strong men and Fathers for God accepteth of every man according to the grace he hath received be it more or lesse 2 Cor. 8. 12. as is manifest by that Parable of the Talents Matth. 25. 20. â—o 24. yea what Father or Master will not from his young and newly weaned Child or sick and weak servant accept of the will for the deed and shall not God much morâ— who is both the Father of mercies and the Authour of mercy and compassion in others Yes undoubtedly as let it be granted that thy knowledge is still small thy faith weak thy charity cold thy heart dull and hard thy good works few and imperfect and all thy zealous resolutions easily hindered and quite overthrown with every small temptation yet God that worketh in us both the will and the work will accept the will for the work and that which is wanting in us Christ will supply with his own righteousnesse he respecteth not what we can do so much as what we would do and that which we would perform and cannot he esteemeth it as though it were performed thus he taketh an heart desirous to repent and believe for a penitent and believing heart whereas take away the will and all acts in Gods sight are equal Well might I doubt of my salvation sayes Bradford feeling the weaknesse of my faith love hope c. if these were the causeâ— of my salvation but there is no other cause of it or of Gods mercy but his mercy Again 3. Thirdly you are to observe that as Nature so Grace rises by many degrees to perfection we grow in grace and saving knowledge as a child does in statuâ—e and understanding untill we attain to glory which is grace perfected yea grace in its growth is but like the change of a mans hair from black to grey or the growth of a Tree which is not accomplisht in a moneth or a year but in many yeares we not perceiving how 4. Fourthly consider also that the best have their failâ—ngs as had Abraham Iacoh David Peter c. you have heard of the patience of Ioh saith Saint Iames and have we not heard also of his fits of impatiency Yes but it pleased God mercifully to over-look that and so of Asah who had divers and those no small faults yet with one breath doth God report both these the high places were not removed and neverthelesse Asahs heart was perfect so our failings be not wilful though they be many and great yet they cannot hinder our interest in the promises of God an honest and sincere heart bears out many errours in the eye of mercy God will not see weaknesses where he sees truth yea if we hate our corruptions and strive against them they shall not be counted ours It is not I saith Paul but the sin that dwelleth in me Rom. 7. 20. And indeed were it not so what would become of us for the work of grace though it doth not suffer Christians to live as they list yet it doth not inable them to live as they would it is not so broad as to allow of corruption nor so narrow but it will permit of corruption 5. But fifthly least the former considerations should not serve answer me ingeniously to these questions Dost thou not find that the Word and Spirit hath wrought an apparant change in thy judgment affections and actions to what they were formerly Is not Christ thy greatest joy sin thy greatest sorrow and grace the prime object of thy desires Art thou not careful in the use of the means to attain faith in the promise of Gods mercy made in Christ Dost thou not love God and
the people of God yea art thou not prone to speak in their defence when thou hearest them reviled and contemned by wicked and ungodly men Dost thou not rejoyce when the righteous are exalted and grieve when the wicked bear rule Dost thou not desire and prâ—y for the salvation of others Is it not grievous to thee to hear God blasphemed and dishonoured Dost thou not make conscience of sanctifying his Sabbaths Art thou not as conscientious alone and in private where God onely sees thee as if thy greatest enemy or all the world did behold thee Dost thou not make conscience of evil thoughts grieve for thy unprofitablenesse under the means of grace for the evill which cleaves to thy best actions and for sins of omission When thou dost any thing amisse dost thou not accuse thy self if any thing well dost thou not give all the praise to God Whatever thou enjoyest on this side Hell dost thou not think thy self unworthy of it Dost thou not more fear the want of grace then conâ—ide in what thou hast Art thou not evil spoken of for well doing Dost thou not love zeal and devotion in others Thou art not of a reprobate judgement touching things actions and persons accounting good evill and evill good nor dost thou think the worse of a man for having of a tender conscience Thou art not so offended when offences come as to think the worse of the way of truth yea when strange things happen dost thou not make a wholesome construction thereof If so my soul for thine thou art a true Believer and not an hypocrite whatever thy failings be yea if thou shouldest finde but a few of these signes in thy self thou needest not much fear thine estate for a few Grapes will shew that the plant is a Vine and not a Thorne yea where there is any one grace in truth there is every one in their measure if thou art sure thou hast love I am sure thou hast faith for they aâ—e as inseparable as fire and heat life and motion and so of other graces 6. But sixthly for I will go yet further with thee suppose nothing that I have hitherto said will satisfie thee and that thou wilt not acknowledge any of these graces to be in thee yet still thy case may be good enough for a Christian in times of spirituall distemper and desertion is as one in a swound in which case the soul doth not exercise her functions he neither hears nor sees nor feels yet she is still in the body Christ is as the Sun to our souls and we are like Elementary bodies which lighten and darken cool and warm die and revive as the Sun presents or absents it self from them Whence it comes to passe that we have so much crying out in horrour of conscience I am damned I am damned yea it is a wonder to see how many truly humbled sinners who have so tender consciences that they dare not yield to the leaste vill for the worlds goods and refuse no means of being made better turn every probation into reprobation every dejection into rejection and if they be cast down they cry out they are cast away but in such distempers a man is not a competent Judge in his own case as in humane Laws there is a nullity held of words and actions extorted and wrong from men by fear because in such cases a man is held not to have power or command in some sort of himselfe A troubled soul is like troubled water we can discern nothing cleerly in it wherefore in such cases a man must call to remembrance the times past and how it hath been with him formerly as David did Psal. 77. 2 to 12. and likewise Iob chap. 31. Thus must thou do and then if ever thou hadst true faith wrought in thy heart it can never be clean extinguished and so of love and godly sorrow for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance as it is Rom. 11. 29. I the Lord change not Mal. 3. 6. And the weakest â—aith if true though it be not the like strong yet it is the like precious faith to that of Abrahams whereby to lay hold and put on the perfect righteousnesse of Christ yea the truth of grace be the measure never so small is alwayes blest with perseverance and if grace but conquer us first we by it shall conquer all things else whether it be corruptions within us or temptations without us yea to speak rightly thou art the better to be thought of and the lesse to be feared for this thy â—ear for no man so truly loves as he that feares to offend and good is that fear which keeps us from evill acts yea as a bleeding wound is better then that which bleeds not so thy very complaint of sin springing from a displeasure against it shewes that there is something in thee opposite to sin viz. that thou art penitent in affection though not in action even as a Childe is rationall in power though not in act neither was the Centurion ever so worthy as when he thought himselfe most unworthy for all our worthinesse is in a capablâ— misery 7. But here by the way observe one caution as the Plâ—ister must not be lesse then the sâ—re so the tent must not be bigger then the wound Though the grievousnesse of our sins should increase our repentance yet they should not diminish our faith and assurance of pardon and forgivenesse Because the Law is not more a Glasse to shew us our â—ins then the Gospel is a Fountain to wash them away wherefore cast not both thine eyes upon thy sin but reserve one to behold the remedy look upon the Law to keep thee from presumption and upon the Gospel to keep thee from despair this is both a sweet and an even course But as an empty Vessel close luted though you throw it into the midst of the Sea will receive no water so all pleas are in vain to them that are deafned with their own feares for as Mary would not be comforted with the sight and speech of Angels no not with the sight and speech of Iesus himselfe till he made her know that it was Iesuâ— so untill the Spirit of God sprinkleth the conscience with the blood of Christ and sheds his love into the heart nothing will do no Creature can take off wrath from the conscience but he that set it on wherefore the God of peace give you the peace of God which passeth all understanding yea O Lord speak thou musick to the wounded conscience thunder to the seared that thy Justice may reclaim the one thy mercy relieve the other and thy favour comfort us all with peace and salvation in Iesus Christ CHAP. 26. 1. The comfort of what hath been said in these seven last Sections is intended and belongs to weak Christians troubled consciences and those that would fain do better but let no unbeliever impenitent or prophane person meddle with it for all