principall act of saving faith without which the other profit nothing that action of the will letting al goe and taking hold of Christ for salvation choosing him as the supreme good and happinesse and bringing him to his heart whereby he is washed and purified And hence blasphemously imagining Christ to bee but as a cloake for his sinnes he pleasantly dreames of obtaining grace without any trâ—e repentance or change of the whole man Hence the promises of God thus by himselfe abused are welcome and a false joy followes a false hope But the command of God much more the threatning word and reproofe for breach of the command is grievous to him and insupportable hated as cords as bonds as death and the very Crosse. For esteemiâ—g his lusts to bee himselfe and indeed he is little else he accounts himselfe in them wounded fettered and crucified when his lust is restreined he is imprisoned when his sinne is pierced his very heart is wounded when his corruption languishes he faints and is dead in the nest and with as much joy will he goe to the Gallowse as to that Crosse of Christ whereby the world is crucified to him and he unto the world See this exemplified in that noted hypocrite Herod The preaching of Iohn as of Christ and all his Messengers Mar. 1. 14 15. consisted of two maine points Repent and Beleeve Repent for the kingdome of God is at hand and Behold the Lomb of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world Ioh. 1.29 Now it is easie to finde what in the preaching of Iohn this incestuous beast hard so gladly Is it any marvell if such a wretch fancying a remission of sin without forsaking sin impunity by Christ should with much joy heare of such a Savior as he blasphemously supposed But that other necessary part of the Gospell Repentance rising from faith Let every one which nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquitie this hee hated and the Preacher of it to the death Now then had it beene the truth of God in which he rejoiced the doctrin of repentance forsaking sin would have bin as wel entertained as the doctrine of remission and pardoÌ„ of sin because both are equally the word of the same God but wheÌ„ we see the one received with joy honor of the messenger the other rejected with hate death of the speaker who discerns not that his joy sprung from that fond dream of his rotten spirit that though he walked according to the stubbornnesse of his own wicked heart he should have peace Most unlike is the joy of the faithfull hearer who loves the Word with a most entire unexpressible affection Oh how I love thy Word and therefore loves it because a word of truth and a pure word an unreconcilable enemy to all sinful filthinesse and when he heares that double promise the one of remitting the other of snbduing sinne when he heares of glory and holinesse he is as the Apostle in a strait and knowes not which to preferre esteeming the conformitie to the death and life of Christ brought in the Word nothing lesse then the fellowship with him in glory Take a further view of this in some instances The uprightnesse of Davids and Hezekiahs heart with God was seene in this For when that bitter reproofe touched the quicke David taketh all the blame upon himselfe I have sinned Hezekiah further confeâ—seth the Word not onely just but good Esa. 39.8 But Amaziah who did that in the generall which was right but not with an upright heart like his father David 2 King 14.3 discovers that hypocrisie of heart in rejecting the Word when it came neere and home to his sinne 2 Chro. 25.2.16 To couclude this point remember this palpable difference betwixt an upright and dissembling heart The faithfull loves rejoyces in that part of the word of God which the hypocrite hateth and in the selfe same respect the one detests grieves at it the other loves and rejoyceth in it why doth the rebuke of Christ sound as death to the dissembler but as the glad tidings of life to the upright In both because it is the trumpet of God to sound an alarum against sin that as the wals of Iericho it shal fall at this blast and be destroyed This very nature and effect of the Word that it is the Sword of the Spirit piercing every sinfull lust to the heart and mortifying these earthly members is the very cause why to the sound Christian it is a precious oyle and perfume to the dissembler as a reproach hee cannot delight in it Ier. 6. 10. CHAP. XXX Differencing the zeale and desires after Christ in the hypocrite and faithfull ANd yet further even in godly zeale and earnest longings after Christ the hypocrite wil seem to hold pace with the souÌ„dest best Christian he can be very zealous in divers things Iehâ— had a zeale â—or the Lord yet a transparent dissembler See 2 King 10. 16. 28 29 31. Hee tooke no heed to walke in the law of the Lord with all his heart Paul before his conversion and other Iewes all persecutors yet zealous of the Law of God Acts 22.3 Rom. 10. 2. And certainly for thaâ— holy Apostle it is hard to say whether before or after conversion hee were more fervent against or for Christ and his truth How zealous was the Pharises in the observation of their fore-fathers Traditions How zealous of old those false Teachers in abstinence Touch not taste not handle not how seemingly humble neglecting the body and giving it no honour c. So the Papists â—t this day with much shew oâ— zeale maintaine their traditions abstinence from flesh from marriage lying in haire-cloth c. But where is the difference 1. The Dissembler is very hot in some particulars which concerne Gods glory but hath his owne ends in them all and therefore when those ends faile is as cold in other things which are as or more needful than the former How zealous was Iehu against Ahabs Idols He rooted out the Baalims Not so much warme against Ieroboams Idols but served the Calves of Bethel whereby hee plainly uncovered his dissembling heart and manifested his hypocrisie to every eye 2. The hypocrites zeale is all externall flaming out in bitter termes against some other who dishonour God but never moved to see God dishonoured in his owne heart and actions But the faithful as they cannot but grieve and burne when they see others grosly offending blaspheming and provoking God so are they most vexed with their own though farre lesse rebellions and failings 3. Lastly the dissembler spends his heat in matters of no moment his indignation wil be much more kindled in the use or disuse of matters of indiffereÌ„cy then in the weightiest things of the Law or Gospell But the upright heart knowes well that there are some things in which he must contend earnestly for matters of faith even to
that will build sure must digge deepe and casting out loose â—ands lay a fast and strong foundation and then set up the walls and roofe So hee that would build up his soule in assurance of his heavenly Mansion must first fling out loose waverings of a distrustful heart and doubtful appearances cast into his mind by Satan and then lay his ground upon the Rocke the sure and unmoveable promises of God in Christ. I have often observed divers of the faithfull strong in many graces and in this only to sight weake who have by the plaine evidence of the Spirit in the Word bin clearely convinced that the Lord hath planted and rooted the life of grace in their hearts and so have beene for the present not a little cheered aud comforted yet after by some tentation to have bin wholly disheartned and cast downe againe in themselves from all their joyes and consolations concluding that all their religion was meere hypocrisie and themselves bare forms and images without life This I am perswaded proceeds especially from want of a thorough-grounding their perswasions much suspense and unsetlednesse remaining in them Now then it will be very needefull and expedient as briefly as may bee to set downe how farre the way of hypoâ—risie in appearance lyes in our way to life and the period of it where it stops First then it cannot be denied but that a man of meere shewes without the life of God may in his outward carriage to the Word and ordinance of God keepe way with a faithfull and sincere Christian heare frequent invite others honour thâ— Word and the Messengers of it Most of these are found in Herod a stinking Fox a rancke-smelling Dissembler Hee heard Iohn and knowing him a just and holy man feared and observed him when hee heard him did many things So those hypocrites Ezek. 33. 30,31 32. come to the Word as Gods people sit there as the people of God and call on others to the same dutie Thus farre they seeme to hold way with the Saints where doe they part 1. In the ground and end of this their frequent hearing 2. In the effects and issues following their attendance The ground and end of hearing the Word in an hypocrite is sometimes his carnall delight when his lustfull eare is tickled with the soft eloquence and sweet tongue of the Speaker and his itching heart clawed with carnall wisedome Sometimes he is driven by the cryes of his yelping conscience His best end is by further informing his understanding to set a faire glosse upon his profession and that he may not sit as a mute stand as a Cipher when matters of Religion are in discourse and handling But the faithfull soule out of a deepe loathing of sinfull matter in himselfe an unflaked hunger and thirst of righteousnes knowing the word to be both the physicke of the soule whereby it is throughly clensed and the food whereby it is nourished presents himselfe before the Ordinance of God that hee may finde it Gods power to his salvation in purging out all sinfull filthinesse and filling him with the fruits of righteousnesse Thus are they described Esa. 2. 3. They shall say Come ye and let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord and hee will teach us his wayes and wee will walke in his paths Where the faithfull plainly expresse their end of comming to God in his Word not onely that it may be a light to teach and point out the right way but that it may give strength to their feet and enable them to walk in every good path Secondly they differ in the effect and fruit of hearing For where the heart thus drawes neare to God as that holy Cornelius to heare as in the presence of the Lord all things commanded by him the Word is a mighty weapon to beat down all strong holds and every thing exalted against the knowledge of God to bring every thought in obedience to Christâ— it wil work effectually when it is thus received see 1 The. 2. 13. so that the faithful soule can truly say I know no sin which my heart doth not loath desire to expel I know no coÌ„mand of Christ in which I do not unfeinedly desire endevour to walke with God This cannot stand with hypocrisie because as in a Tombe there must be both a beautifull front without and a dead heart within An hypocrite must have a shew else hee is an heathen and but a shew else a true Beleever But he is a neuter to both Not a plaine Infidell for hee hath a forme of godlinesse not faithfull indeed for his heart still cleaves to much sinfull filthinesse and is not purified from the whorish love of some darling-sinnes Many things as Herod he may all not onely he doth not but he will not doe CHAP. XXIX Containing other markes differencing the true from the seeming Christian. NOr onely in the walls without but in some more inward roomes we shall finde the hypocrite fairely dressed and painted If wee looke to his understanding we shall see it often very live-like portrayed with the forme of knowledge so that the braine may bee even printed with the Word that he may be a light and Teacher of others Rom. 2.19,20 Secondly in the affection also there may bee some joy in hearing And thus farre in the inward man the dissembler may keepe companie with the faithfull where doe they break 1. The knowledge of an hypocrite is at least in some points meerely speculative ann workes not upon the will and affection to chose and love the good which hee knowes Much of Gods will hee knowes and hates as Ahab and Herod I hate him a Prophet indeed of God saith that wicked man sold to worke wickednesse of whom wee may inquire but I hate him for hee speakes not good to mee but evill Yet could this King in some things humble himselfe rent his clothes put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted So also that other incestuous beast hated the reproving Word and kild the reprover Contrary the knowledge of the faithfull seasons the heart drawes the will and affection nay the actions also after it 2. The difference in their joy is plain and palpable For the formall mans joy ariseth not from the word indeed or any love to the truth of God but from his owne fancies and dreames falsly collected from the Word witlesly and wilfully and therefore strongly conceived in his owne deceitfull hart For when he hears mercy glory proclaimed to sinners upon condition of beleeving he builds a presumption of pardon salvatioÌ„ upon that saÌ„dy faith of divels carnally as Papists at this day coÌ„cluding theÌ„ce raiseth up al his that faith consisteth onely in the understanding partly in an action of the apprehension conceiving what is the object of faith partly in an action of the judgement consenting to it and approving it as a truth of God hee thinkes not of the maine and
IOY IN Tribulation OR CONSOLATIONS FOR AFFLICTED SPIRITS By PHINEES FLETCHER B.D. and Minister of Gods Word at Hilgay in Norfolke PSAL. 34. 19. Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of all LONDON Printed for Iames Boler dwelling at the signe of the Marigold in Pauls Church-yard 1632. TO THE TRVLY HONOVRABLE MY MOST HONOred Cousins Sir WALTER ROBERTS Knight and Baronet and to his gracious Lady everlasting Consolaâ—ioâ—s of the Eternall Comforter SIR your very ancient Gentry doth not so enoble you in the eyes of the world as your new man in the sight of the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith that ancient eloquent Father The new birth is the noblest birth In the Creation Man was the first and last creature last in time first in place and dignily being made the Sonne of God and the great Favourite of heaven And now the New Creature though last borne as Iacob yet as Iacâ—b obtaines the birth-right and over-tops the elder The best Herald Gods blessed Spirit preferres the Beraeans as more Noble or best borne who received the Word with all readinesse of minde c. And surely if high bloud of Generous parents sets us aloft in the eye of the world how much more lustre among Christians will that immortall seede give you whereby you are borne not of bloud nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Now though I well know that the neare relation of fleshly Alliance and bloud which is betwixt us beside many other knots of friendship have tyed my heart long since unto you both in all unfeyned affection yet this spirituall kindred is a much dearer and nearer linke uniting my soule unto you in the bond of the Spirit so that I can truly say with that blessed Apostle I am affectionately desirous of you and willing to impart to you not onely this slender fruit of the Gospell but mine owne soule bebause you were deare unto mee I am confident you will receive this pledge of love with the same afâ—ection with which it is presented and therefore leaving these few Consolations to the application of that great Comforter and your selves with all your Olive branches unto the Vnction of that holy one and perfect growth of the blessed Spirit I commend the weake Author to your Christian love and prayers who while hee is shall ever be Your willing servant in the Lord Iesus PHINEES FLETCHER TO THE POORE in SPIRIT CHristian Reader Whosoever thou art who mournest and art humbled under the sense of spirituall povertie to thee belongs that blessednesse of the heavenly kingdome and strong consolations of that great Comforter witnesse he that bought it for thee and by his owne mouth hath bequeathed it to thee in his Testament But how cunning Satan is to hide this evidence from thy blubbered eyes wâ—ll neede no other testimonie then thine owne unquiet and dejected spirit The height of grace is rejoycing in the Lord and this is a joy unâ—peakeable and glorious and indeede a lesser heâ—ven upon earth Now that cursed enemie envies thee that thy future heaven but is raging mad that thou should'st even here also enjoy an heaven of joy in this vale of teares therefore employes all his policies and fallacies to hinder thy rejoycing and to hold downe thy heart in distrustfull feares and sorrowes Thou maist easily observe that none have beene more câ—st downe in this uncomfortable mourning then those who thou wilt confes have had most cause of rejoicing That Princely Prophet had the oath of God attesting by his holinesse that he would not faile David And I know thou wilt acknowledge that he was in the deepest mourning a blessed Saint and had great cause to rejoyce alwaies in the Lord yet was there a time when his soule lay groaning under an intolerable burthen of heavie discomforts He that when hee walked in darkenesse and had no light when not one sparke of earthly consolation shined forth unto him could yet stay himselfe on the Lord and could fill his heart in this wane nay ecclipse with the borrowed light of his countenance â—ven this Saint found a time when his soule refused comfort when even the remembrance of â—od his maine cordiall became his speâ—iall coâ—asive so that his spirit was overwhelmed with it Reade carefully that 77 Psalme and thou wilt confesse that thy troubles of spirit doe not equall at least cannot exceede his It is a constant practice of Satan to hold and rocke a carnall heart in all presumptuous quietnesse and rejoycing and if he may to keepe downe the beleeving soule in continuall unchearefulnesse and mourning I have desired therefore to publish this little Treatise which God hath blessed to some in private that if he be pleased to glorifie his power in great weakenesse thy wounds may be suppled if not cured and to give occasion to some Brother who hath more gifts and lesse employment to enlarge this excellent subject Remember thou that the joy of the Lord is thy strength Oh let not thy sorrow no not for sinne drowne thy rejoycing in that Saviour who is become sinne for thee that thou mightest bee the righteousnesse of God in him I know when thy soule is farre from peace thou wilt be readie to say My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord but remember the Lord is thy portion Remember It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. And let thy heart be assured and in that assurance comforted that The Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the soule that seeketh Waite for thy Lord for hee will come and will not tarry Hee that testifies these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so Come Lord Jesus If you receive any profit let mee have some use of it in thy prayers Thy compassionate Fellow-member P. F. CHRISTIAN CONSOLATIONS FOR THE AFFLICTED SPIRIT CHAP. I. The necessitie of comfort in this life AS in this estat of mortalitie our weak bodies stand in coÌ„tinual need of reparation as well by Phyâ—icall purgations to dissolve and cast out ill humours which through distemper either of ayre or dyet have crept in upon us as continually by seasonable refreshings and some exercise to gather maintaine strength and health so and much more our weaker Spirits in this sinfull world so subiect to backsliding have much necessity of continuall comfort as well to raise up our fainting soules when they are staggering through unbeliefe as to under-prop and hold them fast when they stand by faith For Comfort in the large sense being nothing else but the fortifying the heart against the assault of evill it cannot be denied but that malicious enemy of man especially of Christian men holds every one in a straight siedge and failes not to make battery by all manner of engines against soule
this day and much more abundant as if a man should seeke for Paradise under the frozen Poles for heaven in hell Now as nothing is more vaine then to search for comfort against the sorrowes of this world in this world of sorrowes so as fond were it for a Christian to rake out any comfort from the puddles of heathen and naturall men Their best Physitians and medicines can never possibly worke upon the part affected thâ—t is the Conscience The choice of them are but as Ioâ—s friends mâ—serable comforters Their barrennes in this fruit will yeeld us an excellent document how beggar-poore our nature is in any grace when we obserue what weake comforts those strong wits with all their studie and helpe of nature produced in the necessities of themselues and their friends Looke what difference wee finde in swoons and qualmes betweene hot water and small beere such infinitely more shall wee obserue betweene the consolatioÌ„s given by God in the Scriptures and naturall men in their writings See it in some instances As first against affliction in generall All calamities say they are either casuall and a wise man will despise chanceable events or else fatall such as by destiny are set out for us and therefore cannot be avoided but must be borne Now consider what vertue there is in such a plaister to heale the least scratch of any trouble Compare with this the comforts of the blessed Spirit .i. God offers himselfe to thee in affliction as a Father armeth thee with proportionable strength to passe through it clenseth thy defiled heart by this purging fire and purifies it from the drosse of sinne prevents eternall condemnation and embrightens thy heavenly crowne by it And what wound so deepe which these ingredients will not perfectly cure and skin soundly Come to particulars In banishment the Phylosopher will tell thee Every soyle is a valiant mans Country In disgrace and infamy It is but popular breath lighter theÌ„ ayre In death Cities say they States the whole world of men are mortall Now alas what strength is there in these weake reeds to beare up a soule plunged and even swallowed up in feare and horror Certainly if a man were sinking before these comfortours would be so farre from raising his dejected heart that they would rather utterly overwhelme and drowne it in all hopelesse perplexity But our great comfort maks us to see that here we are strangers and Pilgrims neither can we be exiled from God and from our heavenly Ierusalem and Blessed are you when men revile and persecute you and say all manner of evill of you Reioyce and leape for ioy for great is your reward in heaven Hee maketh us to know that death is buâ— a sleepe in the Lord a rest from all labouâ— which cannot separate from the love of God but uniteth us unto Christ. By these and such like the soules of the faithfull have beene revived and quickned in the midst of death and supported in spite of all opposition of Satan and his instruments Heathens then are Physitions of no value and all their Simples gathered from their naturall reason like to those of our Empiricks which perhaps will not hurt but certainly will nothing helpe us Therefore passing by these dry pits which will hold no water let us come to the spring-head even our glorious head the Lord Iesus who is both the Physitian and medicine of the broken heart and to his holy Ordinances the channels full channels of all heavenly consolation For I purpose not here to summe up all the Cordials which may refresh and glad an humbled dejected Spirit that must bee the worke of greater gifts and longer time Verely as the Bee drawes honey from every herbe eveâ— weeds and venemous plants so the faithfull Christian may extract comfort from all things even the most grievous and fearefull If he looketh up to heaven it was made for him here to light him hereafter to harbor him If downe to the earth it is given to the Sonnes of men especially the Sonnes of God as a Nursâ— of their temporall life and a bed in death All the Creatures are his nay death and hell yeeld him this comfort not onely that he is delivered from them but that they shall revenge him of his enemies and torment his tormentors But I desire to bee short therefore wil confine my selfe to narrower limits Now as in any great house there are not onely Cisternes retaining and by divers pipes conveighing water unto every Office but specially a living well or fountaine feeding these Cisternes So in the Church which is Gods house wee shall find certaine Ordinances of God wherein he layes up and whereby hâ—e conveyes these sweet refreshings unto our soules Afterward they will lead us on unto the Well-head that River of God nay Seas and Oceans of all consolation even the God of all comfort First therefore to omit many the Lord hath stored up for us bringeth home to us much comfort as well in other holy meanes as in affliction it selfe But as Nathaniel of Nazareth so some Christian perhaps will speake of affliction Can any good thing come out of evill CHAP. III. The description and distribution of Afflictions TRue it is that Affliction is of it selfe the very Spring of bitternesse worldly sorrow and death The naturall fruit of it is no other but murmuring cursing and desperate blaspheming but is wholly changed through the grace of God powerfully working in it Looke as the waters of Marah were very bitter yet whâ—n the Tree pointed out by God was cast into them they became sweet And as those Springs of Iericho flowed with death and barrennes yet were healed by Elisha with salt so when God seasoneth Afflictions with that Tree of Life who was himselfe consecrate through Afflictions and with that Salt of his Spirit he maketh them wholesome and pleasant The Crosse therefore is as some wine which though of it selfe it be tart unpleasant yet seasoned with a little Sugar it will not only goe down with delight but warme the stomacke and make the heart merry Now Affliction is nothing else as wee know but some evill and grievance pressing us either in body or soule drawn in by sinne and sent in by our just God in generall as an Herald of Armes to summon all men to lay downe their rebellion and come in by Repentance in particular a Messenger of wrath and beginning of hell to the reprobate and disobedient but an Embassadour for peace and the narrow gate to heaven to the Elect and faithfull Briefly to runne over this discription That Affliction is a grievous evill shall need no other witnesse but our sense yet further testified by that infallible Truth No chastisement for the present seemeth to bee ioyous but grievous That it is the attendant of sinne is evident Death entred by sinne and the wages of sinne is death
endowments every creature may excell me Stones more durable Plants more vegetative Beasts more sensible even Divels more wise and understanding But herein hast thou magnified thy grace toward me thy abject Creature that I excell other workes of thy hands in that wherein thou my glorious God excellest thy selfe that thou hast printed thy holinesse thy Divine image and beauty upon me and crowned me with thy glory and honor Rejoyce then oh my soule in the Lord and dance for joy His grace hath prevented and farre out-runne thy wishes As the first Adam lost all his happinesse by his ambitious desires to bee like unto God in knowing good and evill so the second Adam hath restored all happinesse by satisfying our ambition in making us like himselfe in loving good and hating evill The life and estate which thou enjoyest in Christ the nourishment of that life and the assurance of that estate equalleth and transcendeth thy most ambitious desires and wishes Rejoyce then in the Lord againe I say rejoyce for the world is thine things present and to come are thine life and death are thine nay the Lord of life is thine thy portion the seale of thy portion and of thine inheritance in glory CHAP. XIII Comforts arising from Prayer A Third Ordinance of God in which hee yeeldeth us much consolation is Prayer wherein whether we consider the privilege which wee enjoy namely that we dust and sinfull ashes may speake unto the glorious Lord of heaven and upon all occasions at any time of need boldly through Christ approach unto his presence and make all our wants knowne unto him or the power and efficacie of Prayer that we never speake in vaine but prosper in all our suits what can bee a greater consolation to an afflicted Spirit What Hath God opened an eutrance for us unto his grace through the meditation which is in Christ Hath he set out the Sonne of his love to be our Intercessour Clothed him with our infirmities that he might be an high Priest for us mercifull sensible and tender of our weaknesse Hath he appointed this Angell of the Covenant to incence and perfume our praiers with his most fragrant mediation so to bring them into his presence Hath hee exempted no time but made every howre every minute a season for this holy Ordinance so that the oftner wee come the more welcome and the more importunate our suit the more sweete and pleasing Hath hee not permitted but commanded Call upon mee in the day of trouble and instantly promised and I will deliver thee Hath he not bid Aske ◠and assured us you shal receive Doth hee wish us Be carefull for nothing but in all thiugs let your requests be shewne to God in prayer And because we know not how to pray as we ought hath hee given us his Spirit to helpe our infirmities and to make intercession for u◠with grones which cannot be uttered And can any man want comfort who enjoyeth this privilege of Gods children and of the favourits of the King of heaven But some perhaps will reply here Doe not wee see many Saints complaine and have not I found by experience that God doth not alwayes grant what wee aske Ans. The Rules here of that Ancient Father are good Sometimes God giveth in wrath what is asked of him sometimes denieth in love And againe The Lord is gracious who often giveth not what we aske that hee may give what wee should aske And yet againe God alwaies heareth us not alwaies our wils but alwaies our profit God giveth the Israelites flesh in wrath and with store of flesh leanenesse of Spirit He giveth a King in anger when they aske him but hee denyed Paul in love that hee might keepe downe his heart from rising in pride and stablish it with sufficiency of grace Sometimes our Children aske of us things which are no way good and sometimes they aske things that are good but out of due time wee give them neither Thus often doe we and therefore receive not But fully to answer this objection we must by no means forget that in all petitions there is both a generall intention and purpose of asking good and a desire of some particular which we suppose to be good but through our dulnesse in understanding and want of a discerning Spirit may bee good or evill Againe wee must remember that in God there is an infinite wisedome which clearely and perfectly discerneth what either in it selfe or to us is evill or good Now then if the Lord should satisfie us in our mistake granting the particular which we cōceive to be good and he knoweth evill and so should deny us the good which he knoweth we intend and purpose this under a seeming grant were a plaine denyall whereas the contrary seeming a deniall yet is and wil hereafter plainly appeare to be an evident grant though not of that which wee ignorantly aske yet of that which in truth we desire Certaine is it that by reason of our great ignorance in asking every faithfull Christian prayeth with al subjection to Gods will and wisdome so we are taught as well by precept Thy will be done as by practice Not my will but thy will be done and as certaine that what wee so aske we shall without faile receive For hee that gave Christ unasked to us when we were enemies will not deny any grace when hee is entreated to them who are reconciled in Christ and aske in his name This then is sufficient for a Christian that he first knoweth that God hath willed and decreed to give him Christ and with him all good things secondly that whatsoever he asketh according to that will he shall without all faile receive 1 Ioh. 5.14 CHAP. XIV An Answer to some further objections BUt some weake dejected Christian will bee ready to reply All things indeed are possible to him that beleeveth but alas I have no faith to pray True it is that prayer is but the speech of faith And how can they call upon him in whom they beleeve not Faith saith that excellent Father gives life to prayer and praier gets strength for faith For answer let an humble soule well consider how a man with griefe should sensibly feele want of faith if he had not some faith to give him sense and feeling How should spiritual sense be without life or spirituall life without faith As he in the Gospel first found his sight in the defect of it that hee saw men like trees So might weake Christians easily discerne some measure of true faith even in this griefe and complaints for want of faith Againe we shall easily perceive in these Complainers much detestation of sinne not onely in others but especially in themselves and passionat desires to glorifie God in all faithfull service And from what root can these fruits arise but from that faith which purifieth the heart Some others
seeme full of sorrow yet cause much rejoycing they threaten poverty but fill with riches The evill is in seeming onely but the good and profit reall It was a prerogative not proper to the Apostle but common to all the members of Christ that they are as dying but certainly nay eternally living as sorrowfull yet alwaies rejoicing as having nothing but indeede possessing all things Read 2 Cor. 6. 9,10â— CHAP. XVIII Applying these comforts by Meditation NOW when wee have throughly beheld considered and by faith applyed this truth to our hearts let us by some short meditation stir up our fainting spirits and quicken them in remembraÌ„ce of this great priviledge given us by God Let us take words with us turne into our owne soules and say Why art thou cast downe my soule and why art thou disquieted within me Hath not the Lord commanded thee doubled and often repeated that command Rejoyce in the Lord againe I say reioice Reioice evermore none in earth with thee And hath not he said unto thee as to them I will not faile nor forsake thee And wilt not thou then conclude If Father and Mother and all the world forsake me yet the Lord will gather me up Hath not thy gracious Lord and glorious creatour adopted thee unto himselfe brought thee home into his house setled thee in his Family Hath he not cast into thy heart that immortall seed of his Word and so begotten thee unto himselfe Hast thou not found his almighty power put forth in this quickning word to raise thee up from that grave of lusts in which thou layest dead in sinnes and trespasses rotting and even crawling with the wormes of hell Is the Lord then of heaven and earth the Father of Christ the Father of lights become thy Father and canst thou want any thing that is good were there not much more good in this conflicting and afflicted state then evill nay were not this by his over-ruling hand coÌ„verted wholly to thy good how should it come from him who is infinite goodnesse to thee whom he hath infinitely loved True oh most true his love is better then life and nothing caâ— proceed from that love but good but I cannot see that love through these teares through this thicke cloud of earthly sorrowes But oh his love is not more sweet then evident see oh see it in his gifts He hath not spared his onely Sonne but given him to the death even to the cursed death of the crosse How then shall hee not with him give thee all things also He hath given thee his holy Spirit the life of thy life and his owne glorious selfe and can he with himselfe the infinite incomprehensible good give any thing which is not good Assure thy selfe whatsoever is given by and with him cannot but be through him good exceeding good beyond that which thou dost or canst conceive Now therefore remember It is his covenaÌ„t to do thee good Know then know it of a truth and throughly perswade and settle thy selfe in it that as now thou art under the rod because it is good for thee to be afflicted so when it shall be good for thee thou shalt rest from al thy troâ—ble and shâ—lt bâ— satisfied with abundance of peace Oh then my soule bee not thou of an hasty spirit For he that beleeveth wâ—ll not make hast Hâ—d Ioseph appointed the time of his deliverance Had the oppressed Israelites set out the limits of their AEgyptian bondage or those three young captive Champions prescribed their fiery triall how would they all have hindred their owne happinesse and Gods glory If my righteous Brethren smite me it is a kindnesse their reproofe is an excellent oyle What then is the rod of my heavenly Father but his fatherly love What his rebuke but a rich perfume and precious balme clensing my defiled nature preserving it from all fleshly pollution Rolle then thy way upon the Lord and hee shall bring it to passe wait upon his hand and remember hee is not alwaies chiding For a smal moment hee may forsake but with great mercies he will gather me In a little wrath hee may hide his face for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will hee have mercie upon me Oh then my heavenly father who vouchsafest to wait that thou maist be gracious to me give me power with patience to waite upon thy grace Thou who makest it thy exaltation and glory to shew me mercy oh give me an hart to attend thy mercy till thou receivest mee to thy glory CHAP. XIX Comforts taken from the second person of Trinity AS God the Father hath vouchsafed us that unspeakeable comfort and honour to be our Father so the Sonne yeeldeth us no lesse in that hee undertakes to bee the Saviour of all the faithfull and not in part but an entire and perfect Saviour from all evill For evill may be considered either in the roote or fruit of it and our Saviour hath utterly abolished both for us The greatest evill and the very root of all other is sinne and the fruit of sinne is principally as including al the rest the wrath of God and death Now our Lord saves his people first from sinne in being a perfect sacrifice Heb. 10. 14 and consequently a propitiation for all their sinnes I Ioh. 2.2 Secondly he delivers his people from wrath and the curse by bearing the curse and wrath for them In a word he hath redeemed the faithful from all enemies of body soule See Luke 1. 71. 74. Death Sinne and the curse of the Law hee hath swallowed up into victorie 1 Cor. 15. 55 56,57 But some weake Christian perhaps will here sigh out an objection How hath Christ delivered mee from sinne when I still finde this cursed law of my members rebelling against the law of my mind and leading me captive to the law of sinne How am I delivered from death when nothing is more sure to me than death I dye daily Ans. First observe that the Apostle who in the person of the faithful uttereth those words was even then devered froÌ„ sin by Christ and gives thanks in the words instantly following for his deliverance Hence it is apparent that even theÌ„ wheÌ„ sin rebelleth in us nay by strong hand carrieth us captive wee are delivered from it delivered first from the usurping power and dominion of it whereby we were enslaved and served it with greedinessâ— and againe from the guilt of it It shall not bee imputed or accounted to us but wee reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5.19 Insomuch that where the Apostle confesseth plainly his sins both of omission and commission yet in this regard hee dares confidently and doth truly affirme It is no more I that doe it but sinne that dwelleth in me Sinne in the faithfull is as sicknesse in the body getting up now againe and having overcome yet not
faith to an infallible assurance of Gods gracious purpose to justifie and glorifie them so will it as plainely appeare that it is their duty to labour for this growth and to give their soules no rest till they finde this blessed estate sealed up and throughly setled upon them which will be manifested unto us first by many testimonies secondly by some reason taken from the Word Thus our Saviour chargeth us Feare not little Flocke for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdome Where our gracious Lord laying downe that ground namely the certaine purpose and promise of God fully decreeing nay delighting to give us the crowne of glory thence raiseth up this command and teacheth how to expect it even without feare The like is that in the Heb. 10. 19.23 where the Apostle premising that boldnesse of faith whereby wee may enter into the holiest by the bloud of Christ builds up this confidence of faith by this exhortation Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering and giveth a strong reason For he is faithfull that hath promised Who will also doe it Very obvious and frequent are such places condemning this wavering and distrust of Gods gracious purpose toward us and commanding us with assurance of faith to lay hold of these promises Adde to these that vehement and evident exhortation of the Apostle Examine your selves whether you be in the faithâ— Prove your owne selves Know you not your owne selves how that Iesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates Where â—irst hee taketh it as granted that Christians may by examination know themselves whether Christ dwel in them secondly he earnestly exciteth them to make triall proofe of this their estate Beyond all exception and cavill is that charge of the Spirit Wherefore the rather Brethren give all diligence to make your calling and eleâ—tion sure But here also some difficulty is objected For although wee now finde our selves in a good estate and have firme assurance of our present happinesse yet how should wee bee certaine so to continue unto the end without which perseverance there can bee no salvation True is it that the sense and feeling of this our blessed estate in the sense of Gods favour may bee withdrawne for a time but where faith is it faileth not where the life of grace is planted it dyeth not You have not chosen mee but I have chosen you and ordained that you should goe and bring forth fruit and your fruit should remaine Upon which words heare Saint Augustine determining not as if his testimonie could adde any thing unto Christ but that we may know what was the common beleefe of the Church at that time and may bee armed against Popish errour When Christ saith he hath affirmed I have ordained that you bring forth fruit and that your fruit remaine who dares say Perhaps it shall not remaine How unanswerable is that testimony of David The righteous shall flourish like a Palme now the Palme never loseth his leafe or fruit Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of the house of our God They shall still bring forth more fruit in their age they shall be fat and flourishing As full is that of his Son Salomon The path of the just is as the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day And this floweth not from any thing in man either of nature or grace but from that covenant and faithfulnes of God who seeing the first Adam could not stand in the covenant of workes Doe this and live hath renued with the faithfull in the second Adam a covenant of grace in which he hath undertaken to worke all our workes for us First that he will never depart from us but delight in us to doe us good Secondly that he will put such a feare of himselfe into our hearts that wee shall never depart from him And what else is this saith Augustine but such and so great shall be my feare which I shal put into their hearts that they shal with perseverance keepe close unto me And fully to confirme and setle thy soule in assurance of thy perseverance and infallible attaining that purchased possession 1. Remember that not onely God hath wrought that eternall mansion for thee but also wrought thee for it 2 Cor. 5.1.5 2. Build on that promise that he that hath begotten thee to that incorruptible inheritance not onely reserves it in heaven for thee but preserves and keeps thee by his power unto this salvation But further Papists reply This is a doctrine that opens a wide gate to all sinful liberty utterly loosneth the bond of feare and care to please God For Answer First how doth or can this estate in Gods covenant loosen or slacke that bond of gracious feare when it is apparent that this everlasting covenant bindes our hearts fast unto God in this feare Secondly is there nothing to be feared in God but his condemning Justice Oh how fearfâ—ll to his children are his rods and scourges how very fearefull Nay his very frowne his threatning word so ful of terrour that it shakes the heart of the faithfull they tremble they melt at it When I heard saith Habakkuk my bellie trembled my lips quivered at the voice Rottennesse entred into my bones and I trembled in my selfe that I might rest in the day of trouble Sure I am and noâ—e so impudent who dare deny it that when our blessed Saviour and his faithfull members Paul Peter c. had this heavenly assurance fully acquieting their soules it was so far from cooling their zeale and slackning their fervent diligence to please God and ply his worke that nothing more furthered their holy ambition to be serviceable acceptable unto him In the next place let us confirme this truth by a reason or two 1. It will be confessed that a Christian ought to labour for such an estate wherein he should continually rejoyce in the Lord bee ever praising and blessing his name and have strong consolation For it is the command of God to delight our selves in the Lord to rejoyce evermore alwaies to rejoice in the Lord doubled upon us to stirre up our soules to blesse the Lord even in the sense of pardon and forgivenesse in everie thing to be thankefull he hath given with his promise his oath also that wee might have strong consolation but without this certainty of faith assurance of our happinesse the eternall favor of God we cannot attaine such an estate in which we can from the heart rejoyce in him ever praise him and enjoy solid coÌ„fort from him For what sound joy can that soule find in Christ who thus hangs between heaven hell and hath no assurance whether the Lord will come to him as a Judge to condemne or as a Savior to free
acquit him How can a man bee heartily thankefull to God for Christ and blesse him for such a gift when he is altogether in doubt whether he hath any portion in his meditation how can he poure out his soule in blessing the Lord Jesus for his love and fruits of it when he is uncertaine whether he shall be built upon or dasht against this rocke What strong consolation can arise from a wavering opinion or flickering hope whether the Lord hath appointed us unto glory with himselfe or torment with the divell Secondly that which God offereth us in his Word confirms by oath conveies by his seales and above all the rest unchangeably assureth by his Spirit as a very pledge and eaâ—nest unto this end that estate not onely is firme and irrevocable but ought with all laborious endevor and vehement contention be sought and made fast and sure upon us Now it is most apparent that by all these meanes the Lord offereth the assurance of salvation to the faithfull and offereth them to this very end that they might bee stablished in the assurance of his gracious purpose as even in earthly covenants wâ—itings oathes â—eales pawnes are given for no other purpose but to confirme the intent of the giver and the state of the receiver Be this then throughly setled in us that we ought to give all diligence to make our election and calling sure CHAP. XXVII That this assurance is the gift of God the feeling of it sometimes with-held sometimes with-drawne from the faithfull LAstly that this full perswasion of faith assuring our election and salvation is the gift of God cannot be denied and therefore shall not neede any copious or exact proofe For we all know and acknowledge that everie good and perfect gift is from above and commeth downe from the Father of lights with whom is no variablenesse nor shadow of turning Among which gifts even the Giver himselfe is the chiefe and the very summe of all the rest namely that blessed Spirit given by the Father Ioh. 14. 16. who testifieth to our spirits that we are Sonnes of God and Heires with the Lord Jesus Christ and who bringerh with him as wel that gift of faith 1 Cor. 12. 9. and the fulnesse of it as also that spiritual life and sense whereby wee see and feele the exâ—ellent things which are given us by God things which eye hath not seene eare hâ—th not heard nor ever entred into the heart of man Secondly as it is manifest that it is the gift of God so is it as apparent that it is not given at all times to all Beleevers For first when wee are new borne Babes wee finde our faith so farre from any full assurance that others discerne our life in our earnest longings after the Word and our fervent desires that wee could beleeve rather than our selves in feeling that wee doe beleeve For whereas it is impossible to come to any assurance of our salvation without a spirit of discerning whereby being able to try things that differ wee can examine and prove our faith in God and love to his Saints and so come to the knowledge of our dwelling in Christ and that wee are translated from death to life this spirit of discerning is not ordinarily given to Infants in understanding Looke as the Children of great Princes yet in their infancy much rejoyce in their costly Robes Coronets c. but have not yet discretion to gather thence their Noble parentage and dignity to which they are borne so Christian Babes though they see themselves richly adorned with those heavenly graces of God and doe not a little rejoyce in the preseut estate which they feele yet cannot in this their infancy by a reflected act of the judgement gather thence their sure title and claime to all those precious promises of God and their future glorie which depend on the former Secondly yet further when the children of God 〈…〉 up to sâ—me maâ—u 〈…〉 yeâ— iâ— pleaseth the Lord as for many reasons best knowne to his owne wisedome so certainly for his own glory in them and their glory in him to exercise them with many temptations and manifold trials so that being encumbred with much wrastling against unbeleefe and other corruptions they cannot for the present attaine this certainty But when the eye of faith is strengthned and these mists of tentation over-blowne the faithfull soule seeth cleerely the love of God in Christ by his holy Spirit leading him to salvation and evidently discernes his everlasting happinesse sealed up to his soule in the new Covenant And yet even then wee are subject to lose though not the favor of God yet the sense of his favour and consequently that comfortable perswasion of our eternal life For as some men by much neglect of seasonable refreshings decay in bodily strength and livelinesse of spirit and some other by great distemper fall into sicknesse and weaknesse so the strongest Christian who could say as David Though I walk through the shadow of death I will feare no euill for thou art with me Surely goodnesse and mercy shall follow me all the daies of my life yet either by neglect or coldnes in the means Word Prayer c. or by some grievous sinne may finde that joy of his salvation utterly hidden and clouded as did also that holy Prophet Psal. 51.12 after he had committed that foule sinne upon Vriah and his wife CHAP. XXVIII What meanes must be used for obtaining this assurance SUrely the land of Canaan was the glory of al lands that garden of God which he had allotted and bequeathed to Abraham Isaac Iacob and their seed even to his owne deare children on earth As a father therfore intending some portion for his beloved childe will build plant furnish and adorne it with all commodious helps convenient pleasures for his good so the Lord cared for this land his eyes were continually upon it from the beginning of the yeere to the ending Hence as it flourished with Corne Balme Oyle c. so was it watered with showers and flowing Rivers of Milke Wine and Hony yet was this earthly but a darke shadow of that heavenly Canaan which land of eternall life the Lord legacâ—ed onely to his heires even the joynt-heires with Christ. How rich therefore is it in glory how ravishing in divine pleasures If the outward courts of heaven dazle the strongest eye with surpassing beautie and brightnesse Oh what is the inward retiring and Presence of that great King How unspeakeably how incomprehensibly bright and glorious No marvell then if the Children of God having tasted some fruits of this heavenly Countrey labour for full assurance in the conveyance of this purchased possession Now then in the next and last place let us consider by what meanes a Christian may attaine this security and finde his soule firmely instated and setled in it Verily as in the material so is it in this spiritual building hee
mouth as the dissembler Ezek. 33. 31. when indeede his soule hates it at least some part of it but in thy heart He receives not the love of the truth 2 Thes. 2. 10. and therefore rejoyces not in the truth of God but in the lyes of Satan promising life without reformation but thou out of love to the Word even because it is a purifying word rejoycest in it especially that power of it whereby thy soule is washed and clensed from thine owne wickednesse The upright and dissembler both burne in zeale but thou findest thy heart angry and grieved not with some but al sins not with others only but most with thine owne whereby God is dishonored Lastly the hypocrite can thirst for Christ at sometimes when he is in the furnace as iron his heart for the present is softned but as soone as it is out of the fiery triall returnes to his hardnesse and indeed was onely troubled never changed But thou findest a deepe and unquenched thirst of Christ and his righteousnesse ever burning in thy soule so that even in the dayes of peace thy heart is ever sighing after him and esteemest him as the onely medicine for thy sicke spirit so the onely food when thon art healthy and strong In all of these may the faithfull soule easily perceive that hee hath outstript the hypocrite and left him farre behinde and is certainely entred into the true way of grace to glory CHAP. XXXII Removing that tentation which riseth from comparison with other Christians ANother ordinary tentation of Satan is when he worketh the humbled soule to compare the graces of some other with their owne and the meanes either common and equall to both or perhaps lesse to others who yet as he conceives outstrip him in grace and so to discourage and overthrow this worke of faith in him Oh sayes a dejected spirit I have had more time more seed more labour bestowed on mee farre more than such or such a Christian and yet how fruitfull are they But I how barren and bare in knowledge in faith in love c. how wonderfully have they outgrowne me But first let such a troubled heart observe that this depressing despising and condemning our selves in respect of unfruitfulnesse whereby we seeme to come short of others is an eminent grace of God unto which by promise he hath tyed all his other graces God gives grace to the â—umble And this is a certaine fruit of true humility Sâ—condly they are often deceived in their judgements For know this and remember it as a sure truth the more thou hast profited in grace and art enriched in this durable substance the more covetous will thy heart be of spirituall gifts When a worldling begins to taste the sweetnesse of earthly lucre oh how greedily doth hee thirst after it And though hee lay up treasure as dust gulp downe sinfull pleasure as water yet a dry dropâ—ie possesseth him The more he drinks the more he thirsts so is it with that soule which being weaned from this and in love with that world to come is fired with an holy and heavenly covetousnesse of spirituall riches The more he bags up of those evelasting treasures the more poore will he seeme to himselfe oh how good a signe is it when the riches of grace make thee poore in spirit when Christ speakes unto thee as somtime to the church of Smyrna I know thy tribulation and poverty but thou art rich For as it is a certaine signe that he who supposes he knowes beleeves loves much knowes nothing as hee ought to know that when we thinke we are increased in goods and want nothing then there is nothing which we want not Wee are wretched poore miserable blinde and naked so when the desires sayling to the heavenly Jerusalemâ— filled with the breath of that holy Spirit are carried so swiftly that they thinke the actions stand still and either move not or goe backeward certainly that heart which sends forth these desires is strong and fervent in the life of grace Thirdly if those whom thou thus preferrest before thy selfe were asked their opinion thou shouldst heare them heartily and earnestly professe and protest with sighes their many infirmities as farre preferring thee as thou them But withal and above all remember and apply to this purpose that common axiom That truth or substance is not capable oâ— more or lesse Suppose thy mis-conceit true that thou wert farre inferiour in grace to many who are farre younger in the life of grace than thou this hinders not but that thou hast the true life of Christ and his Spirit as well though not so full as they Neither in this life nor in the other the eldest are ever the strongest But as a childe or weake man troubled with much sicknesse hath as true and very life as hee that is strong and never tasted one sicke houre so the weake Christian held downe intentation hath as verily the life of God as they who have out-wrastled Satan and sinne and enjoy much liberty and enlargement of spirit Who doubts but that Paul after conversion though borne out of time excelled in grace many of the Apostles themselves yet were they not onely living but eminent members of Christ. Apply these things to thy soule and so cast out this wavering in spirit and those feares whiâ—h breed painfulnesse And then endevour to ground thy assurance and establish thy soule by some infallible and evident signes of thy election and â—alvation CHAP. XXXIII Containing some infallible signes of our Calling and Election MAny sure and evident markes hath the Lord Jesus Christ set upon his Sheep which as by the hand of his Spirit in the Scripture he hath graven so hath he by the same hand printed them upon us that considering our selves marked out by them we may come not onely to a probable hope but full assurance of faith that we are his chosen Flocke and Sheepe of his pasture who shall never perish never be plucked out of his and his Fathers hand Of very many I will insist onely upon some few First then read advisedly that Scripture 1 Ioh. 3. 1 2. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that wee should bee called the Sonnes of Godâ— And we know that when hee shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Hence in the first place it is evident that those whom the Father hath made children unto himselfe hee hath most dearely and everlastingly loved see also Ier. 31. 3. And againe that when wee know our filiation when wee are made Sonnes wee know also that when Christ shall appeare wee shall see him as hee is and bee glorified with him This then is cleare that when wee are children of God wee are eternally beloved by him and shal reigne with him in eternity But how shall wee know that we are made children Looke into the 9 verse of that chap.
contrarie Hence again we may know that we have claime to Christ and all that hee hath done for the Elect. For if I am not under the dominion of sinne I am under grace and the true subject of Christ even a member of his body But I plainly finde in me a rebellion against sinne within by loathing it as a body of death and a stinking carrion without by opposing it in all my actions and labouring to free my selfe not onely from subjection but from the encumbrance and molestation of it utterly to root it our as the spirituall Canaanite Certain am I therefore that Christ hath subdued sinne in me setled me in his kingdome and in his bodie Nothing can separate mee from him As it is very easie to see the soule in the body though invisible in the substance by the effects and workes of it so will it be no difficult matter to discerne the blessed Spirit dwelling in us by his many and manifest operations For as in the whole body of Christ so in every member the holy Ghost is ever working Looke as in the bodie the soule is never idle but ever in action even in swoones when we feele it not yet then it ceaseth not and though at such times wee have no sense of it yet others conversing with us evidently perceive it working for life so in the new man It is the same Spirit which worketh all in all so that when we feele it not our selves others easily see it Two maine actions of the Spirit comprehending the rest are mortification opposing resisting and working out the old man all sinfull matter in us or Vivification quickning repairing and strengthening the new man No sooner the Spirit enters but it discovers to us much ignorance and then stirres up to incline the eare unto wisedome and apply the heart to understanding the tongue to crie for knowledge and lift up the voyce for understanding When now the iâ—â—elligible part is somewhat cleared and light brought forth in this new Creation strait the dulnesse and deadnesse of the concupiscible part the will and affections is laid open Then the heart longues and the tongue calls out for quickeâ—iâ—g grace Take notice of this in the Saints Thus David begs for more light Open mine eyes that I may see the wonders of thy Law Teach me O Lord the way of thy Sâ—atâ—tes Give mee understanding But now when by the grace of God in the exercise of the Word hee was growne wiser than his enemses and of more understanding than all his teachers then strait his eye was upon that sluggishnesse and deadnesse of spirit and how loud and frequent is he for quickning Quicken me according to thy Word quicken me according to thy judgement quicken me according to thy loving kindnesse how often repeated in that one Psalme Certaine is it that as wee can never in this life wholly shake off all sinfull infirmities so that blessed Spirit will never suffer us to rest in any Looke as in the earthly Canaan the Israelites untill the reigne of Salomon were never in full peace sometime vexed with Iabin of Canaan sometime with the Philistims but ever victorious Remarkable is it that ever their vexation was a sure signe of their enlargement and oppression by the enemy ushered in the destruction of the oppressor for when Israels soule was grieved with the Canaaâ—ites Gods soule was grieved for his Israel So in the state of grace till that true Salomon the Prince of peace shall fully reigne over all his and our enemies wee shall ever be in continuall strife with our sinfull corruptions first with one then with another and nothing should more fully assure us that God hath certainly purposed to cut off any sinfull affection in us then that discovering it to our eyes and giving us sense of the burden he gives us no rest that wee may give him no rest but seek importunately for helpe till we finde it subdued and destroyed in us Neither doth the blessed Spirit by his baptisme of fire onely mortifie and purge out the drosse of our sinfull nature but quickens us by that heat of life in vivification so that the soule enflamed with the thirst of grace and glory can make no stay in his race till it touch the marke with all diligence adding to faith vertue to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance and when we are not destitute of any grace then putting us forward to grow in the grace which we have received Hence is it that even in the depth of tentation when our selves judging by sense suppose that all is lost standers by as they say see further then wee and can easily discerne this Spirit mightily working in us grieving under the load of sinne and unutterably groaning under this oppression judging our selves sighing for grace By this then may wee evidently disâ—rne the Spirit dwelling in us that we are ever in spirituall motion action and exercise sometime mortifying sometime quickning ever leading us forward to perfection See Rom. 8.11.13 14. so that we can never rest or sit downe in a contented estate till wee are fully compleat in happinesse and glory Lastly another signe whereby we may without all faile conclude that we are translated from death unto life is our love to the Brethren For certainely He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall receive a Prophets reward and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive the reward of a righteous man and hee that gives a cup of water to a Disciple in the name of a Disciple verilie hee in no wise shall lose his reward Nay this token of our love proves and makes good all the former namely that God is our Father the Lord Iesus our Saviour and we Temples of the holy Ghost For whosoever beleeveth that Iesus is the Christ is borne of God and every one that loveth him that begot loveth him also that is begotten of him And Behold let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is borne of God and knoweth God Where the love of Gods children is set out by the Spirit as a sure token both of our love to God and our new birth by God Againe our Saviour appointeth it as the Badge of his Disciples By this shall all men how much more our selves know that you are my Disciples if you love one another Read also 1 Ioh. 3.23,24 This is his command that we should beleeve and love one another and he that keepeth this Commandement dwels in him and he in him And hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit he hath given us The two great commandements of the Gospell are Faith and love which when they are written in our hearts by the Spirit and he stirres us up to cleave unto our head by faith unto our fellow members by love it is manifest that we
dwell in Christ and Christ in us by that holy Spirit Hence also may a faithfull soule surely gather God himselfe hath most clearely testified that if I love the Brethren I am translated from death to life that I am borne of God and therefore love the children of God because being my selfe his childe I love my Father Christ hath set his badge and cognizance upon me in that love and that holy Spirit is â—hee which by his presence hath brought my heart into obedience of this precept Certaine then is it that this love to the Saints is proper onely to the Saints even to those whom God hath begotten by his Word saved by his death and sanctified by his grace Seeing then I finde this love to the Saints rooted in my heart that my soule cleaves to their persons delights in their fellowship admires their excellencies sure am I that the same grace which I love fâ—ourishing in others is planted in my selfe that their Father is my Father their Head my Head and that Spirit which dwels in them resteth on me and will abide with me forever CHAP. XXXIV Recollecting and applying these things by short meditation NOw then in the last place let the troubled soule in some inward conference underset and prop up his shaken faith by applying these assurances unto himselfe Say then in thy heart How long oh my soule how long wilt thou suffer this feare which hath torment to hold thee downe in continuall affright and vexation how long shall it keep out that spirituall joy which is thy only Paradise on earth Search oh my Spirit search ouâ— in these heavenly Records those sure evidences whereby thy Lord hath graciously convâ—yed unto thee this happy and blessed estate Are they not layed up in the middest of thy heart See here first divers strong assurances that God hath clensed thee from reigning hypocrisie that hee hath given thee a thirst of righteousnesse not onely a desire to know him but to walke with him in all sincerity of obedience That hee hath given thee an unfeined delight and joy not onely in the Promises but in every Commandement of thy Lord liking and heartily loving that purifying fire of the Word whereby thou art refined as gold and seperate from this sinfull drosse which is so mixed and incorporate with thee A zealous anger and griefe burning within thee detesting every sinne whereby thy Saviour is dishonoured and above all thine owne in which thou unthankefull wretch too often forgettest that incomperable incomprehensible love wherewith hee hath compassed and embraced thee A continuall longing after the Lord Jesus after his death that thou maist be buried in it after his resurrection that thou maist be quickened by it and not only justified in that other but sactifiâ—d in this life and renewed after that his glorious image and divine beauty True indeed my weake soule too true thou art full of infirmities very unfruitfull very unprofitable every one out-strips thee and those who have set out long after thee in this heavenly race are now much before thee But yet comfort thy selfe for even in this estate thy gracious Saviour leaves thee not altogether comfortlesse but still affords thee some token of his eternall love for seeing thy weakenesse thou art humbled within me and broken with griefe of thy barrennesse Remember that he as much delights in the low feat of an humble spirit as in the loftiest Throne of his glorious heavens But rise my dejected soule oh rise up in strong consolations and glorious rejoycings See here oh see thou hast an infallible evidence that the Father of lights hath begotten thee through the word of Truth and that thou art borne anew not of mortall but immortall seede the Word of God and therefore entred not into a corruptible but eternall life For seest thou not that seede of thy Father abiding in thee feelest thou not an unslaked thirst of that sincere milke of the Gospell not that thou mightst have it in thy mouth for discourse but in thy heart for growth growth in all obedience growth in all holinesse and perfection Behold also behold with joy unspeakeable Thy Saviour hath assured his victory unto thee and hath already throwne downe the dominion of sinne in thee It is indeed an enemy a strong a grievous encombring vexing and ah too often prevailing enemy but an enemy thou professest no obedience but proclaimest open warre to every sinne how much more will he who conquered it reigning subdue it rebelling in thee yea certainely the Lord Jesus hath set up his victorious Crosse in thee and he that now hangs out a flagge of defiance will shortly set up his banner of triumph trample all thine enemies and bruise under thy feet both sinne and Satan Consider also that the bleâ—sed Spirit the life of thy spirit dwelleth and continually worketh in thee It cannot bee that uncleane spirit the Prince of disobedience it cannot bee the spirit of the world or that fleshly sinfull spirit within thee which is ever washing thee from uncleannesse seperating thee more and more from the world and the corruption which is in the world through lust which drawes and frames thy desires and actions to all obedience unto the Lord Jesus which gives thee no peace in sinne suffers thee not to rest in any imperfection discovers thy corruption causeth thee to groane under it puts thee forward in thy race enflames thy affections and orders thy feet to turne out of the evill into the good way and to runne in it Dost thou not finde in thee an unfeyned love to the Brethren Doth not thy judgement highly esteeme them Doth not thy will doe not thy affections entirely love and honour them Doth not thy whole soule blesse them How dost thou cleave to them in heart How dost thou admire those that excell upon the earth in holinesse How doest thou delight in them and art ravished with their heavenly fellowship Looke now to thy evidence sworne by the Father written by the Spirit sealed by the bloud of thy Saviour Is not hee borne of God who loves the children of God Is not hee a member who loves a fellow-member Is not hee quickened by the same Spirit who is united in the same spirituall love to those who live walk in the Spirit Rejoyce then oh my sonle rejoyce in the Lord and in these assurances of his everlasting truth and favour Cast out this spirit of bondage this servile this tormenting feare Bring in that joy of the Spirit seat it in the midst of thy heart There let it abide there let it reigne making thee to delight in the Lord to turne and tune thy grones and sighs to hymnes and spirituall songs ever blessing him who never ceaseth to blesse thee to love his glory and glory in his love to serve him in joy and rejoyce in his service CHAP. XXXV Conâ—luding all with Prayer OH glorious Trinity of persons in the unity of one God draw mee nearer
we shall come to that general assembly and the Church of the first-born which are written in heaven Now then when wee here converse and conferre with them it cannot but be a great delight and refreshing to our soules And the more because in all occurrents and occasions they will furnish us in any duty In receiving of any blessing how shall we see their hearts swell and their lips overflow with all thankfulnesse How doe they melt in humiliation and swimme in teares How doe they sharpen their voyces in fervent petition In any desertion what expressions of longueings What sighing pining mourning How doe they fill their mouthes with insinuating arguments to wooe the Lords returne and regain the sense of his favor giving him no rest till they feele the joy of their salvation restored CHAP. X. The application of this comfort by meditation HEnce also may an afflicted Spirit take words unto it selfe and say Why doe I thus vexe mine owne heart and disquiet my selfe in vaine Doe I not still enjoy the holy blessed Word of my God Is there any losse which it doth not richly supply Can I be poore who possesse those precious Promises Can I be miserable who attend on the posts of his dores and heare him If I lose father mother house lands have not I a promise of an hundred-fold for the present beside that eternal life to come Mar. 10.30 If I am in any distresse have I not a promise that when Father and Mother forsake mee he well take me up Psal. 27.10 Have I not his command to cast my care upon him Psal. 55. 22. and his promise That hee will care for me 1 Pet. 5.7 Have I not his word that he will never turne away from me to doe me good that he will rejoyce in mee to doe me good His promise is that I shall want nothing that is good and his word is good as good as his deed How then shal I be destitute of any good blessing who have the Promise of this life and the life to come Why then oh my soule art thou cast downe and troubled within mee Is not that immortall seed of the Word cast into thy heart Doth it not still abide and remaine in thee Yea though I walke in the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no evill for thy rod and staffe comfort me Is not thy Word my way a way leading mee to life a lamp in the way enlightning mee and a Guide with a light directing me a burning light quickning my frozen heart when it is dull a sweete Companion refreshing me when I am weary Is it not a plaine way an even way a cleane way a strait delightfull and pleasant way Diddest thou ever oh my soule tread one step in it but that thou foundest some precious Jemme and Jewell What treasures of knowledge and wisedome of faith hope love and every rich grace have there offered and even thrust themselves into thy hands Oh what lovely fellowship what heavenly company what sweet and ravishing conferences have and doe I there enjoy No sooner stepped I into that path of faith butâ— instantly that Father of the faithfull went before me and with an hundred sweet comforts drew me on to those his steps that walking in the same faith I might obtaine the same blessing When I entred into the tract of Godly sorrow and true Repentance how cheerfully did that weeping Marie leade and conduct me When I set my foot into the way of heavenly love how fervently did that most zealous Apostle draw mee after him See see how many glorious Saints see oh see the King of Saints and glory thy gracious Saviour in every good way directing sustayning cheering and even carrying thee along to that heavenly Paradise What my soule Shal those three Easterne Sages when one Starre alone leading them to Christ then a poore despised Infant went before them shall they rejoyce rejoyce with exceeding great joy And wilt thou or for very shame canst thou hang downe the head when so many heavenly lights when the Sunne of righteousnesse himselfe comforting thee with his owne and such his Starres presence and chearefull beames leadeth and conducteth thee to that inheritance of light and infinite glory Oh then thou eternall Word Way and Light who hast brought my feet and entred them into thy Word a lightsome way settle me yet more deepely in it that my heart may stand fast in thee my way Put thy Word into my mouth that my mouth ever talking of it may grow fruitfull in edification Oh cleare mine eies with this true heavenly light that I may behold with joy the light of thy countenance CHAP. XI Comforts sealed up in the Sacraments IT hath also pleased our gracious God to adde seals to his Word That by two immutable things wherein it is impossible that God should lye wee might have strong consolation Certainly every word of God is infallible Heaven and earth shall passe but not a word that he hath spoken God hath not therefore annexed seales to his Covenant that it or his purpose but that our weake hearts might bee strengthned and confirmed How unspeakable is this comfort that the Lord should be so farre from despising our weake faith and disdaining our poore soules strugling under unbeleefe that hee should yeelde to our weaknesse and underprop it with these powerfull abetters of his truth Hee might shake the head at us when hee seeth so little credite given to his Word but hee rather strengthneth us with these sacred mysteries which are to us as the hand of Christ reached out to Peter to save our wavering soules ready to sinke through unbeleefe The Covenant of God is I will be their God and I will not turne away from them to doe them good but will put my feare into their hearts that they shall never depart from mee Yea I will rejoyce over them to doe them good The consolationsâ— flowing from this Covenant thus sealed how strong how full For first throw downe a man thus sealed up in this covenant of grace from all the joyes of this world into a very hell upon earth Had hee lost all his substance children health of body nay peace of soule also in some measure as Iob yet may hee thence with strong comfort infallibly conclude That this estate is good for him nay best for him For God is faithfull and his Covenant sure beyond all possibility of deceiving or being deceived who hath promised and sealed his promise to doe him good to rejoyce over him in doing him good Hence the faithfull soule will build this conclusion and rest upon it It is good for me to be thus afflicted It is good for mee to beare the yoake in my youth Oh if my faith were as strong as my sense I should taste much more sweetenesse in Gods goodnesse than bitternesse in his affliction Againe especially when wee consider the matter of
these Sacraments and nature of these seales what rivers of comfort must needs flow into the heart of him who rightly partaketh them Look as Princes grave their owne portraitures in their seales sitting in state upon their Thrones invested with their royall apparell adorned with their Crownes and Scepters So the Lord Jesus Christ in these his Signets hath lively represented himselfe in his death conquering triumphing and leading captive all our enemies and even trampling them under our feete But Princes can grave nothing on their seales but their dead Images Not so here For in these the very person of the Lord Jesus is given us as being not onely represented but presented and exhibited to the faithfull The body of Christ feeding and strengthning the blood of Christ washing and more than wine cheering up our fainting spirits is there offred and given us who reach out the hand of faith to receive him Now how hee should be unhappy who hath Christ or misse of comfort whose soule is filled with the Lord Jesus it is not possible to conceive But let us consider them a little severally Baptisme is that Sacrament wherein God applyes the bloud of Christ to wash us from all the pollution of our sin and to communiâ—â—te unto us his own glorious purenes Let us therefore take some notice first as well of the filthinesse of sinne as our filthinesse by it and then of this excellent purenesse Certaine is it that our created understanding cannot find power in it selfe to conceive much lesse words to expresse the infinite loathsomnesse of sinne Hence is it that in Scripture the wisedome of God resembleth it to all those things which are to our senses most abhorred sinne to stinking mudde a sinner to aswine wallowing in that mire sinne to a loathsome vomit a sinner to a dogge licking up his vomit in a word sinne to death a sinner to a rotten carkasse and his throat to an open Sepulchre exhaling and belching out stench and putrefaction so infectious that one sinne entring into the world tainted and slue the whole world with sinne turning Saints into swine Angels into Divels so loathsome that even both the materials of man in the very touch defile and the most pure and holy duties passing through a sinfull heart are altogether abhorred and abominable It staineth the very righteousnesse of the Saints who are not on earth yet absolutely clensed from it so that in it selfe it is no better than a filthy clout This is our estate from which by Christ applied unto us in Baptisme wee are delivered Secondly ponder well what is this image of Christ which Baptisme imprinteth upon us It is even the Divine nature that glorious beauty of holinesse which in God the blessed Angels above all other attributes admire and prayse Esa. 6.3 Surely if any thing can be in God more excellent than other then holinesse is it As the face is in the body so is holinesse in the Lord the very beauty of the Divine Nature And as a passionate Lover is even ravished with the presence and sight of his beloved so is it the compleate happinesse of the creature to behold that face of God shining with that ravishing bewty of holinesse Men sweare by the greater but because none is greater than God therefore God sweareth by himselfe but in himselfe by nothing that I remember but his holinesse Oh then how unspeakeable is the comfort of this holy Ordinance which clensing us from such a filthinesse washeth us into such a beauty Againe the Lords Supper is that holy Mysterie wherein the Spirit perfecteth this worke which hee hath begun in us and throughly assures us Christ. Looke as when the wax is hard the first impression changeth the forme and makâ—th some though no perfect print of the Image ingraved in the seale so that Image of God which by Baptisme is stamped upon us but by reason of our sinfull hard hearts as yet in part onely is by often applying the Lord in that other Seale more perfectly expressed and more lively pourtrayed in us So being entred into life by Baptisme wee are nourished by the Lords Supper and more strengthned till wee attaine unto full growth and ripenesse CHAP. XII Meditation in these comforts given in the Sacraments NOw here againe let us commune with our owne hearts and say Why oh my soule art thou so distracted and rent with doubts and distrustfull feares Hast thou not the seales of Gods Covenant for thee yea in thee If hee will doe thee good shall any creature bee able to hurt thee If he will knit my heart to him in his feare what shall separate it from his love Oh be perswaded for which thou hast so strong evidence and assurance That no tribulation nor anguish nor life nor death nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come shall be able to seperate thee from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Now therefore cast thy burthen upon his truth leane and stablish all thy hopes upon these his sealed Promises Oh let perfect love cast out all distrust and feare Assure thy selfe hee will not nay in his truth cannot faile thee in such assurances How should not he pitty his owne though never so weake life in thee who pittied thy death in sinne How should hee hate thee now his childe who loved thee once an enemy Oh my God as thou hast given me an eye in some measure to see my sinfull filthinesse so hast thou given me an heart in the same measure to loath my selfe so polluted and filthy Lord thou hast made mee to know and I desire with more feeling to acknowledge that I am beyond measure beyond mine owne apprehension in nature horrible and lothsome my roote rottennesse my stalke corruption my fruit contagion more vile than the earth I tread on more polluted than the dung I scorne to tread on But oh incomprehensible heigth depth bredth and length of thy grace those thine infinitely pure eies could even then with compassion behold this unmeasurably impure and infectious mire when no eye pittied me when I had no pitty on my selfe even then hadst thou compassion on me When I was cast out as the execrable and loathsome dunghill of the world even then dâ—ddest thou not despise me I was dead in sinne stinking in the grave of my lusts yet even then didst thou say unto me Live Thou washedst mee with the water of life the Blood of the Lord Jesus annoyntedst me with the oyle of thy gracious Spirit and diddest set thine owne beauty upon me Thou hast nourished me with the true Manna That bread of heaven which giveth life unto the world And daily dost thou vouchsafe to renew mee after thine image and to strengthen thy life and nature in me And now my God is there any thing like this to be like to thee Oh what an honour what a Crowne is this unto me In all other