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
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
them that are out of the way and can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4 15. 5 2. Which truth as upon the one hand it should encourage all to choose him for their leader give up themselves to Him who is so tender of his followers so upon the other hand it should rebuke such as are ready to intertaine evill and hard thoughts of Him as if he were an hard Master and ill to be followed and put all from interteaning the least thought of his untendernesse and want of compassion But moreover Secondly WE see That weaknesses and corruptions breaking out in beleevers when they are honestly and ingenuously laid open before the Lord will not scarre Him away But rather engadge Him the more to helpe and succour Much of Thomas his weaknesse and corruption appeared in what he said yet the same being honestly and ingenuously laid open to Christ not out of a spirit of contradiction but out of a desire to learne Christ is so far from thrusting him away that He rather condescendeth the more out of love and tendernesse to instruct him better and to cleare the way more fully And that because 1. He knoweth our mould and fashion how fecklesse and frail we are and that if he should deal with us according to our folly we should quickly be destroyed 2. He is not as Man hasty rash Proud but gentle loving tender and full of compassion 2. It is his office and proper work to be an instructer to the ignorant and a helper of our infirmities and weaknesses a phisitian to binde up and cure our sores wounds Who would not then willingly give up themselves to such a teacher that will not thrust them to the door nor give them up to themselves alwayes when their corruptions would provoke Him thereunto And what a madnesse is this in many to stand aback from Christ because of their infirmities and to scarre at Him because of their weaknesse when the more corruption we finde the more should we run to him and it is soon enough to depart from Christ when he thrusts us away sayeth he will have no more to doe with us yea he will allow us to stay after we are as it were thrice thrust away only let us take heed that we approve not ourselves in our evils that we hide them not as unwilling to part with them that we obstinatly maintaine them not nor ourselves in them but that we lie open before him and deal with him with honesty ingenuity and plainnesse Thirdly WE see further That ignorance ingenuously acknowledged and laid open before Christ puts the soul in a faire way to get more instruction Thomas having candidely according as he thought in the simplicity of his heart professed his ignorance is in a faire way now to get instruction for this is Christs work to instruct the ignorant to open the eyes of the blinde Why then are we so foolish as to conceale our ignorance from him and to hide our case and condition from him and why doth not this commend Christ's School to us so much the more why do we not carry as ingenuous schollars really desireous to learnâ—… But. Fourthly WE may learne That our ill condition and distempers put into Christs hand will have remarkable ouâ—…gates and an advantagious issue seeing Christ taketh occasion here from Thomas his laying open his condition not without some mixture of corruption to cleare up the truth more fully and plainely than it was before for hereby 1. Christ giveth an open declaration of the glory of his power mercy goodnesse wisdome c. 2. He hath occasion to give a proof of his divine art and glorious skill of healing diseased souls and of making brocken bones stronger than ever they were 3. Thus he effectually accomplisheth his noble designes and perfecteth his work in a way tending to abase Man by discovering his infirmities and failings and to glorifie Himself in his goodnesse and love 4 Thus he triumpheth more over Satan and in a more remarkable and glorious manner destroyeth his works 5. Thus he declareth how wonderfully he can make all things work together for good to his chosen ones that love him and follow him 6 Yea thus he engadgeth souls to wonder more at his divine wisdome and power to despaire lesse in time comeing when cases would seem hard to acknowledge his great and wonderfull grace and his infinite power and wisdome that can bring death out of life and also to be more sensible of the mercy and thankfull for it O beleever what matter of joy is here how happy art thou that hath given up thy self to him Thy worst condition can turne to thy advantage He can make thy ignorance vented with a mixture of corruption turne to the increase of thy knowledge Blesse him for this and with joy and satisfaction abide thou under his tutory at his school And withall be not discouraged be thy â—…ase of ignorance and corruption what it will lay it out before him with sincerity and singlenesse of heart and then thou mayest glory in thine infirmities that the power of Christ may rest on thee 2 Cor. 12 9. for thou shalt see in due time what advantage infinite love and wisdome can bring to thy soul thereby May not this be a strong motive to induce strangers to give up themselves to him who will sweetly take occasion at their failings and short comeings to helpe them forward in the way and what excuse can they have who sit the call of the gospell and say in effect they will not goe to Christ because their case is not good And oh that beleevers were not sometimes led away with this errour of scarring at Christ because of Infirmities seen and discovered Fiftly IT is remarkeable that as the disciples did ofttimes vent much of their carnall conceptions of the kingdome of Christ as apprehending it to be some carnall outward pompous stately and upon that account desireable condition so there might be much of this carnall apprehension lurking under this acknowledgment and question of Thomas And the Lord who knew their thoughts doth here wisely draw them off those notions and 〈◊〉 them about another study To tell us That it is â—…est and most usefull and profitable for us to be much taken up in the study searâ—… of necessary and fundamentall truths and particularly of the way to the father for 1. Here is the substantiall food of the soul other notions are but vaine and oftentimes they make the case of the soul worse but the study of this is alwayes edifying 2 The right understanding of this other fundamentall truthes will not puff up but keep the soul humble and will make the soul active and diligent in duty 3 The fruite of this study is profitable and lasting 4 And the right uptaking of these truthes will discover the vanity of other sciences falsly so called and the folly of spending our time about other
would eye Christ in his Offices particularly as the great Prophet who can teach as never man taught so teach as to make the soul receive the doctrine and to hold it fast to receive it in love and lay it up in the heart as a rich and enriching treasure 4. They would eye him in his relations unto his people as their Head Husband Brother Leader Commander Captaine c. for those give ground of approaching unto Him with confidence in the day of darknesse and mists for light and direction and for strength and courage in the day of temptation and give ground of hope of helpe in that day of tryal and difficulty 5. They would eye and act faith upon the promises of assistance and through bearing in the day of calamity such as those Esa. 43 2. when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thow walkest through the fire thou shall noâ—… be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee And Esai 41 13. for I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee feare not I will helpe thee and particularly they would eye the promises oâ—… light in the daâ—… of darknesse See Esai 58 8 10. 60 20. 2 Sam. â—…2 29. 6. They would look on Christ as an exalted conquerour now risen and glorified as a victorious captaine that hath fought and overcome that they as his followers may be made partakers of his victory and conquest and so reape the fruit of his resurrection and ascension in their establishment in the truth when it is borne down and questioned yea and condemned by men He abode stedfast and unmoveable in the midst of all the stormes that blew in his face and as He came to bear witnesse to the truth so did He faithfully and zealously avow truth even to the death and in death got the victory of the Arch liar and deceiver Now the beleever would eye this for the strengthening of his faith and hope of victory also through Him and therefore would waite patiently for his help and not make haste for they who beleeve make not haste Esa. 28 16. knowing that He is true and faithful and will not disappoint his followers that trust in Him And moreover it would be of advantage to them in this case to eye that gracious and comfortable word Iohn 14 19 because I live you shall live also and so by faith conclude that seing Christ now liveth as a conquerour over darknesse untruth reproaches calumnies and opposition of liars yea of the father of lies they through Him shall also live and ride out that storme and this will give much courage to the soul to endure temptation and to waite in patience for an outgate 7. They would study much and suck at the grand promise of his coming againe and of finally dispelling all clouds and of fully clearing up his glorious truths that are now covered over with obloquie and buryed under reproaches and this will encourage the soul to stand to truth in the midst of all opposition beleeving that at length truth how much soever opposed now shall be victorious 8. They should be single in their dependence on Him for strength and throwbearing in that day of tryal not leaning to their own understanding but acknowledging Him in all their wayes Prov. 3 6. and when they see no hope of outgate in the world nor appearance of the clearing up of the day they would comfort themselvs and encourage themselves in the Lord as David did in a great straite 1 Sam 30 6. 9. Upon the forementioned grounds they would cast all the care of their throughbearing on Him who careth for them 1 Pet. 5 7. rolling all their difficulties on Him consulting only with Him his Word and not with flesh and blood and so they would commit their wayes to Him who disposeth of all things as He seeth good forbearing to limite the holy one of Israel or to quarrel with Him for any thing he doth and patiently wait for his out-gate and delivery 10. It were good in this time of tryal to be remembring the worth of truth and intertaining high thoughts of the smallest piece of truth that is questioned for his sake who is the Truth that a sight of the glorious worth thereof may make them account the lesse of all they can lose in the defence and maintenance thereof 11. So were it good at this time when truthes come to be questioned to be lying neare to the Truth for light and to be keeping fast what He by his Spirit cleareth up to be truth though the light should not be so full as to dispel all objections This were to depend upon Him for light with singlenesse of heart and in godly simplicity and sincerity to follow his direction and torch though it should not shine so bright as they would wish Cautions A few words of caution will be usefull here also as 1. The beleever though taking this course would not think to be altogether free of fear of stepping aside in lesse or in more God may think good to let much of this abide to the end he may be keeped watchfull tender and diligent for fear maketh the soul circumspect and watchfull and this is a good preservative from defection 2. Nor would the beleever think that hereby he shall be keeped altogether free of fainting The heart now and then through fear and misbeleef may fall into a fit of fainting and think all is gone and yet He may carry poor souls thorow and make his strength perfect in their weaknesse 2 Cor. 12 9. That when they are supported and carryed through the temptation they may sing praise to Him and not ascribe any thing to themselves remembring how often they were fâ—…inting and almost giving over the cause as desperate and hopelesse 3. They would not think it strange if in the time of their wreastling with difficultyes the Lord hide his face from them and give them not that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Him in prayer that sometimes they have met with for the Lord may see it fit to put them to this point of tryall among the rest to see if the love of his glory and truth will keep them standing when they want the encouragements that might be expected in that way and if pure conscience to the command and authority of God will keep from siding with an evil way when the soul is destitute of all sensible encouragement both from within and from without 4. In all this businesse beleevers would carry singly with an eye to God's glory and would not be acted with self-ends or drawn by carnal and selfy motives They would not desire stability and through bearing to be seen of men or to gaine applause and the praise of Men lest God be provoked to leave them to themselves and they at length come off with discredit as Peter did Therefore they would strive against these carnal
69 6. Esai 30 18. CHAP. XXII How Christ is to be made use of for life in case of heartlesnesse and fainting through discouragements THere is another evil and distemper which beleevers are subject to and that is a case of fainting through manifold discouragements which make them so heartless that they can do nothing yea and to sit up as if they were dead The question then is How such a soul shall make use of Christ to the end it may be freed from that fit of fainting and win over those discouragments for satisfaction to which we shall 1. Name some of those discouragements which occasione this 2. Show what Christ hath done to remove all those discouragements 3. Show how the soul should make use of Christ for life in this case and 4. Adde a few words of caution As to the first There are several things which may give occasion to this distemper we shall name those few 1. The sense of a strong active lively and continually stirring body of death and that not withstanding of meanes used to beare it down and to kill it This is very discourageing for it made Paul cry out woes me miserable man who shall deliver me from this body of death Rom. 7 24. It is a most discouraging thing to be still fighting and yet getting no ease let be victory to have to do with an enemie that abides alwayes alike strong fight and oppose as we will yea not only is not weakned far lesse overcome but that groweth in power and prevaileth And this many times affecteth the heart of God's children and causeth them to faint 2. It may be the case of some that they are assaulted with strange temptations of Satan his buffettings that are not usual This made Paul cry out thrice 2 Cor. 12. and if the Lord had not told him that His grace was sufficient for him what would he have done Hence some of his cry out in their complaint was there ever any so tempted so assaulted with the devil as I am Sure this dispensation cannot but be much afflicting sadning and discourageing 3. The sense of the real weakness of grace under lively meanes and notwithstanding of their serious and earnest desires and endeavours after grouth in grace cannot but disquiet and discourage them for they may readily conclude that all their paines and labour shall be in vaine for any thing they can observe 4. The want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort is another fainting and discourageing dispensation as the feeling of these is a heart-strengthening and most encourageing thing which made David so earnestly cry for it Psal. 51 8 12. when a poor soul that hath the testimony of its own conscience that it hath been in some measure of singleness of heart and honesty seeking the face of God for a good many yeers and yet cannot say that ever it knew what those incomes of joy and comfort meane which some have tasted largely of it cannot choose but be discouraged and much cast down as not knowing what to say of it self or how to judge of its owne case 5. The want of access in their addresses to God is another heart-discouraging thing They go about the duty of prayer with that measure of earnestness and uprightness of heart that they can win at at least this is their aime and endeavour and yet they meet with a fast-closed door when they cry shout he shooteth out their prayer as the Church complaineth Lament 3 8. This sure will affect them deeply and cause their hearts sometimes to fainte 6. The want of freedom and liberty in their addreses to God is another thing which causeth sorrow and fainting They go to pray but their tongue cleaveth to the roof of their mouth they are straitned and cannot get their hearts vented 7. Outward persecution that attendeth the way of godliness and afflictions that accompany such as live godly is another discourageing thing both to themselves who are under afflictions and to others who heare it and see it wherefore the Apostle desired earnestly that the Ephesians should not faint at his tribulation Cap. 3 13. 8. The Lords sharpe and sore dispensations for sin as toward David Psal. 51. or out of his Soveraignity for tryal and other ends as toward Iob is likewise a discourageing heart-breaking thing and that which will make strong gyants to roare and fainte and look upon themselves as dead men as we see in these two eminent men of God As to the second thing Christ is life to the beleever in this case in having done that which in reason may support under all these discouragements and having done so much for removing or weakening of these yea and for carrying them over them all which may be in a word cleared as to each 1. As for the body of death Let it stirre in the beleever as fast as it will or can it is already killed all that strugling is but like the strugling of a man in the pangs of death for our old man is crucified with Christ Rom. 6 6. and the beleever is dead to sin and risen legally with him Col. 2 11 12. 3 3. But of this we spoke abundance above 2. As to Satans troubling the poor beleever Through Christ also he is a vanquished enemy He hath overcome him that had the power of death even the devil Heb. 2 14. 3. As for that felt weakness of grace That is no ground of discouragement so long as he liveth who can make the lame to leep as an hart and can make waters break out in the wildernesse and streames in the desert Esai 35 6 7. and giveth power to the fainte and to them that have no might increaseth strength so that such as waite upon the Lord shall renew their strength and they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint Esai 40 29 31. For in Hâ—…m are all the promises yea amen 2 Cor. 1 20. So that they need not faint upon this account nor be discouraged for the work He hath begun He will finish it and He will quicken in the way Psal. 119 37. 4. As for the want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort He hath promised to send the comforter in his own good time Iohn 14 26. 15 26. as one whom his mother comforteth so will he comfort his Esai 66. 13. Joy and gladnesse is promised in the covenant Ier. 31 13. But further though He keep up those influences of joy and comfort He supporteth another way The lively hope of heaven may bear up the heart under all this want for there shall the soul have fulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more no teares nor sorrow there Psal. 16 11. Esa. 35 10. 51 11. 5. As for the want of accesse in their prayers They may possibly blame themselvs for He hath by his merites opened the door and is become to speak so