work and then shall he have rejoycing in himself and not in another If he find his work found if his work be the work of God if he hath believed in this Lord Jesus Christ that is sacrificed for us then shall he have great rejoycing in himself alone and not in another if a man examine himself alone and find his state good he shall have rejoycing alone what ever others think or speak it matters not much if he find upon due measure and search that his work be right he shall have rejoycing in himself alone and not in another in Gal. 6. 4. Now it were in vain to bid us try our state if it were not to be known and I hope none dare be so bold as to charge the Spirit of God with Vanity But now a little to hint at the various ways that God uses as means to bring back lost man to himself First He doth it by a strong hand from Heaven thus he did to Paul with thundrings from Heaven as you may read at large Acts 9. Poor Paul was amazed he was in a storm there arose Euraclidon upon him how is it with thee poor soul didst thou ever find thy self tossed in the Tempestuous Waves of Divine frowns immediately darted out from the Almighty wast thou ever smitten down as it were on thy face wast thou ever sensible of Divine anger against thy sin try as thou readest but briefly Secondly Sometimes poverty and want is the means that God uses so it was with the Prodigall Luke 15. 15. When he was so hungry that he would have eat with the Swine then 't is said He came to himself though this is but a Parable yet it teacheth us that it 's Gods way by poverty to bring home his children to his house try how 't is with you I confess I am afraid when some people are brought to great straits then they will get into the fellowship of the Saints that so they may be provided for and indeed coming in in such condition their state is to be suspected therefore look to it for this is but too follow Christ for the Loaves and is no less then hipocrisie but if thou art sincere and thou find'st upon due search thou hast no such design 't is well for thee God brought thee low Thirdly God uses to shew his people Visions to bring them to their considerations as with Cornellius Acts 10. beginning God did send him to a secondary means he must hear Peter what he shall tell him but the Vision that he saw was the first step to his conversion this was the Vision of an Angel that he saw at the ninenth hour of the day Have none of you met with the Angel of the Covenant at any time that hath told you you must go to Peter to some faithful Minister to inquire what you shall do but this is not very frequent in our days Fourthly Sometimes God compasseth men round with outward troubles distresses and afflictions he doth afflict them with enemies to bring them home to himself this way God took with Manasseth who was as wicked a man as any you Read of yet such is the power of God that he hath his way to bring him home to himself he hath the hearts of Kings in his own hands which are for the most part the untamedst hearts in the World yet he turns them as the Rivers of Water which way he pleaseth Prov. 21. 1. As he did this King 2 Chron. 33. 12. When he was in affliction he besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly note here God brought him down before he would humble himself and he prayed to the Lord and 't is said he was intreated of him how is it with you Sirs try I pray you Fifthly Sometimes God brings them to read the Scriptures and there he sets in and takes hold of their hearts thus it was with that Eunuck of Ethiopia a man of great authority under Candace Queen of Ethiopia who 't is said had the charge of all her Treasure note here by the way that God calleth some great men rich men though Christ tells us 't is hard for rich men to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 19. 23. Yet he doth not say 't is impossible for the next words almost saith With God all things are possible and though the Apostle saith Not many Mighty nor many Noble are called 1 Cor. 1. 26. Yet he doth not say not any for this Centurion and this Eunuck that I speak of even now were called And among the Chief Rulers many believed on him John 12. 42. But to return pray you excuse a little my extravagancy I say by reading the Word this great Man was in Gods way and God sendeth Phillip to second his endeavours to open the Scripture to him and so he Believed and was Baptized as you may see in Acts 8. from the Vers 27. â—â—to the end this may be witnessed by History that of Austin and others but I forbear have any of you to whom these lines may come found a word by reading take hold on your hearts with power let experience speak I must not enlarge necessity lyeth upon me Sixthly Sometimes souls are called by the Preaching of the Gospel and indeed this is Gods most ordinary way For Faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10. 17. And God hath ordinarily two voices in Preaching or speaking to sinners to bring them in First By the voice that shew them their sins and strikes thee down or if you please by a terrible voice the voice of his terrour doth sometimes sound as that word The same Jesus whom you have Crucified he is made both Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. 'T is as dreadful a word as could have been spoken for it smote them to the very heart and made them cry out What shall we do this voice made them a terror to themselves this very voice did then shake their Earthly hearts it shaked them so that they were never setled again until 3000. of them were set down safe in Christ but then Secondly God speak sometimes by a sweet still voice after the fire of Christ love is stirred up to them there comes a small still voice then the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land a sweet mild voice by this voice Lydia's heart was opened Ah! when souls have the love of Christ spoken to their hearts then the very love of Christ constraineth them some one way and some other ways are brought over to Christ by Preaching yea by hearing the word Preached there were 3000. souls Acts 2. and Acts 4. 5000. souls brought to Christ these were glorious Sermons that were the means to convert so many souls and Acts 15. 7. saith Peter God made choice among us that the Gentils by my Mouth should hear the Gospel and believe So Eph. 3. 8. Unto me who am less then the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should Preach among the Gentils
the close of my thoughts on the Text but before I go any further I cannot but break out into a use of admiration and first then beloved here 's the Free-grace of God in giving his Son a Sacrifice for those that believe John 3. 16. God so loved the World how so why so as one said there is not such another so with so great love that he gave his only begotten Son and 't was so freely too without the least motive to take with his love so loved the World as was unexpected by them so and in such away too that could never have been thought of or contrived by all the wisdom of all the Heavenly Host it was looked on as a demonstration of the love of Abraham to give up his Son a sacrifice to God and truly 't was love indeed I am afraid few in our days have such a love to give up a Son that he loved Gen. 22. 2. 12. I but this was but to give up the worse to the better the Creature to the Creator but this was more God gave his Son the better for the worse the Creator to dye for the Creature oh infinite immense love that God should give his only Son the Son of his delight Behold my Servant in whom my Soul delighteth and more then that he delighted to give him to dye here is admirable Free-love too and it pleased the Father or the Father took delight or complacency in bruising his Son Oh the free-love of God Secondly Let us here admire the love of the Son that he should offer himself a Sacrifice for sinners that he that was offended should dye for offenders yea that we should have th' offended set offenders free yet this he did for enemies Rom. 5. 10. It may be for a friend or a good man some one or other would dare to dye as in Ver. 7. But was it ever known that any dyed for an enemy yea that he should lay down his life himself not by constraint but willingly all the world could not take away his life from him so he saith himself in Matth. 26. 53. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father and he shall give me more then twelve Legions of Angels they would soon have delivered him or himself could have delivered himself no but he doth it freely without compulsion or force Iohn 10. 18. No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down of my self and power to take it up again Where art thou now that saist Christ is not God was there ever any Creature that had power to lay down his life of himself Paul in the strength of Christ in Gods strength could do all things and in that strength could be not onely willing to be bound but to dye but he had not power to lay down his life of himself and if it should be thought that any had power to lay down his life yet no man hath power to take up his life again when he had laid it down nay more is it warantable for man to give his life of himself and no man take it away I but saith Christ no man taketh it away surely none that 's a Creature hath this love of the Son me thinks this should endear our hearts to Christ and make us cry out in the vehemency of our affections as David did of the Law of God Ps 119. 97. Oh how love I thy Law it is my meditation all the day Oh how love I the Lord Jesus when we want words then oh how oh how love I the Lord He is my Meditation all the day yea when I remember him on my Bed in the night watches Psalm 63. 6. Then my Meditation of him shall be sweet Psalm 104. 34. And it would be sweet indeed if we could thus apply him to our selves and say with David and Isaiah Oh Lord thou art my God Psalm 140. 6. Isa 25. 1. This word my God is a sweet word as when Jesus said to Thomas be not faithless but believing John 20. 27. Thomas answered and said my Lord and my God So in the 13. Verse when the two Angels in white asked Mary plain-hearted Mary What is the matter Mary why weepest thou Why saith she beause they have taken away my Lord How should this comfort poor souls and how should this endear souls to Christ and make them willing to go through any difficulty when they can say he is my Lord the very thoughts of Christ did make the Spouses heart so rise within her that her tongue could not be silent but she would be setting out his excellency as she was able and when she had not words when her Rhetorick failed her to express her self she crys out as one in an extacy at such a raised rate â—he is altogether lovely and believer let me ask thee for others know it not is not Christ altogether lovely in his love and in his Free-grace as I have said and oh that by the freeness of his love and grace that any poor soul may be perswaded that there is nothing on his part to be done in a way of merit no no believer Christ hath purchased eternal Redemption for thee Heb. 9. 12. And therefore there is nothing for thee to do but answer his love with thy love and that cannot be better known then by living to his praise and rejoycing in him and singing his praises as David saith Psalm 81. 1. Sing aloud not only rejoyce but sing and sing aloud Make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob that is to the God of believers yea Vers 2. Take a Psalm and Sing but may a poor soul say I know this work or rather joy for Saints but how shall I know whether I am of this number of believers true I here of glorious things for the Saints And glorious things are spoken of thee oh thou City of God but this is that which marr's all my joy I do not know whether I am a believer but what shall I do to know this that shall be my work as fast as I can come to it but before I give any Carracters of the Saints of God I would a little shew some of the various ways that God takes in the bringing home of his chosed to himself and it may be this may a little satisfie thee and it may be thou mayst find out thy state by this and truly we should try our state by any means we must examine our selves Solomon saith Prov. 27. 23. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy Flocks And should not we be diligent to know the state of our souls and 't is knowable else why doth the Apostle say Examine your selves whether you be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13. 5. And give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. Let us search and try our ways and turn again to the Lord Lam. 3. 40. Let every man prove his own
a little patience believer and it will come to pass but besides this Christ will be King in thy Soul to tread down Sin and Satan and art thou willing to have Christ King in thee to this end art thou willing he shall tread on the neck of every lust and corruption then dost thou receive him as King aright art thou willing he shall bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of himself 2 Cor. 10. 5. Dost thou receive him to give Laws too and art thou willing to follow the Laws of none other Lord alas when he hath given thee Laws there is no other Law for any other to make after him an excellent place to this purpose is that in Eccl. 2. 12. For what can the man do that comes after the King he saith before I turned my self to behold Wisdom Madness and Folly what was that why in the latter end of the Verse even that which is already done I turned my self to behold Wisdom Wisdom in the King to act Laws for his people and when I saw the wisdom of that King I thought it was both madness and folly to think to act with more wisdom for what can the man do that comes after the King it is an interogation implying anogation what can the man do that comes after the King truly nothing who hath either wisdom or power to act after the King if it should be of the Laws of the Church why that 's already done now soul hast thou received Christ to be thy Priest Prophet and King thy Priest to offer for thee thy Prophet to Teach thee and thy King to give Laws too and Rule over thee and to deliver thee from thine enemies Spiritual and Temporal yea from Wrath to come why if so â—hou hast some ground to hope Jesus was Sacriâ—â—ced for thee Fifthly Hast thou Faith precious Faith as â—eter calls it 2 Pet. 1. 1. 'T is a good sign thou â—elongest to the Lord for that 's it I drive at in â—he main to give thee a little hope that thou art â—recious in the sight of God and art within the â—ompass of electing love or one for whom Christ â—yed faith now is a precious grace and it may â—e precious upon a double account 1. In respect of the giver 2. In respect of the Vertue of the Grace it â—elf Oh what a precious God is the Giver of this â—ift he gives perfect gifts and what a precious grace is this when given by God 't is of an inâ—stimable value 't is that that doth make the Saints rich rich in Faith Abrahams faith was â—ounted to him for righteousness Rom. 4. 5. And he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life John 3. last Not he may have it but he hath it already 't is made sure to him this faith â—s of a large extent and will do mighty things it will remove Mountains of sin and corruptions into the Sea of forgetfulness Yea what ever we ask in Faith it shall be given us Mark 11. 24. And as Faith is the greatest and powerfullest grace so unbelief is the greatest sin Christ saith he will send the Spirit to reprove the World of sin and what is that sin you may be in Johnâ— 16. 9. Of sin because they believe not on me so they could not enter in because of unbelief Heb. 3. 19. And without Faith 't is unpossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. So that you see unbelief is our greatest evil but in a few words Faith will help us do these things 1. It will help us to give up our selves to God for to follow him this was that which made Abraham go up out of his own Countrey Gen. 12. 4. Though he knew not whether he went as 't is repeated Heb. 11. 8. Faith will do more then we can express it will carry a soul forth above fear and above reproach above good and bad report through Fire and Water how did it elevate the Spirits of those Champions for Christ in that little Book of Martyrs Heb. 11. 2. Faith will enable us to receive Christ and good things from him that Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith how by Faith Eph. 3. 17. And good things from him too it was by faith that Sara'h had strength to conceive Seed and to bring forth a Child and by Faith Elizabeth and Mary bare the two greatest that ever were on Earth Heb. 11. 11. and the first of Luke many more of this kind might be urged but I hasten Ah soul to thee that believest all things are possible therefore if thou findest this Spirit of Faith in thee 't is a good sign Christ is Sacrificed for thee Sixthly It is a good sign thy sins are aquitted if Christ be of an inestimable value to thee he that had found this Pearl of Price sold all that he had to buy it Matth. 14. 46. There are many precious in the World many precious Friends and Relations yea more then these there is that good name so much gazed after among men That is more precious then fine Gold and all other precious things Prov. 22. 1. Eccl. 7. 1. Yet all these and all he hath doth he not value at the rate that he value's the Pearl of Price Oh unto you that believe to you that Christ hath been Sacrificed for Christ is very precious Ah soul is Christ more precious to thee then all things hath he the highest room in thy heart higher then thy Teacher I speak to thee that dost as 't were deisie thy Minister And thou Minister if it should fall into thy hand to peruse this hath Christ a room in thy heart higher then they that sit in the highest seat in the Meeting I speak to you that are partial and have such respect to persons you that the great ones do so seat themselves about in their attendancises on the Word I tell you a man may love Christ more then sinners and yet not love him more then Saints especially them that bring you in your greatest revenues you 'l say is there any such as these If you should I would answer you by another question what meaneth your bearing with great ones great faults when you 'l rebuke the poor of the Flock sharply for a smaller faults but you will it may be say I am out of my way well to return how dost thou prize Jesus Christ above all things then 't is a good sign Christ is thine and thou art his try as thou goest along for this is indeed the only distinguishing Carracter of a Believer Enlarge it in thy Meditation Seventhly They that have Christ slain for them will not do as the multitude do neither as the multitude of oppressors nor as the very multitude of professors do Exod. 23. 2. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil alas there be many very many too too many professors go on in an evil way in the neglect of many duties and in many evil ways and
know it these know somewhat of the worth of Spiritual Bread and Food for souls that makes them rather desire the Bread of affliction and the Water of adversity then that their Teachers should be removed into corners Isa 30. 20. They know 't is sad when there is no Vision in the Land 1 Sam. 3. 1. And indeed it must needs be sad for there the people perish Prov. 29. 18 so in Amos 8. 11. When the Famine of the word of the Lord shall come they shall wander from Sea to Sea too and fro from Countrey to the City as they do in a small measure at this day to seek the word of the Lord and shall not find it and in Vers 13. In that day shall the fair Virgins and young Men faint for thirst Ah how many are there that are but new born Babes and Virgins and young Men in Christ how do their souls hunger and thirst and seek after some to break the Bread of Life to them and can find none their souls are ready to perish and they long to go into the Lords House into the assembly of his people Oh how do they sigh and sob and groan and Lord in thy bowels hear their cry and groanings and come down and deliver them and send them Bread without cockle of Mens inventions and mildew of Sophisticated and corrupt Doctrine but if thou art one that desirest the ordinances of God and to he in the assembly of his people 't is a sign thou art a child of God prethee soul bring thy self to a tryal 't is very sad if thou canst find no looks nor longings after any thing of God XIII 'T is a sign thou art a child of God if thou lovest the Word of God mark dost thou love the Word of God 't is a sign thou art one of the children of God Oh saith Job I have esteemed or I have hid or laid up the Word of his Mouth for so it may be read more then my necessary food or my appointed portion he esteemed it so that he hid it or laid it up in his heart oh what a soul was here that had rather be without Bread than without Gods Word so David in the Psal 119. 97. wants words to express it and therefore sighingly he lifts up his voice and saith Oh how love I thy Law so Ver. 113. I have vain thoughts but thy Law do I love Yea though wicked men hate it and make it void yet then will I love it the more which is intimated in that word therefore thy Servant loveth it Vers 127. And in the Vers 140. thy Word is very pure I tryed or refined therefore thy servant loveth it because his Word was pure without Sophistication therefore David loved it Ah soul dost thou love the Word of God as 't is a naked pure word 't is a sure sign thou art Gods and therefore mayst take peace to thy soul Oh soul peace to thee so in Verse 165. Great peace have they that love thy Law note great peace have they not shall they but have they that have thy Law thou that lovest Gods Word 't is a good sign that word hath spoken peace to thee thou art Godly and God hath set thee apart for himself Psal 4. 3. Examine as thou goest along soul and take comfort as thou find'st it in thy poor soul Oh if God by his Word will but speak peace to thee it will be that that passeth understanding XIV 'T is a sign thou art one for whom Christ is Sacrificed if thou canst venture to follow Christ which way soever he goes Rev. 14. 4. These are they that follow the Lamb whethersoever he goes and 't is said these are Virgins chast Virgins Spouses of Christ are not only willing to follow Christ into Paradise but whithersoever he goeth into the Desert or into the Wilderness whithersoever he goeth XV. 'T is a good sign thou art a friend of Christ if thou canst cordially pray for thy enemies this too many is a searching one this I am afraid is a hard saying who can bear it thou dost not come up to thy Lords order if thou dost it not If thy enemy hunger give him Meat and if he thirst give him Drink for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his Head Rom. 12. last The meaning is those good things done to him will be like fire that is heaped upon mettal to melt it down that is shall be even disolved into another nature it will melt the heart Mat. 5. 44. Pray for them for whom for them them that are our friends them that pray for us no for thy enemies them that despightfully used you this ever and anon Christ hint's at Forgive them that trespass against you I say some we will forgive them but we 'll swear we will never forget them take heed that 's of the flesh but to forgive thy enemy is not only to be Christ's but to be like Christ Phil. 2. 5. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus Ah how happy a soul art thou that can do this but do not mistake soul I do not say make him thy friend no I should be loath to make my mortal enemy my bosom friend or my familiar friend as David speaks Psal 41. 9. Yet notwithstanding this we should pray for them and that will be pleasing to God and if we please God as certainly we shall in thus doing who can tell but God may at least make our enemies to be at peace with us Porv. 16. 7. Oh soul try thy self canst thou pray for thy enemies 't is a good evidence thou art one for whom Christ is sacrificed XVI Canst thou trust and wait on Christ I put these together for the one is as it were the evidence of the other for he that wait's on God surely doth trust him else why doth he wait on him Psal 84. 12. Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee Blessed is he he is in a state of grace that trusteth God for soul and too 't is no better then hypocrisie to say we trust God with our souls and cannot trust him with our bodies Paul could trust God with his life In whom we trust he will yet deliver us 2 Cor. 1. 10. Oh then trust in the Lord and wait on him too And blessed are all they that wait for him Art thou in any distress and God doth not yet deliver thee wait on him he will come this was the temper of good Jehosaphat when he was in distress 2 Chron. 20. 12. When he knew not what to do but saith he our eyes are upon thee Ah I 'le wait on thee however this was a good sign it is well with a soul multitudes of Scripture witnesseth this XVII Canst thou rejoice in the grace of God in others this is sad to tell some seem to have grace themselves and yet do not love to see grace in others at least they cannot abide others should
Holy Ghost Jude 20. So that men cannot pray but by the Holy Ghost Men may as I said mumble over a form of words it may be I but a man cannot pray but by the Holy Ghost 't is the Spirit of God that will help souls to pray to confess sin and to plead promises the Spirit helpeth our infirmities with groans that cannot be uttered he that hath the Spirit can come to God as a Friend and say Father I have need of such and such mercies I have need of strength against sin and such and such corruptions are like to overcome me he that hath the Spirit of God is the Friend of God as Abraham wa called the friend of God often times take one place for the rest that comes next to my hand 2 Jam. 23. Now a friend of God can go and plead with God and say Lord such and such sins and corruptions are to hard for me but Lord thou hast said Micab 7. 19 20. Thou wilt subdue our iniquities and cast our sins into the depth's of the Sea Oh Lord perform the truth to Jacob and the mercy to Abraham that thou hast promised yea sworn to our Fathers in the days of old Now soul if thou dost find in thee a Spirit of Prayer and Supplication that thou canst plead with God in his promises as I have instanced here in one why then 't is a good sign thou art thy self called of God and precious in his sight but I would hasten toward an end of these things XXIX 'T is a good sign thou thy self art in Christ if thou art willing to bring others into Christ grace is of a diffusive nature it will spread it self Peter saith Christ when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren Luke 22. 23. It may be this is of a second conversion and you know Paul speaks of travelling in Birth again till Christ be found in the Gallatians Gal. 4. 19. It seems to intimate they were born before but were turned aside to crooked pathes for saith Paul Verse 20. I stand in doubt of you but I will not dispute it here but leave it to the sober wise but however When thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren that is do what thou canst to convert and confirm others in their most Holy Faith Wherefore Brethren edisie one another as also ye do 1 Thess 5. 11. Grace will beget and strengthen as many as it can it will draw others what may be to the good ways of God Come saith David and I will tell you what God hath done for my soul His spirit was full it was ready to break before it had vent and thus it was with the Woman of Samaria when she had once heard Christ She run into the City and saith Come oh come and see a man that told me all that ever I did She was willing they should know all that ever she knew of Christ and so saith Paul I would thou wer 't such as I am except these hods Acts 26. 29. Oh how did his soul long for the conversion of others in Rom. 10. 1. My hearts desire and prayer for Israel is that they may be saved Soul is it thus with thee dost thou know thy friends and relations to be in an unconverted estate and dost thou long and pray they may be converted Is thy fellowship with the Father And dost thou desire their fellowship may be with you with the Father and the Son Jesus Christ and dost thou declare to others what thou hast seen and heard of Jesus Christ that thou mayest draw them into fellowship with Jesus 1 John 1. 3. If so 't is a good sign thou art one in Christ XXX And lastly If thou art in Christ thou lovest the Saints of Christ not love them barely as they are men but as they are Saints a man may love another but not upon the account as he is a Christian man he may love him as he is of a sweet behaviour and carriage or as he is a relation or as an aquaintance or as a friend that may be profitable to a man in the World I but I speak of love to a Saint as he is a Saint and therefore Christ saith He that giveth to a Prophet not as he is a man or a friend But as in the name of a Prophet shall receive a Prophets reward Matt. 10. 41. 42. Now I say if thou lovest Christ's Disciples thus thou art in Christ and Christ saith by this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples how so why If you love one another John 13. 35. This Spirir was in Moses which made him say If thou wilt not forgive their sin blot me out of thy Book Exod. 32. 32. Which Book we would with submission say 't is the Book of his Temporary Life and truly this was great love that he would lay down his life for Israel in this he was a Type of our Lord so David had a great love to the Saints and a delight in the Saints Psal 16. 3. To the Saints and to the excellent in the Earth in whom is all my delight Had David nothing else to set a little of his delight upon yes David was a King he had a Crown and many things else to have delighted in but to the Saints and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Davids delight was all on the Saints and that with good reason because they were most excellent Why had not David many mighty Men of Valour that were excellent ones you may see a whole Catalogue of Davids Worthies in the 1 Chron. 11. 10. to the end and were none of these Noble Princes of valor that were in his Court his delight no saith David to the Saints in whom is all my delight and it will appear by the delight he had in the company of them that fear the Lord Psal 119. 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee Not of Nobles and great Men of whom then Of all that fear thee why David there be some poor Men that fear God dost not thou think scorn David being a King to company with poor Men no saith David I am a companion of all that fear thee and 't is so with others too saith David Vers 74. They that fear thee will be glad to see me or when they see me the Saints be glad to see one another therefore David saith again Verse 79. Let those that fear thee turn unto me be they poor or rich be they those that fear thee Oh let them turn unto me be they Servants or any I 'le keep them company that fear the Lord I but David would it not credit thy Court to keep Ranters and Swearers for the World saith he is no Gentleman that cannot swear no saith David I 'le keep no such as they are My eye shall be on the Faithful in the Land they shall dwell with me Psal 101. 6 7. But for those that work deceit they shall not dwell in
my house nor he that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight This was the Spirit that was in David he loved the Saints let them be poor or rich be they Masters or Servants All that fear thee I am a companion too by the way give me leave one word to those one 's of this age we live in Sirs how many will Davids practice condemn he was a companion of all that fear God he was a King and it may be thou art some Trades man and yet thou thinkest scorn to converse with the poor Saints if he be some of the great ones of the City then thou art a companion of such but if a poor Saint come to thee then thou art in hast or some one or another stay for me this is a sad Spirit that is crept in among us in these days And from this also may Ministers themselves be rebuked and that sharply too truly among you men of low estate are low in esteem for ought I can discern else what meaneth this courting of the great ones while the poor of the Flock stand by disregarded and when a poor man comes to speak with you I am busie come another time when at the same time if a great one comes then make all ready to give them entertainment and all possible respect shewed them Sirs what doth this come short of that charge Jude 16. Having mens persons in admination because of advantage If it be not really so I appeal to you whether or no you do not give others just occasion to judge so Oh Sirs precious in the sight of the Lord are all his Saints and so should they be to you excuse me that by the by I return to the Apostles evidence they were also of that Spirit to love the Saints 1 John 4. 19. We love him because he first loved us Ah but how shall we know that we love him Verse 20. He that saith he loves God and hates his Brother is a lyer How shall we know who loved God Verse 21. He who loves God loves his Brother also and Chap 5. 1. Every one that loveth him that begat that is God loveth him also that is begotten of him Soul dost thou love him that is begotten of God then thou dost love God love God may many a man say why I never saw him how then should I love him Chap. 4. 12. No man hath seen God at any time Exod. 33. 20. No man can see God and live but in John before quoted If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us Note his love is perfected or compleated in us Ah soul dost thou love thy Brother Saint indeed 't is a good sign thou art a child of God it may be thou thinkest thou hast but little grace it may be but as a Mustard Seed 't is but as a spark of fire in a great heap of ashes a spark of grace in the midst of a great heap of corruption or it may be thou dost not shine in the sight of others so eminently it may be thou canst not discourse nor pray so excellently to appearance as some can I but dost thou love the brethren then I 'le assure thee 't is very well with thee who these brethren are Christ tells us they are they that do the will of the Father Mark 3. 35. not thy natural brother if he hath not grace he is not thy brother in Christ 'T is well with thee if thou lovest the Saints so saith the same Apostle 1 Epist John 3. 14. And with that I 'le wind up all as to these things We know that we are passed from Death to Life Why how dost thou know John we know by this Because we love the Brethren dost thou love the Brethren of Christ above and beyond all other men and as they are the brethren of Christ meerly upon no false account but only as they are the Brethren of Christ and the Family of God and as they are the Citizens of Heaven 't is a sure sign thou art a child of God and to use the Phrase in the Text One for whom Christ is sacrificed Thus now I have gone over those Carracters that have been found upon some one of the Saints or other that are found in the Word and though it may easily be discerned that they might have been contracted yet let such remember I design if the Lord will the relief of some poor soul that is ready to give up all hope and not what will be spoken either in praise or dispraise For he that will adventure in this sort must not mind mens good or bad report examine thy self therefore soul by what is before thee and if thou canst not find all these things in thee yet if thou findst but here and there one if God set in by his Spirit thou may'st find a little relief to thy poor trembling soul and if thou art found sincere before the Lord thou art a righteous one one that Christ the Righteous is slain for and so comfort is to be ministred to thee and that leads me to a use of consolation Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with him Isa 3. 10. So in Eccl. 8. 12. Surely it shall go well with him that fears God Here is comfort soul for thee if in Christ who ever thou art if thou art born of God though but a day old yet surely it shall be well with thee art thou in doubt touching thy condition as in Deut. 28. 66. Doth thy life hang in doubt before and thou fearest day and night and hast no assurance of thy life of thy pardon of thy Salvation why behold God hath bid me tell thee to which he hath added this word of assurance surely it shall go well with them that fear God thou saist surely there 's no pardon for me no peace to me and surely it shall go ill with me at last Ah poor soul doth thy life thy pardon hang in doubt and hast thou no assurance of thy life why yet surely it shall go well with them for whom Christ dyed but what consolation is there to be ministred to such truly abundance more then I can tell thee of 1 Cor. 3. 9. Eye hath not segrave en nor ear heard neither can the heart of man conceive what is prepared for them that love him but saith the Apostle in the next words 'T is revealed to us by the Spirit 't is the Spirit of God oh soul that revealeth the consolation of God to thee 't is the Spirit that sheweth things and so comfort that is to come and though I cannot tell thee all thy comfort yet I 'le tell thee some of thy comfort for 't is God that comforteth us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort you which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our sâ—elves are comforted of God but in a few particulars I 'le shew thee some of the consolation